CHAPTER XIII.

1802-1803.

The Concordat and the Legion of Honour—­The Council of State and the Tribunate—­Discussion on the word ’subjects’—­Chenier—­Chabot de l’Allier’s proposition to the Tribunate—­The marked proof of national gratitude—­Bonaparte’s duplicity and self-command—­Reply to the ’Senatus-consulte’—­The people consulted—­Consular decree—­ The most, or the least—­M. de Vanblanc’s speech—­Bonaparte’s reply—­ The address of the Tribunate—­Hopes and predictions thwarted.

It may truly be said that history affords no example of an empire founded like that of France, created in all its parts under the cloak of a republic.  Without any shock, and in the short space of four years, there arose above the ruins of the short-lived Republic a Government more absolute than ever was Louis xiv.’s.  This extraordinary change is to be assigned to many causes; and I had the opportunity of observing the influence which the determined will of one man exercised over his fellow-men.

The great object which Bonaparte had at heart was to legitimate his usurpations by institutions.  The Concordat had reconciled him with the Court of Rome; the numerous erasures from the emigrant list gathered round him a large body of the old nobility; and the Legion of Honour, though at first but badly received, soon became a general object of ambition.  Peace, too, had lent her aid in consolidating the First Consul’s power by affording him leisure to engage in measures of internal prosperity.

The Council of State, of which Bonaparte had made me a member, but which my other occupations did not allow me to attend, was the soul of the Consular Government.  Bonaparte felt much interest in the discussions of that body, because it was composed of the most eminent men in the different branches of administration; and though the majority evinced a ready compliance with his wishes, yet that disposition was often far from being unanimous.  In the Council of State the projects of the Government were discussed from the first with freedom and sincerity, and when once adopted they were transmitted to the Tribunate, and to the Legislative Body.  This latter body might be considered as a supreme Legislative Tribunal, before which the Tribunes pleaded as the advocates of the people, and the Councillors of State, whose business it was to support the law projects, as the advocates of the Government.  This will at once explain the cause of the First Consul’s animosity towards the Tribunate, and will show to what the Constitution was reduced when that body was dissolved by a sudden and arbitrary decision.