and the body of seven formed the departmental government.  The circles in their turn were divided into communes, each department containing sixty or seventy.  All these local administrations were, however, quite subordinate to the authority exercised by the central Representative Body.  For the purpose of electing this body the land was divided into ninety-four districts; each district into forty “Fundamental Assemblies,” each of 500 persons.  The forty “electors” chosen by these units in their turn elected the deputy for the department.  The ninety-four deputies formed the Representative Body, which was divided into two Chambers.  The Second Chamber of thirty members was annually chosen by lot from the ninety-four, the other sixty-four forming the First Chamber.  The framing and proposing of all laws was the prerogative of the First Chamber.  The Second Chamber accepted or rejected these proposed laws, but for a second rejection a two-thirds majority was required.  The Executive Power was vested in a Directorate of five persons, one of whom was to retire every year.  To supply his place the Second Chamber chose one out of three persons selected by the First Chamber.  The Directorate had the assistance of eight agents or ministers:  Foreign Affairs, War, Marine, Finance, Justice, Police, Education, and Economy.  Finance was nationalised, all charges and debts being borne in common.  Church and State were separated, payments to the Reformed ministers from the State ceasing in three years.

Such was the project, but it was not to be carried into effect without another coup d’etat.  It was now the duty of the Constituent Assembly to proceed to the election of a Representative Body.  Instead of this, on May 4, 1798, the Assembly declared itself to be Representative, so that power remained in the hands of the Executive Council, who were afraid of an election returning a majority of “moderates.”  But this autocratic act aroused considerable discontent amongst all except the extreme Jacobin faction.  The opponents of the Executive Council found a leader in Daendels, who, strong “unionist” though he was, was dissatisfied with the arbitrary conduct of this self-constituted government, and more especially in matters connected with the army.  Daendels betook himself to Paris, where he was favourably received by the Foreign Secretary, Talleyrand, and with his help was able to persuade the French Directory that it was not in their interest to support the Jacobin Council in their illegal retention of office.  Daendels accordingly returned to Holland, where he found the French commander, Joubert, friendly to his project, and three of the “agents,” including Pijman, the Minister of War, ready to help him.  Placed in command of the troops at the Hague, Daendels (June 12, 1798) arrested the directors and the presidents of the two Chambers.  The Constituent Assembly was dissolved and a new Representative Body was (July 31) elected.  The moderates, as was expected, were in a considerable majority; and five members of that party, Van Hasselt, Hoeth, Van Haersolte, Van Hoeft and Ermerius were appointed Directors.