You will see that the minister is convinced that there is no hope for liberty unless it proceed through you and from you: cease then for awhile to mistrust us, condemn us afterwards if we have merited it; but first give us with confidence the means of serving you." Such words as these touched even the most prejudiced, and it was unanimously voted that the speech should be printed, and sent to all the departments.

In order to cement the reconciliation of the king and the nation, M.de Narbonne went to the committees of the Assembly, communicated to them his plans, discussed his measures, and won over all to his resolutions.

This government in common was the spirit of the constitution; the other ministers saw in this the abasement of the executive power and an abdication of royalty, whilst M.de Narbonne saw in it the sole means of winning back public feeling to the king.

Opinion had dethroned the royalty; it was to opinion that he looked to strengthen it, and therefore he made himself the minister of public opinion.
At the moment when the emperor sent to the king a communication threatening the frontiers, and the king personally informed the Assembly of the energetic measures he had adopted, M.de Narbonne, re-entering the Assembly after the king's departure, mounted the tribune.

"I am on the eve of quitting Paris," said he, "in order to visit our frontiers; not that I believe the mistrust felt by the soldiers for their officers has any foundation, but because I hope to dissipate them by addressing all in the name of their king and their country.