Chabot de L'Allier, his creature, moved in the Tribunate that the Conservative Senate should be requested to mark the national feelings of gratitude by conferring some new honour on Napoleon.

The Senate proposed accordingly that he should be declared Consul for a second period of ten years, to commence on the expiration of his present magistracy.

He thanked them; but said he could not accept of any such prolongation of his power except from the suffrages of the people.

To the people the matter was to be referred; but the Second and Third Consuls, in preparing the edict of the Senate for public inspection and ratification, were instructed by their master-colleague to introduce an important change in its terms.
The question which they sent down was, "Shall Buonaparte be Chief Consul for life ?" No mention was made of _ten years_.

Books were opened as on a former occasion: the officers of government in the departments well knew in what method to conduct the business, and the voice of the nation was declared to be in favour of the decree.