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

THE NATIONAL

the war system of Talleyrand at that period was this: Ile
advised that France should make every possible exertion to
s :nd a large force to America and the Isle of France, with-
( ut considering what partial losses might be suffered in ac-
complishing that object. But Decres, Minister of Marine,
a weak man, without any political or administrative know-
ledge, never dared to second the views of Talleyrand. As
Dt c es was descanting, one day, on the possibility of invad-
ing England with 1.)4),000 men from Boulogne) Talleyrand
made the following reply, the truth and good sense.of which,
had it been remembered by Napoleon, would have pre-
vented him from wasting 500,000 lives in his vain attempt to
conquer Russia, " You are a naval eieer," said Talleyrand,
" and know better than I whether it be practicable to di.ct
a landing in England, bat allow me to observe //at you
march with 100,000 men against a whole nation of silken

Nothing could be a truer exposition, and at the same time
a more courtier-like reproof, of the folly of which floonaparte
was guilty in attacking Spain, than the short ejaculation
with which Talleylind received that intelligence from the
lips of Napoleon himself, " I thought that Spain tclonged to
your Majesty?" Under the sway of the imbecile Charles IV:
and the Prince of Peace, Spain was indeed to all purposes,
but in name, a Province of France, and the property of her
Emperor, which be only lost through his unprovoked and
impolitic aggression.

Even when the power of Buonaparte seemed to have at-
tained
its greatest height and to have become irresistible,
talleyrand's penetration anticipated its decline. When he
first "heard of the preparations for the Russian war, he made
use of these remarkable expressions, prophetic of its disas-
trous end : " Political crimes are nothing when they attain
their object, Lut political errors become crimes which sooner or
later arc severely puni3hol." These words also give a correct
idea of the political and moral honesty of this celebrated
Minister.

Tirol of continual wars, and foreseeing no end to the am-
bitious plans of Napoleon, the French only considered the
it pompously displayed by the Government, as pro-
bable losses, and unanimously wished that Talleyrand should
be replaced at the head of affairs. If a bon not or sarcasm
appeared, they attributed it to his wit, so that since the Rus-
sian catastrophe he continued to rise in the public opinion.
This popularity excited so much jealousy in Napoleon's
that it is said he had resolved on his ruin, and was
twice on the eve of causing him to be arrested, but refrained
through fear. luformed of his danger, and aware that sooner
or Lacy his ruin would be certain, if Buonaparte remained in
power, Talleyrand followed the example of Talien, who turned
against Robespierre when he saw his own bead menaced, and

ISTER.

5.

seizing the first propitious moment of weakness on the part.
of his Master, effected the late revolution. The belief that
he corresponded with Alexander, with England and the other
enemies of France, is deemed unfounded by those who have
had the best opportunity of *atching his political career.
Apprehension for his life and his riches was the sole motive
of his conduct. It was Maret, who by his pernicious coun-
sels, prepared and most contributed to the fall of Buonaparte.
Talleyrand wished to maintain a just balance between the
military and civil bodies, but for the last six years the blin&
ed Emperor regulated every thing in a military manner.
According to the former it was the duty of Governments to
esteem the Military and icspcct the Civil, and he was wont
to say : " The military is a voracious animal, the more it cats
the more it is ready to devour."