On this head, as on that of the concordat with the Pope, the Consul condescended to enter personally into discussion with the chief persons who differed from his opinion, or suspected his intentions; and if any, who heard his language on this occasion, doubted that both nobility and monarchy were designed to follow hard behind the Legion of Honour, they must have been singularly slow of understanding.

_Berthier_ had called ribbons and crosses "the playthings of monarchy," and cited the Romans of old as "having no system of honorary rewards." "They are always talking to us of the Romans," said Buonaparte.

"The Romans had patricians, knights, citizens, and slaves:--for each class different dresses and different manners--honorary recompenses for every species of merit--mural crowns--civic crowns--ovations--triumphs--titles.

When the noble band of patricians lost its influence, Rome fell to pieces--the people were vile rabble.

It was then that you saw the fury of Marius, the proscriptions of Sylla, and afterwards of the emperors.