^36 MEMOIRS OF 



of the Interior, and the law was prepared ; but 

 after a meeting of the Council of State, presided 

 by the Due de Richelieu, I demanded a dis- 

 cussion of these questions in his presence before 

 a new assemblage of the Committees. I believe 

 that I never spoke with so much fire ; and, not- 

 withstanding the violence of and , 



thanks to the upright and honest mind of the 

 Due de Richelieu, I succeeded in getting the 

 articles concerning secret plots entirely erased. 

 There yet remained the visitation of former 



offences to be overcome. M. de opposed 



it in the Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, 

 where it was defended by two counsellors of 

 state ; I was invited to join them, as I should 

 naturally have been obliged to do in my office of 

 Commissaire du Roi, but I refused, and the law 

 did not pass. The Prevotal Courts have already 

 caused evil enough by the manner of their esta- 

 blishment, but I venture to affirm, that their mis- 

 chievous effects w^ould have been incalculable if 

 the plan had not been changed on these two 

 points. I am the sole cause with respect to that 

 of the secret plots, but with regard to the punish- 

 ment of past offences, M, de contributed 



with me to its being abandoned." 



Always guided by the feeling of the good he 



