He was elected to the Council of Ancients by Tarn, as well as by Nord and Orne. He supported the Directory and the Coup of 18 Fructidor (4 September 1797). With the rank of Divisional General when he completed his term on the Council on 13 February 1798, Lacombe-Saint-Michel was sent to Naples, but spoke in such an undiplomatic and pro-Republican way to Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies that he was asked to leave the kingdom. His ship was seized by pirates from Tunis, but Hammuda Pasha set him free. On his return to France in January 1799, he was given command of the artillery in the Army of the Rhine.