and one for peace, nominally the inferiors of the Elector, but in influence necessarily quite above him, and almost as necessarily the rivals and enemies of each other; these ingenious twins were strangled in the birth by Napoleon’s shrewd practical sense.  “Who,” said he, “would accept an office, the only duties of which were to fatten like a pig, on so many millions a year?  And your two consuls—­the one surrounded with churchmen, lawyers, and civilians—­the other with soldiers and diplomatists—­on what footing would be their intercourse? the one demanding money and recruits, the other refusing the supplies?  A government, made up of such heterogeneous and discordant materials, would be the shadow of a state.”  He added two words, which at once decided the main question; “I, for one, would never be your Grand Elector.”

The constitution actually announced by proclamation on the 14th of December, 1799, presents the following principal features.  I. The male citizens who are of age, and who pay taxes, in every commune shall choose a tenth of their number to be the notables of the commune; and out of those notables the officers of the commune shall be appointed.  II.  The notables of the communes constituting a department, shall choose, in like manner, the tenth of their number to be the notables of the department; and out of these the officers of the department shall be appointed.  III.  The notables of all the departments shall, in the same way, choose the tenth of their number to be notables of France; and out of these the public functionaries of The State shall be chosen.  IV.  Three assemblies shall be composed of persons chosen from the notables of France, viz.—­1.  The Conservative Senate, consisting (at first) of twenty-four men, of forty years of age, to hold their places for life, and to receive, each, a salary equal to 1-20th of that of the chief consul:  2. The Tribunate, to be composed of 100 men, of twenty-five years of age and upwards, of whom 1-5th go out every year, but re-eligible indefinitely; the salary of each 15,000 francs (L625); and thirdly, The Legislative Senate, composed of 300 members, of thirty years of age, renewable by fifths every year, and having salaries of 10,000 francs (L416).  V. The executive power shall be vested in three consuls, chosen individually, as chief consul, second and third; the two former for ten years, the last for five.  VI.  In order that the administration of affairs may have time to settle itself, the tribunate and legislative senate shall remain as first constituted for ten years, without any re-elections.  VII.  With the same view, of avoiding discussions during the unsettled state of opinion, a majority of the members of the conservative senate are for the present appointed by the consuls, Sieyes and Ducos, going out of office, and the consuls, Cambaceres and Lebrun, about to come into office; they shall be held to be duly elected, if the public acquiesce; and proceed