The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-21 00:00:00

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE.

Charles Maurice de .alleyrand.Perigord, Princeof Elenevento in the
Holy Roman Empire, fuss born Paris in 1754. He wasdescended
from one of the oldest and most illustria:Ps houses of Frances,. which,
doting the middle ages, were Lords of the disiiiet of Quercy ; and at
an early age, as a younger brother, was destined for the Church. .His
ecclesiastical education was formed at the Seminary of Saint Sulpfner
and his talents for public business were already so strongly developed,
that in 1780 he was named Agent-General for the Clergy. In 1788 he
was consecrated Bishop of Autun, and the year after was elected De-
puty of the Clergy of his Diocese to the States General. The political
career of the Prince during that momentous period, is well known.
Mirabeau perceived the extent of his abilities, and signalised him as one
of the most powerful and versatile of the men of genius who
then abounded in Europe. He proposed several moat impor-
tant measures to the State—among others, the suoression
of tithes, and the appropriation of the property of the a:lergy
to the wants of the Public Treasury. In the year 1790 "he was
named President, and in the same year officiated at the altar in the
Champ de Mars, on the day of the National Federation. He subsea
quently consecrated the first constitutional Bishops, and for this was ex-
communicated by Pope Pius VI. His resignation of the Bishopric of
Autun, and his election as a Member of the Directory of the Department
of Paris, followed soon after. He was left by Mirabeau as one of his exe—
cutors, and in 1792 was sent into England on a secret mission, together
with M. Chauveln, the Ambassador. It will be remembered that the
English Administration, under Mr. Pitt, after favourably receiving the
French envoys, subsequently ordered them to leave the country within
24 hours. M. de Talleyrand returned to Paris the day after the famous
10th of A.Pgust, and was indebted to Denton for a narrow escape from
assassination. He then left France for the United Statee, and remained
there engaged, it is said, in commercial speculations till 171;6, when he
was recalled by a decree of the Convention. In 1797, after the 18th
Fr; ctidor, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, and supported
with the most imperturbable sang froid the attacks made against hint
by all parties. Two years afterwards the 18th Brumaire occurred.
Napoleon became First Consul, and 31. de Talleyrand continued as Tn.
reign Minister. lo 1803 a brief from Pius VII. released the ex-Bihop
of Autun from his ecclesiastical ties, and he shortly after married Mme-
Grandt, of Hamburg!). The rivalry of Fouche and M. de Talleyrand
then followed, and the to ultimate advantage of the fat er, who, on Napo-
leon becoming Emperor in 18(16, was elevated to the rank of Prince of
Benevento and Grand Chamberlain of the Empire. The next year he
was succeeded as Minister by M. de Champagny, Duke de Cadore, and
was named Vice-Grand Elector; but from this period his alienation from
Napoleon may be dated; he disapproved of the Emperor's aggressions
in Spain; and, in 1814, was appointed President of the Provisional Go-
verntnent of France, until the arrival of the Count d'Artois. We need
hardly remind our readers that he was French Commissioner at
the Congress of Vienna, and that on the final return of Louis the
Eighteenth, in 1815, he resumed the portfolio of Foreign Affairs
as President of the Council ; but resigned before the end of
the year, from his disapprobation of the tendencies of the
Government. From this period he remained near the person
of the Sovereign, in virtue of his title as Chamberlain, and
ultimately became the leader of the Opposition in the Chamber of
Peers. The resolution of 1830 found him, though advanced to a ve-
nerable age, not too old for the service of his country, and he proceeded
to London as Ambassador, where he remained till 1835. After this
time the Prince has rested linden' the shadow of his diplomatic laurels,
ample enough to include within their branches the treaties of Amiens,
of Luneville, and of the Quadruple Alliance. His death, and his re.
coneilement with the Church, we have just witnessed.
The following are the observations of the leading Parisian journals on
the close of Prince Talleyrand's earthly career:—M. de Talleyrand was
as eminent for firmness of character as for a comprehensive mind. His
powerful influence having been exercised in varying situations and
over destinies the most opposed to each other, he is generally charged
with having been as changeable as the events of his time. Neverthe.
less, in the apparently fluctuating character of his existence one prevail-
ing sentiment may be remarked—an unalterable attachment to the re-
volution of 1789, and a deep feeling of nationality, for few men have
felt so strong an interest in his country's greatne,s. On the important oc-
casions on which he was employed, his constant study was to derive some
advantage for France from the difficult situations which were not his
own work, and no man was more capable of turning them to better ac-
count. His rare firmness of character and his imperturable sangfroid,
enabled him to assume over others at least some portion of the empire
which he excercised over himself. it was impossible to exert more in..
fluence over an assembly of diplomatists than that for which Telles rand
was indebted to his superior mind, his infinite resources, and the elegance
of his language. To give an idea of the effect produced by his style,
which after him will probably find no efficient imitator, we may compare
his conversations to the prose bf Voltaire. He frequently gave way to a
natural nonchalence, and on such occasions spoke but little; but when
he at length shook off this mental indolence his conversation was en..
chanting. His habitual chitchat tone was one of graceful levity, that
skimmed lightly over the surface of every subject, but which, when se-
rious business was the theme, gave way to an extraordinary depth and
force of reasoning. It has often been imagined that he lived, as it were,
only intellectually, and that his heart found no room for the
feelings of affection : but those who were admitted to his intl.
mat., know that kis Liminess was unequalled, and that its expression
not unit,:uently penetrated even through the immoveable features
which discoucer:.'d so many able negotiators. His death is not only a
for those who were acquainted with him, but
subject of deep refire,
must be regarded as an in 'ortant event in modern history—an event
o:
which his country, whatever n 5.7 ‘' have been its judgment of the living
ice. For our own parts, we must
r
man, cannot look upon with incliffer,l
ever witness with a feeling of sorrow t: Se termination of the career of
any of the great actors who figured in th:t stupendous drama—the
French Revolution, which forms the most gloriolis portion of the annals
of France.—Constiturioral.
The death of a man overwhelmed with age and hifirmities is cer-
tainly not to be regarded as a political event of high importance ; but
when such a man leaves behind him the reputation of having been the
greatest diplomatist of his age—when so many painful recollections are
attached to his name—it is impossible to withhold all notice of his dis-
appearance from this earthly scene. For fifty years M. de Talleyrand
has occupied the attention of Europe, and during that lengthened pe.
riod, in which years often count as ages, he was the representative of
a system—that of personal interest and political scepticism,
Throughout the whole course of our revolutions, we invariably flint
the same ironical features which seem to mock our efforts to
break the bonds of the past, and to found a new era of generous ideas
and principles. At times the visage disappears, when the struggle be..
tween nations and Kings, between France and Europe, becomes too
serious to admit of the successful intervention of cautious diplomacy.
Thus, Talleyrand was no longer perceptible on the scene when the Con-
vention sent its fourteen armies into the field, but we again find hint
when the Empire was to be aided in recovering the traditions of att.
solutism. When the Empire in its turn, notwithstanding its despotic
form, was engaged in a deadly struggle with the principle of Royalty,
Talleyrand again vanished, and re-appeared on the scene only at the de.
grading period of foreign invasion, and to sign the treaties of 1815.
Again, in 1830, it was only when the barricades had been levelled, that
lie appeared in the palace of the newly-established royalty, as the living
evidence of the counter-revolutionary principle. Various have been the
judgments pronounced on Talleyrancl. Royalists, patriots, religious men,
have inflicted on him the severest epithets; but all have at the same time
acknowledged his consummate ability. The evidence of a Wellington, &
Metternich, aNesselrode, and their diplomatic colleagues,confirms this eu.
logium. For us this praise from our enemies has a suspicious tone—one
rather of gratitude for services rendeeed to coalesced Sovereigns than of
genuine admiration. France, in our opinion, has been too much dia.
posed to take the reputation of Talleyrand far granted. Had she studied
him more closely she would perhaps have found that what she so readily
admired as evidence of immense diplomatic talent was, to her own detri-
ment, borrowed from other times and other countries—an incontestible
proof of the feeble perception which Talleyrand had of the national
feeling, and of that of the 19th century in general. Urged by the force
of cirumstances into the career of diplomacy, Talleyrand was merely
the successor of the quondam Churchmen who, like Reiz, Dubois,
and Alberoni, long directed the affairs of Europe. Like his
masters in diplomacy, he believed that the science of politics
was one of intrigue. But was this the part that ought to have
been played by the diplomatist of the French revolution? Ought
he not t) have felt that the time was gone by when popu-
lations were exchanges among princes, like flocks of cheeps ? Had
Talleyrand been really a man of genius would he not have employed
that genius on some other work than the restoration of the treaties of
Westphalia? Would he not have laboured ler the establishment of a
new interoatimial system of rights, t °untied, toot on the interest of
Kings, but of nations ? To these things the deceased diplomatist never
gave a thought, and for thls reason posterity will regard but as dross the
talent which passes for sterling gold with the opinions of the present
day --National.

Talleyrand will occupy a place apart from his contemporaries In the
page of history. Cold and impassible amidst the vicissitudes and the
caastrophes which have shaken so many existences in J.,,lurope, his
character will appear repulsive rather than attractive—aeonishing
rather than imposing. It is something to descend to posterity with
a name exalted by popular hatr. d—some say by popular prejudice—far
above the equivocal reputations which hare their birth its low intrigue,
and te:minate their career in oblivion. The moment, perhaps, has not
co 00 for pronm.ncing an impartial judgment on a character which
Corms a carious contrast with th .t of Lafayette, the one being the type.
01 ilidifference and egotism—the other the symbol of truth and devo-
t.on.—Sierle.
Some may, [crimps, look upon M. de Talleyrand's abjuration of his
of his past errors as a pitiable farce ; , but the philosopher and the moral.
ist will take a loftier view than the petty politicans of the day. The
world would gain but little by doubting the sincerity of a deathbed
repentance. Whc can tell what passes within the breast of the depart-
ing pesi:!ent at the solemn hour when earthly objects vanish from his
sight, and leave him in presence of an unknown eternity Y Who can
tell the emotions C.f. Ilse human heart when a glimpse of truth flashes
athwart the dart windn:ms of death ?—Quotidienne.

The reputation of T,„rey.iand is not amongst those to which the page
of history will add. His own „ze has done full justice to him, and pos.
terity therefore owes him no rei;aration. He was gifted with an
amazing flexibility of character, and a s'.lgacity which can forsee misfor-
tune—both of which qualities often supply the place of genius. They,
at all events, conducted Talleyrand through revolutions and calami-
ties with greater safety than would have beeit ensured to him by
rectitude of heart and high talent. Under the ancient regime,
and under the !peaceful reign of Louis XV., Talleyrand would
have been nothing more than a courtly Prelate the wit-
tiest and the least scrupulous of Bishops—instead of a statesman enjoy-
ing an European reputation. He quitted life with a calmness 01a:could
not have b?eit exceeded by the purest conscience. Iu d ath he preserved
all the stoicism of his life. He went out of the world like a true cour-
tier,• by using flattering words to his King, and like a true diplomatist,
by negotiating with the Pope, with wl om, as a consecrated Bishop, a
married Priest, and excom nunicated Catholic, he had many accounts to
settle.—Courier Francais.

The death of Talleyrand is an event, and to the eye of the historian
will at pear as a inoral point between two memorable epochs. Prince
Tallerrand may be called the last Grand Seigneur of the old French Mo-
narch; 'I he prodigious qua ities with which this statesman was gifted
enabled him to quell the revolutionary war ready to break out in 1630.
All ttat genius could imagine to neutralize the struggle between two op.
posit-, principles was devised by Talleyrand, but his dream of restoring
the ol 'd system of Europe put an end to his once powerful influence.
His e, mnsels were still listened to, but not followed for it would no
longer be possible to revive the old order of things. On his statue
may be inscribed the words—" The expiring genius of aristocracy."—
Temps.

(From a Correspondent of the Morning Post.)
19.—As the death of Prince de Talleyrand continues
of all conversations, I must add some lines n the subject to
'ter. The funeral service is to take place at the Assump.
`•esday morning, after which the corpse is to be con.
t Valencay. The Prince's will has already been

114
t4e t cap?
yesterday's
t:on Church on I
veyed to and interrett „s