The National Register.
London, England, 1815-02-05 00:00:00

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SECRET CAUSES OF THE FALL Or RI:ONAPARTE.

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Among the political phenomena of the times none is more II
rcmarkabk than the man, who during a revolution fertile in
change's, fixed the instabi!itv of fortune, made events tribu-
tary to his own greatness, swore fidelity to three ditTerent
Constitutions, survived three different forms of Government,
elade and deposed an Emperor, and passed with unimpaired
authority from the service of an Usurper to that of the legi II
-
Curate Sovereign. That man is Talleyrand : a name far
knosin and long dreaded as that of • a subtle and inveterate '
enemy. Let us not yet think him our friend. Because
peace checks his hostility, let us not imagine that it has
ceased to exist, but let us guard against him lest rue should
continue our foe. As the best mode of counteracting the '
views of an enemy is to know his means, and his talents for
exerting them, let _us investigate those of the astonishing
character, who after having been Napoleon's best adviser
against us, is now opposed to us in Congress, as the chief ac-
credited ministerof a !vote docile sovereign. . For we must.
not calculate on-an.eternal peace, and should war re tinhap-.
pity rekindled between the two countries, the counsels which
were thrown away on a headlong Usurper, might become.dan-
gerous when imparted to an attentive and reasonable ad-
versary. Their nature, and the disposition anti abilities
of the giver will be pretty well ascertained by a perusal of
the following original particulars, communicated to us from a
well informed and authentic source. •
It is not astonishing that Talleyrand should have acquired
the reputation of being the first politician of the age. Thntigh
immensely rich, he dedicates ten, twelve and fourteen hours
a lay to study and brisiness. Deeply versed in the science
of legislation and the art of governing, he possesses that quick
penetration which at once discovers and calculates the strength,
the resources, and means of European and other nations. Ile
is, besides, intimately acquainted with the human heart, that
original spring of all the revolutions which aggrandize or
overturn empires. In conversation he i 3 lively, witty, affa-
ble, and often cutting. The praises of individual;, of the
great, of Princes) and even of Monarchs are not sufficient to
satisfy him, he wants the admiration of nations.

Tallcyrand preserved a preponderating influence (wet;
tnin,d of Buonaparte until the peace of Amiens.
Vol. VIII. No. Cal XII 11.

period, Chaptal, Minister of the Interior, but especially
Maret (afterwards Duke of Bassano) began to weaken the
good opinion which the Consul entertained of his Prime Mi-
nister's political abilities, by contending that the Engli,h had
been compelled to sue fur peace, and that England was unable
to act on the offensive. Talleyrand, although personally hos-
tile to our nation, was of a different sentiment. lie main-
tained that the time was but just arrived for preparing our
ruin, and advised that the friendship of the' party which
had concluded the peace of Amiens should be care-
fully cultivated. But as Buonaparte was always more in-'
dined to use force than policy, be sent over Andreossi as hi 4
ambassador, a man without information, without skill; a

. . .
courtier, but incapable of writing a letter, whose only claim
to the appointment was his being necessaty to Maret, wlu al*
ready aspired at becoming, as he afterwards did, Prime Min-
ister. This ambassador was so unequal to the duties of his,
.•
mission, that he did not even foresee the approaehin.rup-
tare'between the two countries, and the first..person who in-
formed Buonaparte..of the derlarallonof war issued. by Eng-
land againSt hini was Foaith, Minister of .ge.tral Police. Tal-
" •
leyrand apiiiiattly recovered some degree of favour when-
Buonaparte wanted his assistance to cause himself to. be pro-
..
claimed Emperor, and to secure the,succession in his own fa-
mily.. He zealously .serveil his master in .all his designs, but
wheneverbe thou ht that he had committed a political fault,
always ,made him feel it, acting very differently 'from Ma-
, ret, who nit only seconded, but encouraged Buonapaite's am-
bitious views and fomented disientiOns and war in Europe.

England having lance begun the war, Talleyiand main•
tained that France ou - gclik to act only on the defensive, and.
strenuously opposed Buoktakiarte's system of making hiracelf
the absolikte master of entry nation which lie considered.
friendly to England. His ossn plan being of a total 1y oppo-
site nature, occasioned the total. alienation of the headstrong.
Emperor from bins. But the more Napoleon's. coolness
towards the Minister became known, the more did the latter.
rise in the public opinion. Maret,. still Secretary of State,
heard with deep jealousy the praises bestowed by the French
themselves and foreign nations on the merits of Talleyiand,
and progressively removed from office every person who
thought to entertain his sentiments. Fondle himself was
twice disgraced on that account. Since 180:, Talleyrand
to be consulted as a Minister, and Napoleon
opinion in the cours:c i,f conversation.

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