The Directory were popular with no party; but there were many parties; and, numerically, probably the royalists were the strongest.

The pure republicans were still powerful: the army of Italy was distant and scattered; that of the Rhine, far more numerous, and equally well disciplined, had its own generals--men not yet in reputation immeasurably inferior to himself; and, having been less fortunate than their brethren in Italy, and consequently acquired less wealth, it was no wonder that the soldiery of the Rhine regarded the others, if not their leader, with some little jealousy.

In Napoleon's own language, "the pear was not yet ripe." He proceeded, therefore, to make a regular survey of the French coast opposite to England, with the view of improving its fortifications, and (ostensibly at least) of selecting the best points for embarking an invading force.

For this service he was eminently qualified; and many local improvements of great importance, long afterwards effected, were first suggested by him at this period.

But, if he had really thought otherwise beforehand (which M.de Bourienne denies), the result of his examination was a perfect conviction that the time was not yet come for invading England.