Paris
called out their national guard. The Convention replied by ordering
General Menou, in command of the regular troops in the city, to restore
order. Menou {237} had few troops, and was weak. He failed; and that
night the Convention suspended him, and, as in Thermidor, gave Barras
supreme command. Barras acted promptly. He called to his help every
regular army officer in Paris at that moment, among others a young
Corsican brigadier, Buonaparte by name, and assigned troops and a post
to each. He hastily despatched another young officer, Murat, with his
hussars, to bring some field pieces into the city; and so passed the
night.

On the next day the crisis came to a head. The national guards,
between 20,000 and 30,000 strong, began their march on the Convention.
They were firmly met at various points by the Government troops.
General Buonaparte caught the insurgents in the rue St. Honore at just
a nice range for his guns, promptly poured grape in, and completely
dispersed them.

Once more the Convention had put down insurrection, and once more it
showed moderation in its victory. It only allowed two executions to
take place, but held Paris down firmly with regular troops.
Buonaparte, whom Barras already knew favourably, had made so strong an
impression and had rendered such good service, that he was appointed
second in {238} command, and not long after got Barras' reversion and
became general-in-chief of the army of the Interior.

With this last vigorous stroke the Convention closed its extraordinary
career,--a career that began with the monarchy, passed through the
reign of terror, and finished in the Directoire.

{239}

CHAPTER XVI

THE DIRECTOIRE

With the Directoire the Revolution enters its last phase, and with that
phase all readers of history connect certain well-marked external
characteristics, extravagance of dress, of manners, of living; venality
and immorality unblushing and unrestrained. The period of the
Directoire is that during which the political men of the Revolution,
with no principles left to guide them, gradually rot away; while the
men of the sword become more and more their support, and finally oust
them from power.

The Councils, apart from the ex-members of the Convention, were found
to be far less royalist than had been expected. The farming class,
which had had great influence in the elections, had gained much from
the Revolution; the farmers had got rid of the feuda