latter, "who, since the commencement of the Revolution, has performed
the functions of mayor," is let down to the post of assistant. Shortly
after this the government appoints M. de Villele president of the
cantonal assembly. Naturally the assembly, advised underhandedly,
presents him as a candidate for the general council of Haute-Garonne,
and the government places him in that office.--"All the notable
land-owners of the department formed part of this council, and the
Restoration still found us there seven years afterwards. General orders
evidently existed, enjoining the prefects to give preference in their
choice to the most important land-owners in the country." Likewise,
Napoleon everywhere selects the mayors from the rich and
well-to-do class"; in the large towns he appoints only "people with
carriages."[4126] Many of them in the country and several in the towns
are legitimists[4127], at least at heart, and Napoleon knows it; but,
as he says; "these folks do not want the earthquake"; they are too
much interested, and too personally, in the maintenance of order.[4128]
Moreover, to represent his government, he needs decorative people; and
it is only these who can be so gratis, be themselves, look well, at
their own expense, and on the spot. Besides, they are the most informed,
the best able to supervise accounts, to examine article by article the
budgets of the department and commune, to comprehend the necessity of
a road and the utility of a canal, to offer pertinent observations,
to proclaim wise decisions, to obey orders as discreet and useful
collaborators. All this they will not refuse to do if they are sensible
people. In every form of government, it is better to be with the
governors than with the governed, and in this case, when the broom
is wielded from above and applied so vigorously and with such
meticulousness to everybody and everything, it is well to be as near the
handle as possible.

And what is still better, they will volunteer, especially at the
beginning, if they are good people. For, at least during the first
years, one great object of the new government is the re-establishment
of order in the local as well as in the general administration. It is
well-disposed and desires to mend matters; it undertakes the suppression
of robbery, theft, embezzlement, waste, premeditated or unintentional
arrogation of authority, extravagance, negligence and failure.

"Since 1790,"[4129] says the First Consul to t