The factions, intimidated, dispersed and fled.  The majority, freed from their assaults, returned freely and peaceably into the hall; listened to the propositions made for the public safety, deliberated, and drew up the salutary resolution which will become the new and provisional law of the Republic.

Frenchmen, you doubtless recognise in this conduct the zeal of a
soldier of liberty, of a citizen devoted to the Republic. 
Conservative, tutelary, and liberal ideas resumed their authority
upon the dispersion of the factions, who domineered in the Councils,
and who, in rendering themselves the most odious of men, did not
cease to be the most contemptible. 

                              (Signed) Bonaparte, General, etc.

The day had been passed in destroying a Government; it was necessary to devote the night to framing a new one.  Talleyrand, Raederer, and Sieyes were at St. Cloud.  The Council of the Ancients assembled, and Lucien set himself about finding some members of the Five Hundred on whom he could reckon.  He succeeded in getting together only thirty; who, with their President, represented the numerous assembly of which they formed part.  This ghost of representation was essential, for Bonaparte, notwithstanding his violation of all law on the preceding day, wished to make it appear that he was acting legally.  The Council of the Ancients had, however, already decided that a provisional executive commission should be appointed, composed of three members, and was about to name the members of the commission—­a measure which should have originated with the Five Hundred—­when Lucien came to acquaint Bonaparte that his chamber ‘introuvable’ was assembled.

This chamber, which called itself the Council of the Five Hundred, though that Council was now nothing but a Council of Thirty, hastily passed a decree, the first article of which was as follows: 

The Directory exists no longer; and the individuals hereafter named are no longer members of the national representation, on account of the excesses and illegal acts which they have constantly committed, and more particularly the greatest part of them, in the sitting of this morning.

Then follow the names of sixty-one members expelled.

By other articles of the same decree the Council instituted a provisional commission, similar to that which the Ancients had proposed to appoint, resolved that the said commission should consist of three members, who should assume the title of Consuls; and nominated as Consuls Sieyes, Roger Ducos, and Bonaparte.  The other provisions of the nocturnal decree of St. Cloud had for their object merely the carrying into effect those already described.  This nocturnal sitting was very calm, and indeed it would have been strange had it been otherwise, for no opposition could be feared from the members of the Five Hundred, who were prepared to concur with Lucien.  All knew beforehand what they would have to do.  Everything was concluded by three o’clock in the morning; and the palace of St. Cloud, which had been so agitated since the previous evening, resumed in the morning its wonted stillness, and presented the appearance of a vast solitude.