BOOK VII THE ABSOLUTION: SECOND PHASE: THE OATH I. For an Oath, an Oath and a Half 251 II. Difference in Price 255 III. Oaths of Scientific and Literary Men 258 IV. Curiosities of the Business 261 V. The 5th of April, 1852 266 VI. Everywhere the Oath 272 BOOK VIII PROGRESS CONTAINED IN THE COUP D'ETAT I. The Quantum of Good Contained in Evil 275 II. The Four Institutions That Stand Opposed to the Republic 280 III. Slow Movement of Normal Progress 282 IV. What an Assembly Would Have Done 285 V. What Providence Has Done 289 VI. What the Ministers, Army, Magistracy, and Clergy Have Done< 291 VII. The Form of the Government of God 292 CONCLUSION--PART FIRST PETTINESS OF THE MASTER--ABJECTNESS OF THE SITUATION I. 293 II. 298 III. 301 CONCLUSION--PART SECOND FAITH AND AFFLICTION I. 315 II. 323 NAPOLEON THE LITTLE BOOK I I DECEMBER 20, 1848 On Thursday, December 20, 1848, the Constituent Assembly, being in session, surrounded at that moment by an imposing display of troops, heard the report of the Representative Waldeck-Rousseau, read on behalf of the committee which had been appointed to scrutinize the votes in the election of President of the Republic; a report in which general attention had marked this phrase, which embodied its whole idea: "It is the seal of its inviolable authority which the nation, by this admirable application of the fundamental law, itself affixes on the Constitution, to render it sacred and inviolable." Amid the profound silence of the nine hundred representatives, of whom almost the entire number was assembled, the President of the National Constituent Assembly, Armaud Marrast, rose and said:-- "In the name of the French people, "Whereas Citizen Charles-Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, born at Paris, fulfils the conditions of eligibility prescribed by Article 44 of the Constitution; "Whereas in the ballot cast throughout the extent of the territory of the Republic, for the election of President, he has received an absolute majority of votes; "By virtue of Articles 47 and 48 of the Constitution, the National Assembly proclaims him President of the Republic from this present day until the second Sunday in May, 1852." There was a general movement on all the benches, and in the galleries filled with the public; the President of the Constituent Assembly added: "According to the terms of the decree, I invite the Citizen President of the Republic to ascend the tribune, and to take the oath."