The sudden rise of Bonaparte to supreme power cannot be understood without some reference to the state of French politics in the months preceding his return to France.  The position of parties had been strangely complicated by the unpopularity of the Directors.  Despite their illegal devices, the elections of 1798 and 1799 for the renewal of a third part of the legislative Councils had signally strengthened the anti-directorial ranks.  Among the Opposition were some royalists, a large number of constitutionals, whether of the Feuillant or Girondin type, and many deputies, who either vaunted the name of Jacobins or veiled their advanced opinions under the convenient appellation of “patriots.”  Many of the deputies were young, impressionable, and likely to follow any able leader who promised to heal the schisms of the country.  In fact, the old party lines were being effaced.  The champions of the constitution of 1795 (Year III.) saw no better means of defending it than by violating electoral liberties—­always in the sacred name of Liberty; and the Directory, while professing to hold the balance between the extreme parties, repressed them by turns with a vigour which rendered them popular and official moderation odious.

In this general confusion and apathy the dearth of statesmen was painfully conspicuous.  Only true grandeur of character can defy the withering influences of an age of disillusionment; and France had for a time to rely upon Sieyes.  Perhaps no man has built up a reputation for political capacity on performances so slight as the Abbe Sieyes.  In the States General of 1789 he speedily acquired renown for oracular wisdom, owing to the brevity and wit of his remarks in an assembly where such virtues were rare.  But the course of the Revolution soon showed the barrenness of his mind and the timidity of his character.  He therefore failed to exert any lasting influence upon events.  In the time of the Terror his insignificance was his refuge.  His witty reply to an inquiry how he had then fared—­“J’ai vecu “—­sufficiently characterizes the man.  In the Directorial period he displayed more activity.  He was sent as French ambassador to Berlin, and plumed himself on having persuaded that Court to a neutrality favourable to France.  But it is clear that the neutrality of Prussia was the outcome of selfish considerations.  While Austria tried the hazards of war, her northern rival husbanded her resources, strengthened her position as the protectress of Northern Germany, and dextrously sought to attract the nebula of middle German States into her own sphere of influence.  From his task of tilting a balance which was already decided, Sieyes was recalled to Paris in May, 1799, by the news of his election to the place in the Directory vacated by Rewbell.  The other Directors had striven, but in vain, to prevent his election:  they knew well that this impracticable theorist would speedily paralyze the Government; for, when previously elected