We may notice in particular a change in the national oath of allegiance, by which one most important clause was entirely erased: namely, that expressive of hatred to _royalty_: and an edict, by which the celebration of the day on which Louis XVI.

died, was formally abolished.

Sieyes, in opposing this last measure, happened to speak of Louis as "the tyrant":--"Nay, nay," said Napoleon, "he was no tyrant: had he been one, I should this day have been a captain of engineers--and you saying mass." The Bourbons were very right in considering these as monarchical symptoms; but shrewd observers perceived clearly in whose favour such changes were designed to operate.

It appears that some of Napoleon's colleagues made a last effort to circumscribe his power, by urging on him the necessity of his immediately placing himself at the head of the armies in the field; expecting, no doubt, great advantages, could they remove him from the seat of government, at the time when the new machinery was getting into a regular course of motion.

He sternly resisted all such suggestions.