When its members at length found their way into the Orangery, the apartment allotted for them, a tumultuous clamour arose on every side.

_Live the Constitution! The Constitution or death! Down with the Dictator!_--such were the ominous cries.

Lucien Buonaparte, the president, in vain attempted to restore order: the _moderate_ orators of the council, with equal ill success, endeavoured to gain a hearing.

A _democrat_ member at length obtained a moment's silence, and proposed that the council should renew, man by man, the oath of fidelity to the Constitution of the year _three_.

This was assented to, and a vain ceremony, for it was no more, occupied time which might have been turned to far different account.