The prelate who presided was the same Archbishop of Aix who had preached the coronation sermon of Louis XVI.
It was not easy, however, to procure the attendance of some of the revolutionary generals of the true republican race.

Berthier had invited a large party of them long beforehand to breakfast: he carried them from thence to the levee of the Chief Consul, and they found it impossible not to join in the procession.

Buonaparte asked one of these persons, after the ceremony was over, what he thought of it?
"It was a true _Capucinade_" was the answer.

To another of these, whom he thought less sincere, he said with a smile, "Things, you see, are returning to the old order." "Yes," the veteran replied, "all returns--all but the two millions of Frenchmen who have died for the sake of destroying the very system which you are now rebuilding." These officers are said to have paid dearly for their uncourtly language.

Moreau was not to be tampered with by Berthier.