The rabid rhetoric of the past had infected France with a foolish fear of all free debate.

The Tribunate signed its own death warrant; and the sole result of its feeble attempt at opposition was that Madame de Stael's _salon_ was forthwith deserted by the Liberals who had there found inspiration; while the gifted authoress herself was officially requested to retire into the country.
The next act of the central power struck at freedom of the press.

As a few journals ventured on witticisms at the expense of the new Government, the Consuls ordered the suppression of all the political journals of Paris except thirteen; and three even of these favoured papers were suppressed on April 7th.

The reason given for this despotic action was the need of guiding public opinion wisely during the war, and of preventing any articles "contrary to the respect due to the social compact, to the sovereignty of the people, and to the glory of the armies." By a finely ironical touch Rousseau's doctrine of the popular sovereignty was thus invoked to sanction its violation.
The incident is characteristic of the whole tendency of events, which showed that the dawn of personal rule was at hand.

In fact, Bonaparte had already taken the bold step of removing to the Tuileries, and that too, on the very day when he ordered public mourning for the death of Washington (February 7th).