2] 
integrity and upright intentions of 
the representatives and rulers being 
constantly supported by a general 
simplicity of manners, and a sacred 
regard to the principles-of morality 
and religion, In the newly consti- 
tuted government of France both 
these kinds of steadiness were want- 
ing. It was less democratical indeed 
than that of 1793 ; but still the exe- 
cutive power was consigned into 
five hands instead of one only. It 
Was not stayed, as all other republics 
of any extent and durability have 
hitherto been, by some individual 
power, whether under the name of 
archon, duke, doge, king, stadthol- 
der, or the president of a congress. 
It was, impossible that five directors, 
and these Frenchmen too, should, 
for any length of time, act with har- 
mony. ‘They split into parties hos- 
tile and violent, in proportion to the 
power with which they were invest- 
ed: in order to retain which the 
preponderating party treated their 
rivals in the directory, and their 
opponents in the councils, with the 
most merciless severity, and repeat- 
edly violated the constitution, un- 
der the pretence of preserving it. 
Like their predecessors in the revo- 
lution, in default of simplicity of 
manners, and the other requisites to 
a genuine republic, they had re- 
course to intrigue and violence. Had 
their own manners been more pure 
than they were, without those ad- 
ventitious supports in so great and 
corrupt a commonwealth, and where 
all are so prone to direct, but none 
to be directed, they could not, for 
even ashort time, have held toge- 
ther any semblance of a regular fa- 
bric of government. 
There was one point however, in 
which the directory on their eleva- 
tion to power unanimously agreed. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
The jacobinical party, that had so 
long domineered in the public coun. 
cils, confident,as above related, from 
victory over thesectionsof Paris, and 
treading in the very footsteps of 
Robespierre, had appointed a com- 
mission of five, for the safety of the 
country ; and but for the bold and 
animated efforts of a few men would 
certainly have effected the slavery 
of France in the premanency of the 
convention. ‘I'he directors, cons 
scious of the general odium they, in 
common with the other leaders of 
the convention, had incurred on 
this attempt, and also of their mal- 
versation in precipitating the cone 
sideration of the new constitution, 
and garbling the reports that had 
been made concerning its accept- 
ance, determined to divert the 
minds of the nation from their own 
conduct, and to exhaust the public 
discontents by a prosecution of the 
war. If this should prove successful, 
of which they entertained not any 
‘ doubt, the merit would, .in a very 
great degree, be reflected on them- 
selves, and the enemies of the di- 
rectory would be regarded, by the 
nation at large, as enemies to the 
victories and glory of France. They 
were undoubtedly fortunate in the 
choice of their commanders. The 
successes of their generals occupied 
and dazzled the public mind for a 
time; but wisdom, constancy, and 
purity of design, without which no 
prosperity can be lasting, were 
wanting in the supreme councils. 
The armies were neglected ; the 
tide of success was turned; and 
finally, to shew how little that tem- 
porary success was owing to any 
principles inherent in the constitu- 
tion, the vast and stupendous ge- 
nius of one man, to which chiefly 
the directory were indebted for a 
temporary 
