during his own Reign. 
of Prairial, inthe year VIT.,'when the 
Levislative “Body ‘stratk “at the. inde- 
pendence’ of the goverment; you vib- 
lated it'on the twent¥=second of Floreal; 
when; bya 'Sacrifegious “decree, the 
Goverment! atid the “Legislative Body 
invaded the sovereignty of the’ people, 
by®annulling the elections made by 
then. “Phe' Constitution being violated, 
tlére- ‘must’'be’ a new compact, new 
guarantees.” © i 
'Fhe®s force’ of this speech, and the 
energy°of the General, brought over 
three-fourths of the members of Comneil, 
who rose:to indicate ‘their approbation. 
Cornudet and Reguier spoke powerfully 
io the same effect. A member rose in 
opposition; he. denounced’ the Gencral 
as’ the-only conspirator against public 
liberty. Napoleon interrupted the ora- 
tor and declared ‘that he was in the 
secret’ of every party, and that all des- 
pised) the:Consfitution of the year TIT. ; 
that:the-only difference existing between 
them was;othat| some ‘desired to have a 
moderate Republic, in which all the na+ 
tional interests, and ail property, should 
beiguaranteed); while, on the other band, 
the-othérs wished for a revolutionary: 
government)as warranted by the dangers 
of ithe countrys. At this moment Napo- 
leon, was informed that the Appel No- 
minal was. terminated) in the Coancil of 
Five Hundred, and that they were en- 
deavouring to: force the president Lu- 
cien to put tlie outlawrg of his brother to 
thes vote... Napoleon immediately has- 
tened tothe Five Hundred, entered the 
chamber with his hat off, and ordered the 
officers and» soldiers who accompanicd 
him, to-remain at the doors; he was de- 
sirotis to, presert ‘himself at the bar, to 
rally bis party, which was numerous, but 
Which had Jost all unity and resolution. 
But to.get.to the bar, it was necessary 
to cross half the chamber, because the 
President had his seat on one of the 
wings: «When Napoleon had advanced 
alone across one-third of the orangery, 
two or three hundred members suddenly 
rose, crying, “ Death to the tyrant! 
down with the dictator!” 
ofDso grenadiers, who, bythe order of 
the General, had remained at the door, 
and who had reluctantly obeyed, saying 
to him, You do not know them, ‘they 
are-capable of any) thing!” -rashed in, 
-sabre in band, overthrowing all that op- 
posed their passage, to join the General, 
and cover him with their bodies. » All 
the other: grenadiers followed» this \ex- 
ample, and forced, Napoleon out of the 
chamber, In the confusion one of them, 
Monruty Mac. No, 301. 
617 
named Thomé, was slightly wounded by 
the'thrust of a dager; andthe clothes 
of another ‘were cut through, ©) 
Tlie General descended into the court- 
yard, called the troops ito a circle by 
beat of drum, got’ on borseback, and 
harangued them: “ I-was about,” said 
he, * to point ont to them the means of 
saving the Republic, and: restoring our 
glory. They answered me with their 
daggers. It was thus they would have 
accomplished the wishes of the allied 
kings. What more could England have 
done? Soldiers, may I rely upon you?” 
Unanimous acclamations formed ihe 
reply to this speech, Napoleon instantly 
ordered a captain to go with ten men 
into the chamber of the Five Hundred, 
and to Jiberate the President. par 
Lucien had just thrown off his robe. 
“ Wretches!” exclaimed he, “ you in- 
sist that Pshould put out‘of the protec- 
tion of the laws my brother, the saviour 
of the country, him whose very name 
causes kings to tremble! T lay aside the 
insignia of the popular magistracy; I 
offer myself in the tribune as the defender 
of him, whom you command me to im- 
molate unheard.” 5B Ss 
Tuas saying, he quitted the chair, and 
darted into the tribune. "The officer of 
“ grenadiers then presented himself at the 
doot of the chamber, exclaitning, “ Vive 
la République!” It was supposed that 
the troops were sending a ‘deputation to 
express their devotion to the councils. 
The captain was received with a joyful 
expression of feeling. © He availed him- 
self of the misapprehension, approached 
the tribune, and secured the President, 
saying to him in a low voice, “It is 
your brother’s order.” The grtenadiers 
at the same time shouted. “Dowa with 
the assassins !’”” 
Upon these exclamations, the joy of 
the members was converted into sadness; 
a gloomy sileuce testified the dejection 
of the whole assembly. No opposition 
was offered to the departure of the Pre- 
sident, who left the chamber, rushed igto 
the court-yard, mounted a ‘horse,’ and 
cried owt in his stentorian voice, ‘* Gene- 
ral—and you, soldiers—the President of 
the Council of Five Hundred proclaims 
to you’ that factions men, with’ drawn 
daggers, have interrupted the delibera- 
tions of that assembly. He calls apon 
you to employ force against these dise 
turbers. ‘The Council of Five Hundred 
is dissolved.” 
“President,” replied the General, “it 
shall be done.” NS 
“He then ordered Murat into the 
4K chamber 
