616 
was agreed on; and Roger Ducos, and 
Napoleon, were appointed ; the adjourn- 
ment of the councils, for three months 
was also, resolved on... ‘The. leading 
members of the two councils;came to 
an understanding onthe manner in 
which they, should act atthe sitting of 
Saint Cloud... Lucien, Boulay, Emile 
Gaudin, Chazal, Cabanis,: were. the 
Teaders of the Conncilof Five Hundred ; 
Regnier, Lemercier, Cornudet, Fargues, 
were those of the Ancients, 
‘So :late as; two.o’clock in the after- 
noon, the place assigned to the Council 
of Five Hundred was not ready. This 
delay of a few hours was very unfor- 
tunate, . The deputies, who. bad been 
ou the spot from twelve o’clock, formed 
groups in the garden: their minds grew 
heated; they sounded. one another, in- 
terchanged declarations of the state of 
their feelings, and organized their 
opposition. 
At length the sitting opened. Emile 
Gaudin ascended the tribune, painted in 
lively colours the dangers of the country, 
and proposed, thanks to the Council of 
Ancients, for the, measures of public 
safety which it had set on foot; and that 
it should. be invited, by message, to 
explain its intentions fully. At the 
same time, be proposed to appoint a 
commiltee of seven persons, to make a 
reportupon the state of the Republic. 
The furious rushing forth of the winds 
inclosed in the caverns of Eolus, never 
raised a) more raging storm. (The 
speaker was violently hurled to the bot- 
tom of the tribune. The ferment be- 
came excessive. 
Delbred desired that the members 
should swear anew to the Constitution 
of the year LN.—Chenier, Lucien, 
Boulay, trembled. ‘Phe chamber pro- 
eceded to the Appel Nominal. 
During, the Appel. Nominal, which 
Jasted,. more, than. two. hours, reports 
of what was «passing. were, circulated 
through the capital., The leaders of 
the assembly, du Manége, the tricoteuses, 
&eShastened up. Jourdan and Augercau 
had. kept. ont of the way; ,, believing 
Napoleon lost, they .made all. haste to 
Saint Clond. Augereau drew, near to 
Napoleon, and, said, ‘6 Well! here you 
are, in. apretty situation!” ‘“ Augereau,” 
replied Napoleon,, ‘“xemember: Arcole; 
matters appeared much more desperate 
there... Take my, advice,,and remain 
quict, if you would not fall a victim to 
this confusion., In half.an hour you; will 
see What a turn affairs will have taken.” 
The assembly appeared to, declare 
1 
Napoleon’s History of I'rance, 
itself, with so much unanimity, that ne 
deputy, durst sefuse .to swear to, the 
Constitution ;even, Lucien himself, was 
compelled to, swear. Shouts and eries 
of “ brave” were heard tbroughout-the 
chamber,. .;'The ;moment. was.critieals 
Many. members, .on, taking. the.eath, 
added, observations, and the) influenee 
of. such, speeches; might, operate upon 
the troops... All. minds were: in a:state 
of suspense ; the zealous became. neuter; 
the timid had. deserted) their, standard. 
Not.an instant was tobe lost. Napoleon 
crossed the saloon.of Mars,-entered, the 
Council of Aneients, aud, placed :him- 
self opposite to the president. )(At-the 
bar.) Is) o4 ald 4D 
“ You stand,” said he, “upon) a vol- 
cano; the Republic.no longer possesses 
a. government; the Dircetory isydis= 
solved; factions areat work; >the: bour 
of decision is come... You, have, called 
in my arm, andthe, arms of my) com- 
rades, to the support of your wistlom: 
but the moments are: precious ;) itiois 
necessary to take, an ostensible» part. 
I know that Cesar, and Cromwell,are 
talked of—as if, this day could: be;com- 
pared with past timess..Noyd:desine 
nothing but the safety of the Republic, 
and to maintain the resolutions:to whicls 
you are about to come,—Aud you, gre+ 
nadiers, whose caps, L»perceive atthe 
doors of this hall—speak—have I ever 
deceived you? Did 1 ever forfeitymy 
word, when in-camp, in otlie: midst:of 
privations, I promised you victory and 
plenty ; and when, at your head, bded 
you from conquest to, conquest 2o New» 
say, was it for my own aggrandisement;: 
or for the interest of the Republie2” «i 
The general spoke with energy. «Fhe 
grenadiers were electrified ; and, waving: 
their caps and, arms in-the air;sthey all 
scemed. ta. say, ‘Yes, true, true! be. 
always kept his word:t” fadeaoI9 0 
Upon this a member: (Limglet)rese) 
and said with a-lond: vdice, “ generaly 
we applaud what you'says swear then 
with us, obedience! to the constitution’ 
of the, year ILI. which alone:can pre: 
serve the Republic.” 
The astonishment caused> by othése 
words produced «the, most profound: 
silence. , Lodw, has: 
Napoleon recolleeted) himself for’ a), 
moment; and then went on againmem- 
phatically:. “ The iconstitution ofothes* 
year LL. !-+you have it no ‘longer—yor) 
violated) it-on) the eighteenth of Prue= 
tidor,, when the government: infringed) 
on the independence of the Legislative 
Body; you violated it on ‘the thisitieth 
Mo vinryotef 
iiiw? fiv7O8 
