The signature of the definitive treaty of peace with Great Britain (March 25th, 1802) sufficed to drown the muttered discontent of the old republican party under the paeans of a nation’s joy.  The jubilation was natural.  While Londoners were grumbling at the sacrifices which Addington’s timidity had entailed, all France rang with praises of the diplomatic skill which could rescue several islands from England’s grip and yet assure French supremacy on the Continent.  The event seemed to call for some sign of the nation’s thankfulness to the restorer of peace and prosperity.  The hint having been given by the tactful Cambaceres to some of the members of the Tribunate, this now docile body expressed a wish that there should be a striking token of the national gratitude; and a motion to that effect was made by the Senate to the Corps Legislatif and to the Government itself.

The form which the national memorial should take was left entirely vague.  Under ordinary circumstances the outcome would have been a column or a statue:  to a Napoleon it was monarchy.

The Senate was in much doubt as to the fit course of action.  The majority desired to extend the Consulate for a second term of ten years, and a formal motion to that effect was made on May 7th.  It was opposed by a few, some of whom demanded the prolongation for life.  The president, Tronchet, prompted by Fouche and other republicans, held that only the question of prolonging the Consulate for another term of ten years was before the Senate:  and the motion was carried by sixty votes against one:  the dissentient voice was that of the Girondin Lanjuinais.  The report of this vote disconcerted the First Consul, but he replied with some constraint that as the people had invested him with the supreme magistrature, he would not feel assured of its confidence unless the present proposal were also sanctioned by its vote:  “You judge that I owe the people another sacrifice:  I will give it if the people’s voice orders what your vote now authorizes.”  But before the mass vote of the people was taken, an important change had been made in the proposal itself.  It was well known that Bonaparte was dissatisfied with the senatorial offer:  and at a special session of the Council of State, at which Ministers were present, the Second Consul urged that they must now decide how, when, and on what question the people were to be consulted.  The whole question recently settled by the Senate was thus reopened in a way that illustrated the advantage of multiplying councils and of keeping them under official tutelage.  The Ministers present asserted that the people disapproved of the limitations of time imposed by the Senate; and after some discussion Cambaceres procured the decision that the consultation of the people should be on the questions whether the First Consul should hold his power for life, and whether he should nominate his successor.