Miot de Melito; vol. ii., ch. i.; Pasquier, vol. i., ch. ix.
I cannot agree with M. Lanfrey, vol. ii., ch. xi., that the Empire was not desired by the nation. It seems to me that this writer here attributes to the apathetic masses his own unrivalled acuteness of vision and enthusiasm for democracy. Lafayette well sums up the situation in the remark that he was more shocked at the submission of all than at the usurpation of one man ("Mems.," vol. v., p. 239).
See Aulard, "Rév. Française," p. 772, for the opposition.