NAPOLEON’S ARRIVAL IN PARIS--HIS POPULARITY--DISSOLUTION OF
THE COUNCIL OF FIVE HUNDRED--GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE
SCENE--NAPOLEON, SIÈYES, AND DUCOS NAMED CONSULS.
Napoleon arrived in Paris at, for him, a happy moment, for the
Directory was then as good as defunct. There was a feeling that a
strong hand was needed to guide the affairs of the nation, and Generals
Moreau and Jubert had already been offered the post of First Magistrate
of the Republic, and each had declined the honour. When Napoleon
landed, he was hailed as THE MAN, and his arrival was telegraphed to
Paris, where it created an immense sensation.
On the day after his arrival, he had an interview with the Directors,
to whom he explained the state of the army in Egypt, and told them,
how, having heard of the disasters that had befallen their armies, he
had returned home to help them; but, although he was offered his choice
of commands, he would have none of them, and lived quietly at Paris.
The Council of Five Hundred even gave him a public dinner[51]--but he
was steadily working out the ends he had in view.
What that was, was evident to the English people, for his aim was
shown very amusingly in a caricature by an unknown artist (November
1799). Napoleon, who, even then, is represented as crowned, appears
as a crocodile, in jackboots and sword, squeezing the life out of two
frogs, whilst the dismay of the others is most comically rendered: a
bodyguard of crocodiles, in military uniform, back up their leader.
On November 9, he was made commandant of the forces in Paris, which
prepared him for the explosion of the 18th Brumaire, year 8 (November
10, 1799). The expulsion of the Council is most graphically told in
the ‘Times’ of November 18, eight days after the event, showing how
slowly news travelled then. The scene must have been painted by an
eye-witness, for it gives the whole previous debate--which at last
turned on Napoleon’s appointment as commandant. It is so well told, I
cannot help giving it in its entirety.
‘_Grandmaison._ “We are only offering crossing and contradicting
propositions, without coming to any decision: I move that you begin by
declaring the appointment of Buonaparte to be unconstitutional.”
‘“Yes, yes,” was resounded from several parts of the Hall.
‘L. (_ucien_) Buonaparte quitted the Chair, which he gave up to Chazal,
and said, “I entreat the Council calmly to reflect on the commotion
that has manifested itself. It may not be needless to represent”--(Here
he was interrupted by a loud voice, who said, “Do not attempt to amuse
us”)--“I propose” (continued Lucien Buonaparte) “that you summon the
General who commands to appear before you.”
‘“We do not acknowledge him,” exclaimed several Members.
‘“When cool consideration” (observed Buonaparte) “shall have stilled
in your breasts the extraordinary emotion which you have testified”
(_murmurs_), “you will, perhaps, be sensible of the injustice done
General Buonaparte. Whatever may be the event, I now, in your presence,
lay down on the altar of the Country, the badge of Magistracy with
which the people had invested me.”
‘On saying these words, he laid down his badge of office on the
President’s table: upon which the doors of the Hall were opened, and
twenty Grenadiers entered. They advanced towards the Bureau, took L.
Buonaparte into custody, and, placing him in the midst of them, they
conducted him out of the Hall.
‘The Council was seized with extreme agitation. Cries, vociferations,
and tumultuous confusion, arose from the Members suddenly quitting
their places. Not a word could be distinctly heard.
‘Grandmaison, Blin, Delbrel, Bigonnet, Sherlock, Crochon, and several
other Members, pressed forward towards the tribune.
‘Sherlock made an effort to speak, but could scarcely make himself
heard among the tumult. “I move,” said he, “that you call back your
President, whose resignation you have not accepted.”
‘“He could have done nothing better,” exclaimed several Members, “than
to have given it in.”
‘Meantime, at a distance was heard the sound of drums that beat the
_pas de charge_.... Soon after, for the third time, the doors of the
Hall were thrown open; and a third time the spectators endeavoured
precipitately to escape by leaping out of the windows.
‘An officer came forwards, followed by a numerous guard, exclaiming
with a loud voice, “_General Buonaparte orders the Hall to be
cleared_.” Upon which, the troops advanced into the Hall, the further
part of which remained occupied by the Deputies, who had not retired.
The soldiers suspended their march for a moment, in order to afford
time for the Hall to be cleared. About a Dozen of Members, among whom
was Blin, remained near the Tribune, or at the Bureau; one of them who
was at the Tribune, exclaimed,
‘“What are you, Soldiers? are you anything else than guardians of the
National Representation; and do you dare to menace its safety, to
incroach on its independence--is it thus that you tarnish the laurels
which your courage has won?”
‘This harangue was coldly listened to by the soldiers, who advanced
into the Hall with drums beating. The Members who stood near the Bureau
and the Tribune, were at length obliged to yield their places to the
soldiers, who took possession of them. As the latter advanced into the
Hall, these members went out at the opposite door. In a few minutes the
Hall was completely cleared. It was then five o’clock.
‘Several members set out immediately for Paris, others remained at
St. Cloud to observe the deliberations of the Council of Elders, and
the extraordinary movement of the troops who filled the square of the
palace. From time to time were heard the cries of _Vive Buonaparte!_
_Vive la République!_
‘General Buonaparte, on hearing the Council of Five Hundred had
withdrawn, advanced towards the soldiers and harangued them.
‘He entreated them to remain calm, and to rest assured that the good
cause should triumph. They all answered by shouts of _Vive Buonaparte!_’
The scene depicted in the accompanying illustration is somewhat
dramatically told by Napoleon himself in his proclamation of 19th
Brumaire: ‘I presented myself before the Council of Five Hundred,
alone, unarmed, my head uncovered, just as the Ancients had received
and applauded me. My object was to restore to the majority the
expression of its will, and to secure to it its power.
‘The stilettos which had menaced the Deputies, were instantly raised
against their deliverer. Twenty assassins rushed upon me, and aimed at
my breast. The grenadiers of the legislative body, whom I had left at
the door of the hall, ran forward, and placed themselves between me
and the assassins. One of these brave grenadiers (Thorne[52]) had his
clothes pierced by a stiletto. They bore me off.’
[Illustration: DISSOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF FIVE HUNDRED.]
Th’ appointed meeting now took place,
Producing tumult and disgrace,
Some of the members, when desired,
Refused to take the oath required,
Insisting Nap should not be spared
But as an outlaw be declared.
As President Nap’s brother sat,
So Lucien _hemm’d_ and _haw’d_ at that.
But so outrageous was the strife,
He found it hard to save his life;
His eloquence he now display’d,
‘Napoleon must be heard,’ he said.
Then Boney came--in great dismay;
Th’ Assembly ordered him away--
But such an order was mere _fudge_,
The brave Napoleon scorn’d to budge;
And several began to push in,
To tear to pieces Nap and Lucien.
Nap gave the word--his troops attended,
By grenadiers he was defended;
Tremendous now the hurly-burly,
Each phiz appear’d confounded surly;
They drew their daggers in a rage,
And civil war began to wage.
Amidst these violent attacks,
Now some were thrown upon their backs,
And others fell upon their faces,
And others, on their ---- proper places;
While many, uttering sad groans,
Were found upon their marrow bones.
Gillray, of course (November 21, 1799), touched on it, but not very
effectively, his picture ‘Exit Libertè a la Francais!--or--Buonaparte
closing the Farce of Égalité, at Saint Cloud, near Paris, November 10,
1799,’ being the weakest caricature of any on this subject. Napoleon is
directing his troops, who are charging the Council with fixed bayonets.
The Council met again at night, but simply to do as they were bid.
Thorne, the grenadier with the torn coat, was decreed to have deserved
well of his country, as were also Napoleon, Lefebvre, Murat, Berthier,
and many others. Sixty-one members of the Council were expelled, and
Article two of the Resolution, passed that night, says,--
‘The Legislative Body creates provisionally an Executive Consular
Committee, composed of Citizens Syeyes and Roger Ducos, Ex-Directors,
and Buonaparte, General. They shall bear the name of Consuls of the
French Republic.’