eriod, ch. 87.]

[Footnote 2335: Cf., on this immemorial principle of the entire body of
Roman public law, cf. Fustel de Coulanges, "Histoire des institutions
politiques et privees de l'ancienne France," vol. I., book II., ch. I,
p.66 and following pages.]

[Footnote 2336: Read the "Notitia dignitatum tam civilium quam
militarium in partibus orientis et occidentis." It is the imperial
almanac for the beginning of the fifth century. There are eleven
ministers at the centre, each with his bureaux, divisions, subdivisions
and squads of superposed functionaries,]

[Footnote 2337: Cf. Piranesi's engravings.]

[Footnote 2338: Cf., among other clues see Dante's: "De Monarchia".]

[Footnote 2339: We can trace in Napoleon's brain and date the formation
of this leading idea. At first, it is simply a classic reminiscence,
as with his contemporaries; but suddenly it takes a turn and has an
environment in his mind which is lacking in theirs, and which prevents
the idea from remaining a purely literary phrase. From the beginning
he speaks of Rome in the fashion of a Rienzi. (Proclamation of May
20, 1796.) "We are the friends of every people, and especially of the
Brutuses, the Scipios, and of the great men whom we have chosen as
models. To re-establish the Capitol, to place there with honor the
statues of heroes who render it famous, to arouse the Roman people
benumbed by centuries of slavery, such will be the fruit of our
victories."--Fifteen months afterwards, on becoming master of Italy,
his historic meditations turn into positive ambition henceforth, the
possession of Italy and of the Mediterranean is to be with him a central
and preponderant idea. (Letter to the Directory, Aug. 16, 1797, and
correspondence on the subject of Corsica, Sardinia, Naples, and Genoa;
letters to the pasha of Scutari, to the Maniotes, etc.) "The islands of
Corfu, Zante, and Cephalonia are of more interest to us than all Italy
put together.... The Turkish empire is daily tottering; the possession
of these islands will enable us to support it as long as possible, or to
take our portion of it. The time is not remote when we shall feel that,
for the real destruction of England, we must get possession of Egypt."
Formerly, the Mediterranean was a Roman lake; it must become a French
lake. (Cf. "Souvenirs d'un Sexagenaire," by Arnault, vol. IV., p.102,
on his dream, in 1798, of making Paris a colossal Rome.)--At this
same date, his conception of the State