for life, he expressed great alarm and anxiety. He knew the sentiments of
Lafayette too well, not to feel assured of his opposition to such a
measure. For this consistent and zealous advocate for the rights of the
people had always been hostile to a chief magistrate, under any title, who
should possess absolute power; and contended for a constitution to limit
and define the executive authority. It was then that. Bonaparte exclaimed,
"Lafayette in the tribune!" and his great agitation betrayed the belief,
that his power was at an end. In this situation, his armies defeated, and
the representatives of the people opposed to his wishes of a _perpetual_
dictatorship, he gave formal notice of his purpose to abdicate the imperial
authority. Lafayette was at the head of the deputation appointed by the
chamber of representatives, to wait on the Emperor, to accept and thank him
for his abdication, A few days before this, when the deputies were accused
of being capricious and ungrateful, by a friend of Napoleon, Lafayette
observed, in reply, "go tell him that we can trust him no longer; we
ourselves will undertake the salvation of our country."

Although he opposed the ambitious views of Bonaparte, and boldly and
decidedly remonstrated against his intention of again assuming absolute
power, yet he moved in the chamber of Representatives, at this time, that
the liberty and person of the late Emperor Napoleon should be placed under
the protection of the French nation; expecting, probably, that the allied
princes of Europe, already in the vicinity of Paris with powerful armies,
would take his life, or cause him to be imprisoned.

Lafayette was one of the Commissioners appointed by the Chamber of Deputies
to propose to the allied powers a suspension of hostilities. His object was
to provide for the liberty of the people and to exact a promise of some
limitations and restrictions to the royal authority. But the friends and
supporters of the Bourbon dynasty, the hereditary princes of Europe, had a