The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-10-03 00:00:00

THE DEATH OF COUNT WALEWSKI.

Count Walewski died at Strasburg on Sunday
evening (sot, a stroke of ap)plexy. The Count was
born at NV:dewier iii ISIO, his neither being a Polish
lady :mil liis hither, aisairding to current rumour, the
Emperor Napoleon 1., to wlenn in figure he bore a
marked resent:dance. In "Men of the Time" it is
stated that "Napoleon T. at the height of his glory was
attracted at a fete at Warsaw by a Polish lady if great
beauty, the wife of a noble Sarmatian advanced in
years.; and being regarded by her as the destined
liberator of Poland WM successful in winning her
affections." He was remarkable for his precocity, at
nineteen years old undertaking negotiations with the
English Government at London on behalf of the
Polish cause. After a short experience if the army
he applied himself b. literature. He was, with M.
Thiers,one of the founders and editors of the Illmss,fit e.
wrote pamphlets on various political questions, and
joined with M. Alexamlre Dumas in the production Id
the drama of " Marie. Itelleisle," besides com-
posing other juicers of his own. 111 1540 he entered
the oiplomatie career, his first mission being to Egypt.
lii 1549 he represented the Republic at Florence as
Envoy Estraordi,ary, :mil in 18541 he became Am-
bassador of St. James's, a post which he resicned to
towered M. Droop' de I.lmys as Forehm Minister.
Subsequently he was succes.lvely Minister .4 State
and President of the Legislative Body. lie bad,
however, hardly sufficient rumtrol over the deputies,
and bediles was se inewluat too liberal in his •-yinpathies
to please the reactionary party, which has always hail
considerable influence with the Emperor. Ile there-
fore resign,' his claim to M. Schneider last year, and
has since lived in retirement.

The Morning Posit believes that in the death of Csamt
Walewski the En p •ror of the French has lost one of ,
the very ablest isf the Ministers by whom he has stir.
rs 'united himself, and certainly one of the most faithful
supporters of Isis dynasty. The Emperor is known to
have regarded him with peculiar affection and confi-
dence, and since, as before his retirement, his influence
may lie traced in every movement in a liberal direction
which hail been made by the Imperial Government.
Indeed, his place in the conduct of affairs is, and must
remain empty, for there is no French statesman who
can evs-r have :16 chance llf filling it. Good men there
are no doubt among them, but there is none who has at
since the adventitious advantages and the natural gifts
which enabled Count Walewski to take and to main-
tain his great influence over the Imperial oruneils, awl
to leave so strong an impress of his mind npon its arts,.
His death is not only a grave loss to the Emperor, but
an irreparable one for France.

The Morohlo Sloe records the fact that one by one I
the men who stood highest upon the steps of the throne
that was erected upon the accomplished fact of Decem-
ber the Second are passing away. Napoleon 111.
appears to is doomed, not only to Ilisapp,intmebt in
those hopes of laying securely the foundations of a
dynasty winch ambition and natural affection have
eontributwl to inspire, but to see himself left, in the
decline of life, surrounded by a new generates, whose
interests are not bound up, W. were those of the men .4
the Coop if Elul, with the fortunes of his house.
The Poll Mal Govtfe thinks that "if the Emprror '
is as EillperAithol. ILA he is sail to be—and only a very
few minds are clear of all fatalism—he must be mime
deeply affected by the death of the Count de Walewski
than princes often are by the decease if their intimates
and instruments. (Inc by one the little band of shrewd
and audacious men who devoted themselves so faith-
fully to securing the fortunes of their chief is melting
away; no such friends and suppotters arise to take
their place ; and at this rate the mighty Emperor, the
mysterious omnipotent person of ten years since, will
presently find himself governing a too-watchful, too-
distrustful people from the centre of a knot of marshals,
portentiomily like those who have helped Spain so far