Bonaparte and the consulate . im to defer no longer the completionof his labours (27th March 1804). A month later the FirstConsul replied by inviting the Senate to tell him all that wasin the minds of its members. These preconcerted communi-cations were of a private and confidential character; it wasdecided that the new stroke should be begun in the Tribunat,and the chief actors were informed of the parts they were toplay. All Paris talked about it, including the Bonaparte family,who were obviously engaged in preparing, or discovering, theopinion of the public on the scheme. Joseph Bonaparte,
Bonaparte and the consulate . im to defer no longer the completionof his labours (27th March 1804). A month later the FirstConsul replied by inviting the Senate to tell him all that wasin the minds of its members. These preconcerted communi-cations were of a private and confidential character; it wasdecided that the new stroke should be begun in the Tribunat,and the chief actors were informed of the parts they were toplay. All Paris talked about it, including the Bonaparte family,who were obviously engaged in preparing, or discovering, theopinion of the public on the scheme. Joseph Bonaparte, atany rate when in the society of Republicans, professed himselfopposed to the hereditary principle. It was not necessary to thesuccess of the plan to employ the Council of State, but it wasjudged advisable not to leave that body altogether outside themovement. In a sitting of the Council held towards the closeof Germinal, Cambacérès, who presided, announced that theFirst Consul desired to know the opinion of each member on. NAPOLKOX IX COROXATiON ROBES I)V LEFÈVRE FOUNDATION OF THE EMPIRE 311 a question which for some time past had absorbed his entireattention, and which would be fully explained to them byRegnault de Saint Jean dAngély. The First Consul, added Cambacérès, wishes you todiscuss this question, not in the formal manner of your usualdeliberations, but as a private meeting of citizens whose wisdomand prudence he well knows how to appreciate. I shall nowretire, and I recommend you to choose the place where youcan most conveniently meet, either here or elsewhere. Cam-bacérès and the Secretary of the Council, Locré, then retired,and a few minutes later the Councillors adjourned to theapartment occupied by the Section of the Interior. All these preliminaries, designed apparently to allow of theutmost freedom of expression on our part, clearly foretold whatwas to follow, and no one was surprised, when Regnault broughtforward the subject for our consideration, to
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