The Committee consisted of Messrs Lanjuinais, La Fayette, Dupont de l'Eure, Flangergues, and Grenier.
Lucien now presented himself, in the same capacity of Commissioner Extraordinary, to the Chamber of Peers. After hearing the Message, the latter also appointed a Committee, which consisted of Generals Drouot, Dejean, Andreossy, and Messrs Boissy d'Anglas and Thibaudeau.
Napoleon, being fully informed of the proceedings of the Chamber of Deputies, and of the general tenor of the debates, hesitated a long time whether to dissolve the Assembly or to abdicate the Imperial Crown. Some of his Ministers, on perceiving the direction of his views, assured him that the Chamber had acquired too firm a hold of the public opinion to submit to any violent coup d'état; and expressed their opinion, that by withholding the act of abdication, he might eventually deprive himself of the power of vacating the Throne in favour of his son. Nevertheless he appeared determined to defer this step to the very last moment; trusting in the mean time some favourable event might occur, tending to modify the present disposition of the Chamber.
The Deputies again met, at an early hour on the following morning. The utmost impatience was manifested for the Report of the Committee. Two hours having elapsed, the Members became greatly excited. Some of them proposed that the exigencies of the State were such, that it was their duty to adopt immediate and decisive measures, without waiting for the Report.
At length, in the midst of the agitation and tumult which prevailed, General Grenier, the Reporter of the Committee, suddenly made his appearance. He stated that, after a deliberation of five hours, the Committee had resolved:—
"That the safety of the country required that the Emperor should consent to the nomination, by the two Chambers, of a Commission, charged to negotiate directly with the coalesced Powers; stipulating only that they should respect the national independence, the territorial integrity, and the right which belongs to every people of adopting such Constitutions as it may think proper; and that these negotiations should be supported by the prompt development of the national force."
This statement excited general murmurs of disapprobation. But the Reporter, aware of the expectations of the Chamber, proceeded:—
"This Article, gentlemen, appears to me insufficient. It does not fulfil the object which the Chamber proposes to itself, because it is possible that your Deputation may not be admitted. I would not, therefore, urge the adoption of this measure, had I not reason to believe that you will soon receive a Message in which the Emperor will declare his wish; that the effect of this should first be tried; and that, should he then prove an insuperable obstacle to the nation being permitted to treat for its independence, he will be ready to make whatever sacrifice may be demanded of him."
This produced an extraordinary sensation in the Assembly. It was looked upon as an artful design upon the part of Napoleon to create delay by proposing to the Chambers a proceeding which he was well aware would prove unsuccessful; and to seize the first favourable opportunity of destroying their independence, and re-establishing his despotism—to re-enact, in short, the Eighteenth of Brumaire. The tumult had reached a fearful height. Many Members exclaimed vehemently against the Report.