Chapter IV: The Chamber of 1815

1815-1816.

Fall of M. de Talleyrand and Fouche.--Formation of the
Duke de Richelieu's Cabinet.--My Connection as Secretary-General of
the Administration of Justice with M. de Marbois, Keeper
of the Great Seal.--Meeting and Aspect of the Chamber of
Deputies.--Intentions and Attitude of the Old Royalist
Faction.--Formation, and Composition of a New Royalist
Party.--Struggle of Classes under the cloak of Parties.--Provisional
Laws.--Bill of Amnesty.--The Centre becomes the Government Party, and
the Right, the Opposition.--Questions upon the connection between
the State and the Church.--State of the Government beyond the
Chambers.--Insufficiency of its Resistance to the spirit of
Re-action.--The Duke of Feltri and General Bernard.--Trial of
Marshal Ney.--Controversy between M. de Vitrolles and Me.--Closing
of the Session.--Modifications in the Cabinet.--M. Laine Minister of
the Interior.--I leave the Ministry of Justice and enter the State
Council as Master of Requests.--The Cabinet enters into Contests with
the Right-hand Party.--M. Decazes.--Position of MM. Royer-Collard and
De Serre.--Opposition of M. de Chateaubriand.--The Country declares
against the Chamber of Deputies.--Efforts of M. Decazes to bring
about a Dissolution.--The King determines on it.--Decree of the 5th
of September, 1816. 97