2802.) 
After the grofs political errors commit- 
ted by the Direétory, and their incapacity 
and profligacy fo flagrantly evinced, the 
elevation of Bonaparte to the fupreme 
Magiftracy, was not an event that excited 
in. us any furprife. He had proved him- 
felf a great man, and effentially fervice- 
able to the Republic in its utmoft exigen- 
cies.. ** Great let us call him,” &e. and 
fuch his enemies mutt allow him to be 5 
-but from a great man: we had expected 
fomething better. Bonzparte had two 
eminent examples before him. Czfar and 
Wafhington, like Bonaparte, were both 
childlefs ; both had waged a fuccefsful 
war in the fervice of their refpettive ftates, 
though under different circumftances.— 
Both were able Generals, and expert 
Statefmen: but their political career was 
marked by very different circumftances. 
‘The one trampled on the liberties of his 
country—the other eftablifhed them; the 
one fought in all things his perfonal eleva- 
tion, and gratified his perfonal ambition— 
the other {acrificed'no public object to his 
felfith views, but was, on every occafion, 
the friend only of his country. The one 
was unfatisfied with every elevation fhort 
of a throne—the other wifhed only toreign 
in the hearts of his countrymen. The one 
died in the purfuit of his ambitious de- 
figns by the avenging ftcel of ‘¢ the lat of 
the Romans”—the other retired, when he 
could render no further fervice to his coun- 
try, and died with the heartfelt regret of 
his fellow-citizens, and the admiration of 
the world. 
The Chriftian hero would have been an 
object truly worthy of imitation; but Bo- 
naparte, we fear, has not chofen him as a 
mode]. Defpotifm is never fo inveterate 
as when the fprings and movements are 
concealed. In the French and Italian Con- 
{iitutions we difcover nothing but a com- 
plete form of tyranny. They are confti- 
tuted on the intricate plan of the Venetian 
Government (the worft of modern tyran- 
nies) and not on the fimple and natural 
arrangements of that of Britain, where 
all political power obwioufly emanates from 
the great body of the people, but where 
- authorities are fo nicely balanced, that no 
danger refults from the ebullitions of de- 
mocracy. 
Extenfive, however, as were the powers 
he pofleffed, they were inadequate to the 
afpirations of Boxaparte’s ambition ; and 
the firit circumitance we. have to re- 
port on this occafion is the adoption of a 
new Conftitution, which, under the form 
gf a Senatus Confultum, was made prib- 
icon the asth of Augult,. This Con- 
} 
State of Public Affairs in September, 1802. 269 
ftitution, it appears, is not to be fanétion- 
ed by the people in any- form, but refts 
altogether on the authority of the Senate. 
It invefts the Chief Conful with what may 
be properly termed defpotic authority.— 
He can nominate a large additional num- 
ber of Senators, and is invefted with the 
fole power of appointing the two fubor- 
dinate Confuls, and of nominating his fuc- 
cefior. 
The Chief Conful has alfo the fame 
power as the King of England, of ex- 
tending mercy to criminals ; and, in every 
branch of executive government, he atts 
without controul. 
‘There are to be affemblies in each Can- 
ton, which returns two perfons, one of 
whom, at the choice of the Firft Conful, 
is to exercife for ten years the office of Juf= 
tice of the Peace, and alfo two as fupple- 
mental Juftices. The members of the Mu- 
nicipal Councils are alfo cholen'*by the 
cantonal affemblies ; but the Firft Conful 
nominates the Mayors and Affifants. 
They nominate alfo the Eleftoral Col- 
leges. 
“The Eleétoral Colleges confift of one 
member for every five hundred houfehold- 
ers ina circuit. The numbers cannot be 
more than two hundred, nor lefs than one 
hundred and twenty : the members are for 
life, and the Firft Conful may add twenty 
to their number. The Electoral Colleges 
form part of the lift from which are to be 
chofen the members of the Tribunate, nov 
reduced to the number of fifty ; they re- 
turn the members for the Council of the 
department ; and, at each meeting, two 
‘perfons, to form the lift from whom the 
Senate are to be named, and two alfo to 
form the lift from whom the Legiflature 
is to be nominated. 
The Senate regulates the Conftitution 
for the colonies, and every thing not pro- 
vided for by the Conftitution, and alfo ex- 
plains the meaning of its articles. It can 
fufpend the funétions of juries, or proclaim 
certain departments out of the. proteétion 
of the Conftitution. It can annul ‘the 
judgments of the tribunals, ‘It diffolves 
the Legiflative Body, &c. 
The Council of State confilts of fifty 
members; divided into fections. 
The Legiflative Body is to bear a pro- 
portion tothe population. They are chan- 
gedence in five years. The Government 
conyok:s, adjourns, and prorogues it. 
Such are the principal outlines of this 
Conftitution, in which the Trial by Fury 
is fearcely mentioned, and the fyitem of 
jurifprudence appears to be one of the 
worlt and moft corrupt that can be con- 
trived 
