 A volume of "Essais de morale et de politique" introduced him to the notice of Napoleon, who attached him to the staff of the council of state.He became master of requests in 1806, and next year prefect of the Côte-d'Or, Councillor of State and Director-General of Bridges and Roads in 1809, and Count of the Empire in the autumn of the same year.He served as Napoleon's advisor on Jewish affairs and was heavily involved with Napoleon's gathering of a Jewish Grand Sanhedrin in 1807.