HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
applause. The fact was, that the de- 
pression of the royalists always exci- 
ted unfeigned satisfaction in the vast 
multitudes, who, having. experi- 
“enced that contemptuous treatment 
of the inferior. classes, which had 
“characterised the monarchical gc- 
vernment, were willing to prefer to 
t any other that did not take aw-y 
rom them these ideas of equality 
‘ich, to some men, are of so es- 
ential an importance. 
_ Jhe transactions of the fourth of 
September were, however, but the 
telude to those that followed this 
memorable day. The directory had 
poly begun the great work which 
they had undertaken ia full confi- 
dence that, with the advantages this 
beginning had put into their hands, 
they should be able thoroughly to 
complete their designs. Their prin- 
al opponents in the council of five 
ndred, the most formidable body 
at thwarted them, were now in 
leir power: but alarge number of 
heir staunchest and most resolute 
s€rentsstil] remained, andit would 
ire no small degree of courage 
d exertion to deprive them of 
eir seats in the legislature. This 
vertheless was the only method 
by which to compass their views, 
hich were to put an end to the 
)position that had so much fet- 
1 all their“measures, and to 
ute their many plans without 
ature controul; firmly convinced, 
“that they were calculated for the 
) ntion of the return of mo- 
y, which they considered as 
the greatest of all political evils ; 
nd, probably, for, what they had 
least as much at heart, that 
their own power ; and, actuated 
these principles, the three re- 
aining directors, certain of the 
eliance they could place on each 
Lb. XXXIX, 
[si 
other's fidelity, resolved, that. pre- 
viously to the appointment of suc- 
cessors to their late colleagues, they 
would put the finishing hand to 
the business they had so prosper- 
ously commenced. ‘To this end, 
they framed a monitery message to 
the council of five hundred, which, 
as most contaminated by anti- 
revolutionary maxims and mem- 
bers, in the opinion of the ‘public, 
required a speedy and immediate 
reform. 
In this message, the directors no- 
tified to them, that the eighteenth 
of Fructidor was destined to be a 
day of salvation to the republic and 
to themselves. ‘Such was -the ex-- 
pectation of the public, of which 
the tranquillity; during the events 
of the preceding day, and the satis- 
faction with which it had beheld 
them, was undeniable. The eyes 
of the nation were now fixed upon 
its representatives, and it was in- 
cumbent upon them to complete 
the salutary measures so auspiciously 
entered upon. _ But no time should 
be lost, the moment was decisive, 
the conspirators were on the watch, 
the silence of the council had given 
them courage and audacity: they 
‘were still intriguing and striving té 
mislead the public -mind: they 
boasted that their plot éxtended to 
the legislative body it-elf: they al- 
ready spoke of punishing the re- 
publicans for their imaginary tri- 
umph ; was this, therefore, a rea- 
son to hesitate about the propriety 
of delivering the country frem its 
betrayers, however highly stationed ? 
Principles, said the directors, will be 
pleaded, forms resorted to, excuses 
for delay invented. Thus time wil 
be gained for them, and the consti- 
tution assassinated, under pretext of 
keeping within its limits, But ought 
[G] ; the 
