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would prevent the Abbe Bernier from getting the red hat。〃
These gentlemen left the First Consul when his toilet was finished； and
went to make their own。 The First Consul wore on that day the costume of
the consuls； which consisted of a scarlet coat without facings； and with
a broad embroidery of palms； in gold； on all the seams。 His sword； which
he had worn in Egypt； hung at his side from a belt； which； though not
very wide； was of beautiful workmanship； and richly embroidered。 He wore
his black stock； in preference to a lace cravat； and like his colleagues；
wore knee…breeches and shoes； a French hat； with floating plumes of the
three colors； completed this rich costume。
The celebration of this sacrament at Notre Dame was a novel sight to the
Parisians； and many attended as if it were a theatrical representation。
Many； also； especially amongst the military； found it rather a matter of
raillery than of edification； and those who； during the Revolution； had
contributed all their strength to the overthrow of the worship which the
First Consul had just re…established； could with difficulty conceal their
indignation and their chagrin。
The common people saw in the Te Deum which was sung that day for peace
and the Concordat； only an additional gratification of their curiosity；
but among the middle classes there was a large number of pious persons；
who had deeply regretted the suppression of the forms of devotion in
which they had been reared； and who were very happy in returning to the
old worship。 And； indeed； there was then no manifestation of
superstition or of bigotry sufficient to alarm the enemies of
intolerance。
The clergy were exceedingly careful not to appear too exacting； they
demanded little； condemned no one； and the representative of the Holy
Father； the cardinal legate； pleased all； except perhaps a few
dissatisfied old priests； by his indulgence； the worldly grace of his
manners； and the freedom of his conduct。 This prelate was entirely in
accord with the First Consul； and he took great pleasure in conversing
with him。
It is also certain； that apart from all religious sentiment； the fidelity
of the people to their ancient customs made them return with pleasure to
the repose and celebration of Sunday。 The Republican calendar was
doubtless wisely computed； but every one is at first sight struck with
the ridiculousness of replacing the legend of the saints of the old
calendar with the days of the ass； the hog； the turnip； the onion； etc。
Besides； if it was skillfully computed； it was by no means conveniently
divided。 I recall on this subject the remark of a man of much wit； and
who； notwithstanding the disapprobation which his remark implied；
nevertheless desired the establishment of the Republican system；
everywhere except in the almanac。 When the decree of the Convention
which ordered the adoption of the Republican calendar was published； he
remarked： 〃They have done finely； but they have to fight two enemies who
never yield； the beard； and the white shirt。〃
＇That is to say； the barber and the washerwoman； for whom ten days
was too long an interval。TRANS。＇
The truth is； the interval from one decadi to another was too long for
the working…classes； and for all those who were constantly occupied。
I do not know whether it was the effect of a deep…rooted habit； but
people accustomed to working six days in succession； and resting on the
seventh； found nine days of consecutive labor too long； and consequently
the suppression of the decadi was universally approved。 The decree which
ordered the publication of marriage bans on Sunday was not so popular；
for some persons were afraid of finding in this the revival of the former
dominance of the clergy over the civil authorities。
A few days after the solemn re…establishment of the catholic worship；
there arrived at the Tuileries a general officer； who would perhaps have
preferred the establishment of Mahomet； and the change of Notre Dame into
a mosque。 He was the last general…in…chief of the army of Egypt； and was
said to have turned Mussulman at Cairo； ex…Baron de Menou。 In spite of
the defeat by the English which he had recently undergone in Egypt；
General Abdallah…Menou was well received by the First Consul； who
appointed him soon after governor…general of Piedmont。 General Menou was
of tried courage； and had given proof of it elsewhere； as well as on the
field of battle； and amid the most trying circumstances。
After the 10th of August； although belonging to the Republican party； he
had accompanied Louis Sixteenth to the Assembly； and had been denounced
as a Royalist by the Jacobins。 In 1795 the Faubourg Saint Antoine having
risen en masse； and advanced against the Convention； General Menou had
surrounded and disarmed the seditious citizens； but he had refused to
obey the atrocious orders of the commissioners of the Convention； who
decreed that the entire faubourg should be burned； in order to punish the
inhabitants for their continued insurrections。 Some time afterwards；
having again refused to obey the order these commissioners of the
Convention gave； to mow down with grapeshot the insurrectionists of
Paris； he had been summoned before a commission； which would not have
failed to send him to the guillotine； if General Bonaparte； who had
succeeded him in the command of the army of the interior； had not used
all his influence to save his life。 Such repeated acts of courage and
generosity are enough； and more than enough； to cause us to pardon in
this brave officer； the very natural pride with which he boasted of
having armed the National Guards； and having caused the tricolor to be
substituted for the white flag。 The tricolor he called my flag。 From
the government of Piedmont he passed to that of Venice； and died in 1810
for love of an actress； whom he had followed from Venice to Reggio； in
spite of his sixty years。
The institution of the order of the Legion of Honor preceded by a few
days the proclamation of the Consulate for life； which proclamation was
the occasion of a fete； celebrated on the 15th of August。 This was the
anniversary of the birth of the First Consul； and the opportunity was
used in order to make for the first time this anniversary a festival。
On that day the First Consul was thirty…three years old。
In the month of October following I went with the First Consul on his
journey into Normandy； where we stopped at Ivry； and the First Consul
visited the battlefield。 He said； on arriving there； 〃Honor to the
memory of the best Frenchman who ever sat upon the throne of France；〃 and
ordered the restoration of the column； which had been formerly erected；
in memory of the victory achieved by Henry the Fourth。 The reader will
perhaps desire to read here the inscriptions； which were engraved by his
order； on the four faces of the pyramid。
First Inscription。
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE； FIRST CONSUL； TO THE MEMORY
OF HENRY THE FOURTH； VICTORIOUS OVER THE
ENEMIES OF THE STATE； ON THE FIELD
OF IVRY； 14TH MARCH； 1590。