ved to strike their first blow. And how well their measures had
been preconcerted, will sufficiently appear from the most naked
statement of the events of the 18th and 19th Brumaire (Nov. 10 and 11,
1799), in the order of their occurrence.

As soon as Buonaparte's arrival was known, three regiments of dragoons,
forming part of the garrison of Paris, petitioned for the honour of
being reviewed by him. He had promised to do this, but delayed naming
the day. In like manner the forty adjutants of the National Guard of
Paris (which, as we have seen, was remodelled by himself while General
of the Interior) had requested leave to wait upon him, and congratulate
him on his arrival: these also had been told that he would soon appoint
the time for receiving them. Lastly, the officers of the garrison, and
many besides, had sent to beg admittance to Napoleon's presence, that
they might tender him the expression of their admiration and attachment;
and to them also an answer of the same kind had been given.

On the evening of the 17th Brumaire all the officers above-mentioned
received, separately, the General's invitation to come to his house in
the _Rue de la Victoire_, at six o'clock the next morning; and the three
regiments of dragoons were desired to be mounted for their review, at
the same early hour, in the _Champs Elysees_. How many of these persons
knew the real purpose of the assemblage it is impossible to tell; but
Moreau, Macdonald, and other generals of the first reputation, avowedly
attached to the _moderes_, were in the number of those who
attended,--having, it is not to be doubted, received sufficient
intimation that the crisis was at hand, though not of the manner in
which Buonaparte designed it to terminate. However, at the appointed
hour, the dragoons were at their post in the Champs Elysees; and the
concourse of officers at Napoleon's residence was so great that, the
house being small, he received them in the courtyard before it, which
they entirely filled.

Among those who came thither was Bernadotte; but he certainly came
without any precise notion of the purposes of his friend Joseph
Buonaparte, who invited him. He was, next to Napoleon, the general who
possessed the greatest influence at the period in Paris; in fact, the
fate of the government depended on whether the one party in the
Directory should be the first to summon him to interfere, or the others
to throw themselves on Buonaparte. He came; but, unlike