But his power, in fact, was not limited, even when this immense territory was included within it. The Emperor of Germany and the German Princes had suffered so much from French invasion, that they durst not question the au thority of Bonaparte ; the King of Prussia had very recent ly displayed his devotion to his wishes, as well as an un just regard to his own interest, by the seizure of Hanover ; and the new Emperor of Russia was too recently and mys teriously fixed on the throne, to come forward against the power of France.
Britain alone, therefore, which had so long, and with such wonderful perseverance and sacrifices, resisted France, came out of the contest untouched in her national inde pendence.
One of the first measures of Bonaparte, after he had placed France at peace with all her enemies, was the re establishment of the Catholic religion. For this purpose, a concordat or convention was concluded between him and the Pope, of which the following are the most important articles. No bull, &c. of the court of Rome, to be circu lated or put in force without the authority of government : No nuncio, legate, &c. to exercise his functions in France, without the consent of the government : No person to be named a bishop who is not a Frenchman : No bishop to quit his diocese, without leave from the First Consul : No festival, with the exception of the Sabbath, shall be esta blished without the permission of government. The nup tial benediction shall be given to those only, who shall prove in due form that their marriage has been contracted before a civil magistrate. All religions were tolerated and protected, and special rules were laid down for their gui dance.
By this concordat, Bonaparte gained great popularity with the mass of the nation ; and as he was almost idolized by the soldiers, he experienced no difficulty in increasing his power. When he was chosen first consul, ten years were to be the duration of his authority ; he was now, how ever, appointed for life, and the power conferred upon him of nominating his successor. Shortly after this, his plans for another war began to develope themselves. On the 21st of February 1803, a view of the state of France was laid before the Legislative Body and the Tribunate, the most interesting and important part of which related to the dispute with Britain, regarding the retention of Malta. The nature and result of this dispute, we shall not here en ter into, as they, as well as the subsequent war, are fully narrated in the llistory of BRITAIN. As soon as Bonaparte
resolved on hostilities with Britain, he marched an army into Osnaburgh and Hanover, and gained possession of these districts without opposition. On the 25th of April 1804, he was declared Emperor, by a decree of the Tri bunate of France, to the following purpose.
When the national will (it was said) could manifest it self freely, it declared for the unity of the supreme power, and the hereditary succession of that power. This desire had been for a time extinguished by the tyranny of the fa mily of the Bourbons, and the nation were driven to adopt a democratical form of government ; from this form, how ever, only the miseries of anarchy proceeded ; and the state was in the most extreme danger, when " Bonaparte, brought back by Providence, suddenly appeared for its sal vation:" That the consulship for life, and the power grant ed to the First Consul of appointing his successor, could not prevent internal intrigues ; in order, therefore, to avoid them, and at the same time to follow the example of all great states, ancient and modern, and to comply with the first wish of the nation expressed in 1789, the magistracy ought to be declared hereditary. This declaration the na tion now makes more strongly and generally than ever ; and her gratitude and affection point out Bonaparte, from whom and his family France expects, more than any other, the maintenance of the rights and liberties of the people : That there is no title more suitable to his glory, and to the dignity of the supreme chief of the French nation, than that of Emperor.
Such was the decree of the Tribunate, which was fol lowed by voting, " that Napoleon Bonaparte, the First Con sul, be proclaimed emperor of the French, and in that capa city be invested with the government of the French Repub lic :" " That the title of Emperor, and the imperial power, be made hereditary in his family in the male line, accord ing to the order of primogeniture." This vote was carried by acclamation, Cannot being the only person who spoke against its adoption. The Senate and the army followed the example of the Tribunate, in treating Bonaparte to become Emperor of France. Thus easily and tranquilly did Bonaparte obtain the object of his desires.