To consult the people on the restoration of monarchy would, as yet, have been as inopportune as it was superfluous.

After gaining complete power, Bonaparte could be well assured as to the establishment of an hereditary claim.

The former and less offensive part of the proposal was therefore submitted to the people; and to it there could be only one issue amidst the prosperity brought by the peace, and the surveillance exercised by the prefects and the grateful clergy now brought back by the Concordat.

The Consulate for Life was voted by the enormous majority of more than 3,500,000 affirmative votes against 8,374 negatives.

But among these dissentients were many honoured names: among military men Carnot, Drouot, Mouton, and Bernard opposed the innovation; and Lafayette made the public statement that he could not vote for such a magistracy unless political liberty were guaranteed.