The First Consul dissembled his displeasure with that profound art which, when he could not do otherwise, he exercised to an extreme degree.  To a message of the Senate on the subject of that nomination he returned a calm but evasive and equivocating answer, in which, nourishing his favourite hope of obtaining more from the people than from the Senate, he declared with hypocritical humility, “That he would submit to this new sacrifice if the wish of the people demanded what the Senate authorised.”  Such was the homage he paid to the sovereignty of the people, which was soon to be trampled under his feet!

An extraordinary convocation of the Council of State took place on Monday, the 10th of May.  A communication was made to them, not merely of the Senate’s consultation, but also of the First Consul’s adroit and insidious reply.  The Council regarded the first merely as a notification, and proceeded to consider on what question the people should be consulted.  Not satisfied with granting to the First Consul ten years of prerogative, the Council thought it best to strike the iron while it was hot, and not to stop short in the middle of so pleasing a work.  In fine, they decided that the following question should be put to the people:  “Shall the First Consul be appointed for life, and shall he have the power of nominating his successor?” The reports of the police had besides much influence on the result of this discussion, for they one and all declared that the whole of Paris demanded a Consul for life, with the right of naming a successor.  The decisions on these two questions were carried as it were by storm.  The appointment for life passed unanimously, and the right of naming the successor by a majority.  The First Consul, however, formally declared that he condemned this second measure, which had not originated with himself.  On receiving the decision of the Council of State the First Consul, to mask his plan for attaining absolute power, thought it advisable to appear to reject a part of what was offered him.  He therefore cancelled that clause which proposed to give him the power of appointing a successor, and which had been carried by a small majority.

CHAPTER X.

1802.

General Bernadotte pacifies La vendee and suppresses a mutiny at Tours—­Bonaparte’s injustice towards him—­A premeditated scene—­ Advice given to Bernadotte, and Bonaparte disappointed—­The First Consul’s residence at St. Cloud—­His rehearsals for the Empire—­ His contempt of mankind—­Mr. Fox and Bonaparte—­Information of plans of assassination—­A military dinner given by Bonaparte—­Moreau not of the party—­Effect of the ‘Senates-consultes’ on the Consulate for life—­Journey to Plombieres—­Previous scene between Lucien and Josephine—­Theatrical representations at Neuilly and Malmaison—­ Loss of a watch, and honesty rewarded—­Canova at St. Cloud—­ Bonaparte’s reluctance