They would fain have excluded the nobility from all share in the remodelled government; and Napoleon rebuked and discountenanced this attempt in terms little likely to be heard with approbation by the "_Sires_ of the Luxembourg." He told the Genoese, that to exclude the nobles was in itself as unjust as unwise, and that they ought to be grateful for the means of re-organising their constitution, without passing _like France_ through the terrible ordeal of a revolution.

The rulers of France might be excused for asking at this moment--Does the lecturer of the Ligurian Republic mean to be our Washington, our Monk, or our Cromwell?
He, however, received with alacrity the call of the trembling Directory.
He harangued his soldiery, and made himself secure of their readiness to act as he might choose for them.

He not only offered large pecuniary supplies, and sent his lieutenant Augereau to Paris to command the National Guard for the government, should they find it necessary to appeal immediately to force, but announced that he was himself prepared to "pass the Rubicon," (an ominous phrase) and march to their assistance, with 15,000 of his best troops.
The Directory, meanwhile, had in their extremity ventured to disregard the law against drawing regular troops within a certain distance of the capital, and summoned Hoche to bring a corps of his Rhenish army for their instant protection.
It was by this means that the new revolution, as it may be called, of the 18th Fructidor was effected.

On that day, (Sept.

4, 1797,) the majority of the Directory, marching their army into Paris, dethroned their two opposition colleagues.