he did wonders of activity.  He visited and put in a state of defence all the fortified places; raised an army, harangued the troops; arrested the emigration of the nobility, in the name of the common danger; nominated the generals, and summoned La Fayette, Rochambeau, and Luckner.  A patriotic sentiment, of which he was the soul, pervaded France; by rendering the throne the centre of the national defence, he rendered the king again popular for a short time, and in the enthusiasm felt for their country, all parties became reconciled.  His eloquence was rapid, brilliant, and sonorous as the clash and din of arms.  This expansion of his heart was a part of his character; he bared his breast to the eyes of his adversaries, and by this confidence won them to his side.

The first day of his appointment to office, instead of announcing his nomination by a letter to the president, as was customary with the other ministers, he proceeded to the Assembly, and mounted the tribune.  “I come to offer you,” said he, “the profoundest respect for the authority with which the people have invested you; from attachment for the constitution, to which I have sworn; a courageous love for liberty and equality—­yes, for equality, which has no longer any opponents, but which should nevertheless possess no less energetic supporters.”  Two days afterwards he gained the entire confidence of the Assembly, when speaking of the responsibility of the ministers.  “I accept,” cried he, “the definition of the situation of ministers just made, that tells us responsibility is death.  Spare no threats, no dangers.  Load us with personal fetters, but afford us the means of aiding the constitution to progress.  For my own part, I embrace this opportunity of entreating the members of this Assembly to inform me of every thing which they deem useful to the welfare of the nation, during my administration.  Our interests, our enemies are the same; and it is not the letter of the constitution only that we should seek to enforce, but the spirit; we must not seek merely to acquit ourselves, but to succeed.  You will see that the minister is convinced that there is no hope for liberty unless it proceed through you and from you:  cease then for awhile to mistrust us, condemn us afterwards if we have merited it; but first give us with confidence the means of serving you.”

Such words as these touched even the most prejudiced, and it was unanimously voted that the speech should be printed, and sent to all the departments.  In order to cement the reconciliation of the king and the nation, M. de Narbonne went to the committees of the Assembly, communicated to them his plans, discussed his measures, and won over all to his resolutions.  This government in common was the spirit of the constitution; the other ministers saw in this the abasement of the executive power and an abdication of royalty, whilst M. de Narbonne saw in it the sole means of winning back public feeling to the king.  Opinion had dethroned the royalty; it was to opinion that he looked to strengthen it, and therefore he made himself the minister of public opinion.