poleon
entered upon a long disquisition in favour of the Roman law of adoption;
urging with intrepid logic, that an heir so chosen ought to be even
dearer than a son. The object of this harangue was not difficult of
detection. Napoleon had no longer any hope of having children by
Josephine; and meditated the adoption of one of his brother's sons as
his heir. In the course of the autumn a simple edict of the Conservative
Senate authorised him to appoint his successor in the consulate by a
testamentary deed. By this act (Aug. 4, 1802) a new dynasty was called
to the throne of France. The farce of opening books in the departments
was dispensed with. Henceforth the words "_Liberty, Equality,
Sovereignty of the People_," disappeared from the state papers and
official documents of the government--nor did the change attract much
notice. The nation had a master, and sate by, indifferent spectators;
while he, under whose sway life and property were considered safe,
disposed of political rights and privileges according to his
pleasure.[42]

This year was distinguished by events of another order, and not likely
to be contemplated with indifference by the powers of Europe. After the
peace of Amiens was ratified, certain treaties which the Chief Consul
had concluded with Turkey, Spain, and Portugal, and hitherto kept
profoundly secret, were made known. The Porte, it now appeared, had
yielded to France all the privileges of commerce which that government
had ever conceded to the most favoured nations. Spain had agreed that
Parma, after the death of the reigning prince, should be added to the
dominions of France: and Portugal had actually ceded her province in
Guyana. In every quarter of the world the grasping ambition of
Buonaparte seemed to have found some prey.

Nearer him, in the meantime, he had been preparing to strike a blow at
the independence of Switzerland, and virtually unite that country also
to his empire. The contracting parties in the treaty of Luneville had
_guaranteed_ the independence of the Helvetic Republic, and the
unquestionable right of the Swiss to settle their government in what
form they pleased. There were two parties there as elsewhere--one who
desired the full re-establishment of the old federative
constitution--another who preferred the model of the French Republic
"one and indivisible." To the former party the small mountain cantons
adhered--the wealthier and aristocratic cantons to the latter. Their