64] ANNUAL REGISTER, 179% 
ina great measure, was due the 
triumph of the late convention over 
those who opposed the re-election 
of twothirds of that body, on the 
establishment of the present consti+ 
tution, To oust aman of his chas 
racter from the directory, would 
certainly have proved a leading step 
to the execution of the designs en- 
tertained bythe opposition: but the 
only method, whereby toeffect such 
an attempt, was to prove him of 
years insufficient forso high a pro= 
motion, Every kind of exertion 
was employed for the purpose of 
ascertaining the reality of this dis- 
qualification: but they all failed, 
and he remained in the possession of 
his seat. 
These feuds between the councils 
and the directory, were viewed with 
much disapprobation by the mode- 
rate part of both, That of the an- 
eients, which had, since its instituti- 
on, been remarkable for interposing 
its weight, either in obviating or 
suppressing differences, acted, on 
this occasion, with its usual imparti- 
ality and discretion. It negatived 
the motions that had been earried, 
for abolishing several of the powers 
hitherto exercised by the directory, 
and suspended its assent to some de- 
crees that appeared too favourable 
to the nonjuring clergy, But the 
die was cast, and all endeavours at 
reconciliation were lost in the inve- 
teracy now daily increasing between 
the contending parties. 
There werein the opposition se - 
veral individuals of noted courage. 
‘The most conspicuous of these were 
Pichegru and Willot, who, being 
both military men, were, conforma- 
bly to the spirit of their profession, 
earnest in promoting active mea- 
sures, To these two were entrusted 
the charge of new-modelling the 
national guard, This numerous bos 
dy of menhdd, by the constitution, 
been placed underthe immediate mas 
nagement of the directory, which 
had the appointment of all the offi 
vers, The altetation proposed by 
Pichegru and Willot was, that in 
each department a select number of 
reputable persons, elected for that 
purpose, should make out a list, to 
which the nomination of officersby 
the directofy should be confined. 
This scheme was much applauded, as 
neither depriving that body of the 
elective privilege, vested in it, nor 
giving them too much power in its 
exercise. The proposal, therefore, 
was readily accepted, and- passed, 
on a motion, in the affirmative, 
The directory, onthe other hand, 
acting’ with the expedition of men 
conscious of being beforehand with 
their adversaries, pursued, with 
equal secrecy and vigour, the meae 
sures it had adopted against the op- 
position, The arrival of a body of 
troops, within seven leagues of Pa- 
ris, was announced in that city, on 
the twentieth of July, tothe great 
surprize and ‘anxiety of the council 
of five hundred, who could not 
mistake the cause of theirapproach 
to the capital so much nearer than 
the laws permitted, Ten years ime 
prisonment was the sentence incurs 
red by the directory, for bringing a 
‘military forcewithin such a distance 
of any place where the legislature 
held its meetings. Convinced that 
such an infraction of the constitu- 
tion could not have taken place 
without the orders, either positive 
or imphed, of the directory, the ~ 
council instantly laid a formal come — 
plaint of it before that body. But 
the answer was, that the moment 
the directors were apprised of it, — 
they ordered the troops te remove 
to 
