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 DIRGE DIRSCHAU 131 of the cathedral of Cologne, having in the cen- tre the adoration of the Magi, and on the sides the legend of St. Ursula and her companions. DIRCE, in Greek mythology, daughter of Helios and wife of Lycus, king of Thebes, who had repudiated Antiope, his first wife. Dirce, jealous of the latter, had her put in chains, but Zeus aided her to escape to Mount Cithasron, where she gave birth to two sons by him, Amphion and Zethus. To revenge the injury to their mother, these two went to Thebes, slew Lycus, and tied Dirce to the horns of a bull, by which she was dragged about until dead. The punishment of Dirce is the subject of the celebrated marble group known as the Farnese bull, in the national museum at Naples. According to Pliny, it was the joint work of the Rhodian sculptors Apollonius and Tauriscus, who cut it from a single block of marble, and was sent from Rhodes to Rome. It was dis- covered in 1546 in the baths of Caracalla, much injured, and was restored by Bianchi under the superintendence of Michel Angelo. It was at first placed in the Farnese palace in Rome, but in 1786 was removed to Naples. It rep- resents Amphion and Zethus restraining the struggling bull, and preparing to bind Dirce to his horns, with Antiope standing near. Sev- eral animals are represented about the base. DIRECTORY, Executive (Fr. directoire execu- tif), the name given to the executive govern- ment of the first French republic, established by the constitution of Fructidor, year III. (August, 1795). This constitution was framed by the moderate republican party, whose influ- ence prevailed after the fall of Robespierre. The legislative power was vested by it in two mblies, the council of 500 and the council the ancients, the former having the exclu- ve right of proposing laws for the considera- tion of the latter. The judicial authority was committed to elective judges. The executive directory consisted of five members, and was chosen one each year by the council of the an- cients from a list of candidates presented by that of 500. The directory promulgated the laws, appointed the ministers, and had the management of military and naval affairs, and the right of repelling hostilities, though not of declaring war. The directors decided ques- tions by a majority vote, and presided by turns three months each, the presiding member hav- ing the signature and the seal. During their term of office none of them could have a per- sonal command, or absent himself for more than five days from the place where the coun- cils held their sessions, without their permis- sion ; and after they had left office they could hold no command for two years, nor be re- elected for five. The balance of power estab- lished by this constitution excited antagonism between the different branches of the govern- ment. The convention decreed that in the first election two thirds of the members of the two councils should be chosen from its own body. This arbitrary act led to violent agita- tions in Paris, and finally to an insurrection of the royalist sections on the 13th Vend6miaire (Oct. 5, 1795), which was suppressed by Bar- ras and Bonaparte. The convention having held its closing session on Oct. 26, the two councils held their first on the 28th, and on Nov. 1 elected Barras and Lar6veilliere-Le- peaux, Rewbell, Letourneur, and Carnot as directors. Their first proclamation promised a firm rule and inspired confidence. Carnot organized the armies, and directed their move- ments ; Moreau received the command of the army of the Rhine, Jourdan that of the Sambre and Meuse ; Hoche suppressed the insurrection in the Vendee, and Bonaparte conquered Italy. But the elections of the year V. (May, 1797) gave the royalists a preponderance in the coun- cils, which was supported by the minority of the directory, while Barras, Lareveilliere, and Rewbell sided with the minority in the legis- lative bodies. The movements of the royalists became more and more threatening, when the majority of the directors agreed to save the republic by an act of violence. This was exe- cuted by the aid of the army on the 18th Fruc- tidor (Sept. 4, 1797). More than 50 members of the two councils, with Carnot, Barthelemy, who had replaced Letourneur, and a number of other influential persons, were condemned to transportation, and a persecution of both royalists and anarchists was commenced. Mer- lin of Douai andFrangois of Neufchateau were substituted for the two proscribed directors, of whom Carnot escaped to Germany. Saved by the army of the interior, the republican rule was maintained by the victories and extortions of the armies abroad. The treaty of Campo Formio was concluded; Switzerland and the Papal States were overrun and revolution- ized ; and Bonaparte was sent to Egypt to at- tack England indirectly. But the extreme rev- olutionary party carried the elections for the year VI. (May, 1798), a part of which were annulled by another violation of the constitu- tion. A new coalition against France was formed. Switzerland and Italy were lost as rapidly as won. The republicans became im- patient of the rule of the directory, in which Treilhard had replaced Francois, and Sieyes was elected instead of Rewbell. Finally the councils compelled Treilhard, Merlin, and'Lare"- veilliere to resign on the 30th Prairial (June 18, 1799). Barras saved his office by the de- sertion of his associates, and maintained him- self with Sieyes and the three new directors, Gohier, Moulins, and Roger Ducos, till the 18th Brumaire (Nov.. 9, 1799), when Bonaparte overthrew the directory and the constitution, and became master of France under the title of consul. The directory ruled France four years and a few days, and had altogether 13 members, of whom only Barras officiated du- ring the whole period. DIRSCHAU, a town of Prussia, in the province of West Prussia, situated on the Vistula, 19 m. S. S. E. of Dantzic, on the railway from Berlin