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Observing everywhere a Catholic renascence； and imagining that
the clergy were conspiring against them； the Directors deported
or sent to the galleys in one year 1；448 priests； to say nothing
of a large number who were summarily executed。 The Terror was in
reality completely re…established。
The autocratic despotism of the Directory was exercised in all
the branches of the administration； notably the finances。 Thus；
having need of six hundred million francs； it forced the
deputies； always docile； to vote a progressive impost； which
yielded； however； only twelve millions。 Being presently in the
same condition； it decreed a forced loan of a hundred millions；
which resulted in the closing of workshops； the stoppage of
business； and the dismissal of domestics。 It was only at the
price of absolute ruin that forty millions could be obtained。
To assure itself of domination in the provinces the Directory
caused a so…called law of hostages to be passed； according to
which a list of hostages； responsible for all offences； was drawn
up in each commune。
It is easy to understand what hatred such a system provoked。 At
the end of 1799 fourteen departments were in revolt and forty…six
were ready to rise。 If the Directory had lasted the dissolution
of society would have been complete。
For that matter； this dissolution was far advanced。 Finances；
administration； everything was crumbling。 The receipts of the
Treasury； consisting of depreciated assignats fallen to a
hundredth part of their original value； were negligible。 Holders
of Government stock and officers could no longer obtain payment。
France at this time gave travellers the impression of a country
ravaged by war and abandoned by its inhabitants。 The broken
bridges and dykes and ruined buildings made all traffic
impossible。 The roads； long deserted； were infested by brigands。
Certain departments could only be crossed at the price of buying
a safe…conduct from the leaders of these bands。 Industry
and commerce were annihilated。 In Lyons 13；000 workshops and
mills out of 15；000 had been forced to close。 Lille； Havre；
Bordeaux； Lyons； Marseilles； &c。； were like dead cities。 Poverty
and famine were general。
The moral disorganisation was no less terrible。 Luxury and the
craving for pleasure； costly dinners； jewels； and extravagant
households were the appanage of a new society composed entirely
of stock…jobbers； army contractors； and shady financiers enriched
by pillage。 They gave Paris that superficial aspect of luxury
and gaiety which has deluded so many historians of this period；
because the insolent prodigality displayed covered the general
misery。
The chronicles of the Directory as told in books help to show us
of what lies the web of history is woven。 The theatre has lately
got hold of this period； of which the fashions are still
imitated。 It has left the memory of a joyous period of re…birth
after the gloomy drama of the Terror。 In reality the drama of
the Directory was hardly an improvement on the Terror and was
quite as sanguinary。 Finally； it inspired such loathing that the
Directors； feeling that it could not last； sought themselves for
the dictator capable of replacing it and also of protecting them。
3。 The Advent of Bonaparte。
We have seen that at the end of the Directory the anarchy and
disorganisation were such that every one was desperately calling
for the man of energy capable of re…establishing order。 As early
as 1795 a number of deputies had thought for a moment of re…
establishing royalty。 Louis XVIII。； having been tactless
enough to declare that he would restore the ancien regime in
its entirety； return all property to its original owners； and
punish the men of the Revolution； was immediately thrown over。
The senseless expedition of Quiberon finally alienated the
supporters of the future sovereign。 The royalists gave a proof
during the whole of the Revolution of an incapacity and a
narrowness of mind which justified most of the measures taken
against them。
The monarchy being impossible； it was necessary to find a
general。 Only one existed whose name carried weightBonaparte。
The campaign in Italy had just made him famous。 Having crossed
the Alps； he had marched from victory to victory； penetrated to
Milan and Venice； and everywhere obtained important war
contributions。 He then made towards Vienna； and was only twenty…
five leagues from its gates when the Emperor of Austria decided
to sue for peace。
But great as was his renown； the young general did not consider
it sufficient。 To increase it he persuaded the Directory that
the power of England could be shaken by an invasion of Egypt； and
in May； 1798； he embarked at Toulon。
This need of increasing his prestige arose from a very sound
psychological conception which he clearly expounded at St。
Helena：
‘‘The most influential and enlightened generals had long been
pressing the general of Italy to take steps to place himself at
the head of the Republic。 He refused； he was not yet strong
enough to walk quite alone。 He had ideas upon the art of
governing and upon what was necessary to a great nation
which were so different from those of the men of the
Revolution and the assemblies that； not being able to act alone；
he feared to compromise his character。 He determined to set out
for Egypt； but resolved to reappear if circumstances should arise
to render his presence useful or necessary。''
Bonaparte did not stay long in Egypt。 Recalled by his friends；
he landed at Frejus； and the announcement of his return provoked
universal enthusiasm。 There were illuminations everywhere。
France collaborated in advance in the coup d'etat prepared
by two Directors and the principal ministers。 The plot was
organised in three weeks。 Its execution on the 18th of Brumaire
was accomplished with the greatest ease。
All parties experienced the greatest delight at being rid of the
sinister gangs who had so long oppressed and exploited the
country。 The French were doubtless about to enter upon a
despotic system of government； but it could not be so intolerable
as that which had been endured for so many years。
The history of the coup d'etat of Brumaire justifies all
that we have already said of the impossibility of forming exact
judgments of events which apparently are fully understood and
attested by no matter how many witnesses。
We know what ideas people had thirty years ago concerning the
coup of Brumaire。 It was regarded as a crime committed by the
ambition of a man who was supported by his army。 As a matter of
fact the army played no part whatever in the affair。 The little
body of men who expelled the few recalcitrant deputies were not
soldiers even； but the gendarmes of the Assembly itself。 The
true author of the coup d'etat was the Government itself； with
the complicity of all France。