1799.] 
cients, on the gth of Oétober, paffed feveral 
decrees to the following effect: “* That 
the egiflative body fhould be transferred to 
the commune of St.Cloud, about four miles 
from Paris, onthe following day, where 
the two councils fhould hold their fitting. 
—That General Buonaparte fhould be 
charged with the execution of this decree, 
and fhould take every meafure neceflary for 
the fafety of the national reprefentation.— 
That the guard of the legiflative body, 
the ftationary national guards, the troops 
of the line, who may be without the com- 
mune of Paris, and the whole extent of 
the ftation of the 27th divifion, fhould be 
put directly under his orders, and com- 
manded to acknowledge him in that capa- 
city, All the citizens fhall affift him with 
their ability, when called upon to do fo.— 
That he fhall confult with the committee of 
1nfpection of the two councils. —That the 
prefent decree fhould be communicated by 
mefiage to the Council of Five Hundred, 
and to the Executive Dire€tory ; and 
tran{mitted to all the communes of the 
republic by extraordinary couriers. 
After thefe decrees had been pafied, the 
Council of Ancients proceeded to publifh 
an addrefs to the French nation, juftifica- 
tory of their own conduét, and afferting, 
** That the common fafety and the com- 
mon profperity were the objects of this 
conftitutional meafure ; the inhabitants of 
Paris were defired to remain tranquil ; 
that the prefence of the legiflative body 
would foon be reftored to them; that the 
refults of the day would foon fhew whether 
the legiflative body was worthy and ca- 
pable of preparing the means of their 
happinels.”’ 
General Buonaparte appeared at the 
bar, accompanied by feveral generals of 
his ftaff, and addreffed the council in a 
thort {peech, in which he reprefented, that 
the republic was perifhing, and they knew 
it ; but that the decree they had juit pafled 
had faved it.—T hat, aided by his compa- 
nions inarms, he would arre{t thofe who 
had difturbed it. § We will,” fays he, 
“‘ have a republic founded on true liberty 
and national reprefentation ; I {wear it in 
my name, and that of my companions in 
arms.’’ Moft of the members prefent re- 
ceived thefe exclamations with applaules. 
The affembly then broke up, amidft cries 
of Vive ha republique ! 
On the fame day, about eleven o'clock, 
thofe members of the Council of Five 
Hundred, who had been fummoned by the 
committee of infpedtors aflembled. A mef- 
fenger of flate from the Council of Ancients 
was jntroduced, when the decree above- 
State of Public Affairs. 
9°7 
mentioned was read, and likewife the pro- 
clamation to the people. The Prefident 
then adjourned the fitting till the next 
day at noon, ftating, that it would then 
be held at St. Cloud. 
Agreeably to the above decree the — 
Council of Five Hundred met on the roth 
at St. Cloud. The minutes of the pre- 
ceding fitting being read, Gaudin moved, 
1. That a committee of feven members be 
appointed to makea report on the fituation 
of the Republic, and the meafures of pub- 
lic fafety which it would be proper to’ 
2. That the committee make its 
adopt. 
report in one fitting. 3. That all pro- 
pofitions be referred to it. 4. That every 
determination and deliberation be fufpended 
until the report of the committee be made. 
_A ftormy debate enfued, in which feveral 
members called out, ** No Didétator !—Noa 
Ditatorfhip 1” 
Deibrel then afcended the Tribune, and 
faid—** Firft of all let us take an oath of 
fidelity to the Conftitution.”” Yes! yes! 
exclaimed all the members at once; and 
the cry of Vive la Conjittution! relounded 
from every part of the hall. 
Grandmaifon then fpoke, and contend- 
ed, that the Council, before they appointed 
a committee to confider what they were to 
do, ought to appoint a committee to in- 
quire what had been done.—He propofed, 
therefore, to demand of the Council of 
Elders to be informed of the motives 
which dictated their removal to St. Cloud. 
This motion was feconded by the exclama- 
tion of a greatnumber. The fenfe of the 
aflembly being taken, a confiderable nam- 
ber of members ftood up in fupport of this 
motion. Many voices called out for the 
oath. The Prefident ftated, that a pro- 
ofal had been made to inform the Council 
of Elders that the Council of Five Hun- 
dred was conftituted. 
Several. members propofed likewife to- 
inform the Directory. One of the mem- 
bers obferved upon this occafion, ‘* Bes 
fore we fend the meflage, we muft firft 
know where the Directory are;’? which 
excited a loud laugh. At length the fol- 
lowing declaration was adopted—‘* The 
Council of Five Hundred declare to the 
Republic that they are conftituted to the 
number of a majority at St. Cloud, and 
that they are fitting in that Commune.” 
Bertrand (of Calvados) moved, that the 
declaration fhould ftate the firm refolution 
of the Council to die rather than permit 
the Conftitution to be violated. This 
propofition was dropped. . 
In this ftage of the proceedings the Se- 
cretary read a letter from Barras, flating, 
- that 
