However, without speaking as positively as if I had myself been an eye-witness of the scene, I do not hesitate to declare that all that has been said about assaults and poniards is pure invention.  I rely on what was told me, on the very night, by persons well worthy of credit, and who were witnessess of all that passed.

As to what passed at the sitting, the accounts, given both at the time and since, have varied according to opinions.  Some have alleged that unanimous cries of indignation were excited by the appearance of the military.  From all parts of the hall resounded, “The sanctuary of the laws is violated.  Down with the tyrant!—­down with Cromwell!—­down with the Dictator!  “Bonaparte stammered out a few words, as he had done before the Council of the Ancients, but his voice was immediately drowned by cries of “Vive la Republique!” “Vive la Constitution!” “Outlaw the Dictator!” The grenadiers are then said to have rushed forward, exclaiming, “Let us save our General!” at which indignation reached its height, and cries, even more violent than ever, were raised; that Bonaparte, falling insensible into the arms of the grenadiers, said, “They mean to assassinate me!” All that regards the exclamations and threats I believe to be correct; but I rank with the story of the poniards the assertion of the members of the Five Hundred being provided with firearms, and the grenadiers rushing into the hall; because Bonaparte never mentioned a word of anything of the sort to me, either on the way home, or when I was with him in his chamber.  Neither did he say anything on the subject to his wife, who had been extremely agitated by the different reports which reached her.

After Bonaparte left the Council of the Five Hundred the deliberations were continued with great violence.  The excitement caused by the appearance of Bonaparte was nothing like subsided when propositions of the most furious nature were made.  The President, Lucien, did all in his power to restore tranquillity.  As soon as he could make himself heard he said, “The scene which has just taken place in the Council proves what are the sentiments of all; sentiments which I declare are also mine.  It was, however, natural to believe that the General had no other object than to render an account of the situation of affairs, and of something interesting to the public.  But I think none of you can suppose him capable of projects hostile to liberty.”

Each sentence of Lucien’s address was interrupted by cries of “Bonaparte has tarnished his glory!  He is a disgrace to the Republic!”

Lucien
     —­[The next younger brother of Napoleon, President of the Council of
     the Five Hundred in 1799; Minister of the Interior, 1st December
     1799 to 1841; Ambassador in Spain, 1801 to December 1801; left
     France in disgrace in 1804; retired to Papal States; Prisoner in
     Malta and England, 1810 to 1814; created by Pope in 1814 Prince de