Before removing from the Luxembourg to the Tuileries Bonaparte determined to dazzle the eyes of the Parisians by a splendid ceremony.  He had appointed it to take place on the ‘decadi’, Pluviose 20 (9th February 1800), that is to say, ten days before his final departure from the old Directorial palace.  These kinds of fetes did not resemble what they afterwards became; their attraction consisted in the splendour of military dress:  and Bonaparte was always sure that whenever he mounted his horse, surrounded by a brilliant staff from which he was to be distinguished by the simplicity of his costume, his path would be crowded and himself greeted with acclamations by the people of Paris.  The object of this fete was at first only to present to the ‘Hotel des Invalides’, their called the Temple of Mars, seventy-two flags taken from the Turks in the battle of Aboukir and brought from Egypt to Paris; but intelligence of Washington’s death, who expired on the 14th of December 1799, having reached Bonaparte; he eagerly took advantage of that event to produce more effect, and mixed the mourning cypress with the laurels he had collected in Egypt.

Bonaparte did not feel much concerned at the death of Washington, that noble founder of rational freedom in the new world; but it afforded him an opportunity to mask his ambitious projects under the appearance of a love of liberty.  In thus rendering honour to the memory of Washington everybody would suppose that Bonaparte intended to imitate his example, and that their two names would pass in conjunction from mouth to mouth.  A clever orator might be employed, who, while pronouncing a eulogium on the dead, would contrive to bestow some praise on the living; and when the people were applauding his love of liberty he would find himself one step nearer the throne, on which his eyes were constantly fixed.  When the proper time arrived, he would not fail to seize the crown; and would still cry, if necessary, “Vive la Liberte!” while placing it on his imperial head.

The skilful orator was found.  M. de Fontanes

   —­[L. de Fontenes (1767-1821) became president of the Corps
   Legislatif, Senator, and Grand Master of the University.  He was the
   centre of the literary group of the Empire,]—­

was commissioned to pronounce the funeral eulogium on Washington, and the flowers of eloquence which he scattered about did not all fall on the hero of America.

Lannes was entrusted by Bonaparte with the presentation of the flags; and on the 20th Pluviose he proceeded, accompanied by strong detachments of the cavalry then in Paris, to the council-hall of the Invalides, where he was met by the Minister of War, who received the colours.  All the Ministers, the councillors of, State, and generals were summoned to the presentation.  Lannes pronounced a discourse, to which herthier replied, and M. de Fontanes added his well-managed eloquence to the plain military oratory of the two generals.