State politics by numerous links, which, however, are not of so intimate a nature as those of the other departments.  If you will allow me, General, I should advise that the control over the Administration of Justice be given to the Second Consul, who is well versed in jurisprudence; and to the Third Consul, who is equally well acquainted with Finance, the control over that department.  That will occupy and amuse them, and you, General, having at your disposal all the vital parts of the government, will be able to reach the end you aim at, the regeneration of France.”

Bonaparte did not hear these remarkable words with indifference.  They were too much in accordance with his own secret wishes to be listened to without pleasure; and he said to me as soon as Talleyrand had taken leave, “Do you know, Bourrienne, I think Talleyrand gives good advice.  He is a man of great understanding.”—­“Such is the opinion,” I replied, “of all who know him.”—­“He is perfectly right.”  Afterwards he added, smiling, “Tallyrand is evidently a shrewd man.  He has penetrated my designs.  What he advises you know I am anxious to do.  But again I say, he is right; one gets on quicker by oneself.  Lebrun is a worthy man, but he has no policy in his head; he is a book-maker.  Cambaceres carries with him too many traditions of the Revolution.  My government must be an entirely new one.”

Talleyrand’s advice had been so punctually followed that even on the occasion of the installation of the Consular Government, while Bonaparte was receiving all the great civil and military officers of the State in the hall of presentation, Cambaceres and Lebrun stood by more like spectators of the scene than two colleagues of the First Consul.  The Minister of the Interior presented the civil authorities of Paris; the Minister of War, the staff of the 17th military division; the Minister of Marine, several naval officers; and the staff of the Consular Guard was presented by Murat.  As our Consular republicans were not exactly Spartans, the ceremony of the presentations was followed by grand dinner-parties.  The First Consul entertained at his table, the two other Consuls, the Ministers, and the Presidents of the great bodies of the State.  Murat treated the heads of the army; and the members of the Council of State, being again seated in their hackney-coaches with covered numbers, drove off to dine with Lucien.

Before taking possession of the Tuileries we had frequently gone there to see that the repairs, or rather the whitewashing, which Bonaparte had directed to be done, was executed.  On our first visit, seeing a number of red caps of liberty painted on the walls, he said to M. Lecomte, at that time the architect in charge, “Get rid of all these things; I do not like to see such rubbish.”