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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。
During the Consulate the Council of State was not only a body politic
collectively； but each individual member might be invested with special
power； as； for example； when the First Consul sent Councillors of State
on missions to each of the military divisions where there was a Court of
Appeal； the instructions given them by the First Consul were extensive；
and might be said to be unlimited。 They were directed to examine all the
branches of the administration； so that their reports collected and
compared together presented a perfect description of the state of France。
But this measure； though excellent in itself； proved fatal to the State。
The reports never conveyed the truth to the First Consul； or at least if
they did； it was in such a disguised form as to be scarcely recognisable；
for the Councillors well knew that the best way to pay their court to
Bonaparte was not to describe public feeling as it really was； but as he
wished it to be。 Thus the reports of the councillors of State only
furnished fresh arguments in favour of his ambition。
I must； however； observe that in the discussions of the Council of State
Bonaparte was not at all averse to the free expression of opinion。 He；
indeed； often encouraged it； for although fully resolved to do only what
he pleased； he wished to gain information； indeed； it is scarcely
conceivable how； in the short space of two years； Bonaparte adapted his
mind so completely to civil and legislative affairs。 But he could not
endure in the Tribunate the liberty of opinion which he tolerated in the
Council； and for this reasonthat the sittings of the Tribunate were
public； while those of the Council of State were secret； and publicity
was what he dreaded above all things。 He was very well pleased when he
had to transmit to the Legislative Body or to the Tribunate any proposed
law of trifling importance； and he used then to say that he had thrown
them a bone to gnaw。
Among the subjects submitted to the consideration of the Council and the
Tribunate was one which gave rise to a singular discussion； the ground of
which was a particular word； inserted in the third article of the treaty
of Russia with France。 This word seemed to convey a prophetic allusion
to the future condition of the French people； or rather an anticipated
designation of what they afterwards became。 The treaty spoke of 〃the
subjects of the two Governments。〃 This term applied to those who still
considered themselves citizens； and was highly offensive to the
Tribunate。 Chenier moat loudly remonstrated against the introduction of
this word into the dictionary of the new Government。 He said that the
armies of France had shed their blood that the French people might be
citizens and not subjects。 Chenier's arguments； however； had no effect
on the decision of the Tribunate； and only served to irritate the First
Consul。 The treaty was adopted almost unanimously； there being only
fourteen dissentient voices； and the proportion of black balls in the
Legislative Body was even less。
Though this discussion passed off almost unnoticed； yet it greatly
displeased the First Consul； who expressed his dissatisfaction in the
evening。 〃What is it；〃 said he； 〃these babblers want？ They wish to be
citizenswhy did they not know how to continue so？ My government must
treat on an equal footing with Russia。 I should appear a mere puppet in
the eyes of foreign Courts were I to yield to the stupid demands of the
Tribunate。。 Those fellows tease me so that I have a great mind to end
matters at once with them。〃 I endeavoured to soothe his anger； and
observed； that one precipitate act might injure him。 〃You are right；〃 he
continued； 〃but stay a little； they shall lose nothing by waiting。〃
The Tribunate pleased Bonaparte better in the great question of the
Consulate for life； because he had taken the precaution of removing such
members as were most opposed to the encroachments of his ambition。 The
Tribunate resolved that a marked proof of the national gratitude should
be offered to the First Consul； and the resolution was transmitted to the
Senate。 Not a single voice was raised against this proposition； which
emanated from Chabot de l'Allier； the President of the Tribunate。 When
the First Consul came back to his cabinet after receiving the deputation
of the Tribunate he was very cheerful； and said to me； 〃Bourrienne； it is
a blank cheque that the Tribunate has just offered me； I shall know how
to fill it up。 That is my business。〃
The Tribunate having adopted the indefinite proposition of offering to
the First Consul a marked proof of the national gratitude； it now only
remained to determine what that proof should be。 Bonaparte knew well
what he wanted； but he did not like to name it in any positive way。
Though in his fits of impatience； caused by the lingering proceedings of
the Legislative Body and the indecision of some of its members； he often
talked of mounting on horseback and drawing his sword； yet he so far
controlled himself as to confine violence to his conversations with his
intimate friends。 He wished it to be thought that he himself was
yielding to compulsion； that he was far from wishing to usurp permanent
power contrary to the Constitution； and that if he deprived France of
liberty it was all for her good； and out of mere love for her。 Such
deep…laid duplicity could never have been conceived and maintained in any
common mind； but Bonaparte's was not a mind of the ordinary cast。 It
must have required extraordinary self…command to have restrained so long
as he did that daring spirit which was so natural to him； and which was
rather the result of his temperament than his character。 For my part； I
confess that I always admired him more for what he had the fortitude not
to do than for the boldest exploits he ever performed。
In conformity with the usual form； the proposition of the Tribunate was
transmitted to the Senate。 From that time the Senators on whom Bonaparte
most relied were frequent in their visits to the Tuileries。 In the
preparatory conferences which preceded the regular discussions in the
Senate it has been ascertained that the majority was not willing that the
marked proof of gratitude should be the Consulate for life； it was
therefore agreed that the reporter should limit his demand to a temporary
prolongation of the dignity of First Consul in favour of Bonaparte。 The
reporter； M。 de Lacepede； acted accordingly； and limited the prolongation
to ten years； commencing from the expiration of the ten years granted by
the Constitution。 I forget which of the Senators first proposed the
Consulate for life； but I well recollect that Cambaceres used all his
endeavours to induce those members of the Senate whom he thought he could
influence to agree to that proposition。 Whether from flattery or
conviction I know not； but the Second Consul held out to his colleague；
or rather his master； the hope of complete success Bonaparte on hearing
him shook his head with an air of doubt； but afterwards said to me； 〃They
will perhaps make some wry faces； but they must come to it at last！〃
It was proposed in the Senate that the proposition of the Consulate for
life should take the priority of that of the decennial prolongation； but
this was not agreed to； and the latter proposition being adopted； the
other； of course； could not be discussed。
There was something very curious in the 'Senatus…consulte' published on
the occasion。 It spoke in the name of the French people； and stated
that； 〃in testimony of their gratitude to the Consuls of the Republic；〃
the Consular reign was prolonged for ten years； but that the prolongation
was limited to the First Consul only。
Bonaparte； though much dissatisfied with the decision of the Senate；
disguised his displeasure in ambiguous language。 When Tronchet； then
President of the Senate； read to him； in a solemn audience； at the head
of the deputation； the 'Senatus…consulte' determining th