The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-05-27
ENQUIRER-OFFICE.
TiLLEYR.7ND AND CaRN.oT
Richmond. May 81, Isl

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Plutarch, in his Lives. has presented NC
with many beautiful parallels between the
Great Men OF Rome and Of Greece. IF his
delicate Pencil were now in existence. how
elegantly might it be employed in drawing n
contrast between two ilustrious men of the
present age, both living in the same country.
both figuring on the theatre of Europe!
When the French Revolution burst upon
the world, it found Tallcyran d Perieortl in
the service ofthe Church-He was the Bish-
op OF Autur. Having sagacty enough to dis
cover which way the winds blew and the tenn
pests beat, he was determined at once to pa
with grace from dignity which he saw was
departing from him. All the legitimate til
ties of France were shaking to their centre
and he deemed 1t most prudent to escape be-
tore they were in ruins In the celebrated con-
troversy, which agitated Europe. be weep
the priviledged orders, and the Representa-
tives ofthe French People in the 1Hird rs
tate, 1alleyrand deserted his Brethren. and
was the first to lay down the privicdges of
his priesthood at the feet Of his country.
In all the great storms, which succeeded
the commencement of the tempest, he had
the same sagacity to perceive, the same dex
ter1ty IN Guiding their force, or rising upon the.
top of the tide. Let the wheel of revolution
turn as it will, he was almost sure to rise nm
permoSt All things to ell men, he was the
idol OF almost all parties, the victim OF none.
Ills was the merit of directing all revolutions
which events had made inevitable.
How dlltereat has been the conduct of the
great Ca17lot When the revolution burst
upon France in all its splendour, Carnot CON
ceivcd the project of plac ng the lib erties of
ms country on an imperishabe basis. A Re-
publican at heart, be sighed to make others
so-he sighed to see France one great Repub-
lic.--He was disappointed. Stung To madness
by the persecution of the neighboring Princes
who wished to strange the infant liberties of
Republic in the cradle unprepared bv her
previous subsection for state of freedom ;
unable TO initiate the example of America
who had only to break her Chrvsals shell. g,
spread her wings and soar into the skies :
France was drenchcd in blood and baff,cd in
her hopeS-Faction rose upon faction, until
the warm-visiOns of Carnot began to fade a.
way.
Atiength, the celebrated Ranaparte be-
came Lore OF the Ascendant. Ever attentive
TO the indications Of the weathercock, Tai
leyrand became his friend, and the slave of
his ambition He pushed him on from, one
step, to another, until the Imperial Diadem
had sparkled on his brow
But Carnot was still the firm and inhexible
republican. He votel against the Consul for
hte--1e opposed the Assumption of the I'm
perial Dignity. And while Tallevrand was
enjoying the confidence of his master and
the dignities of the State, Carnot retired
from scene which he did not relish and a
form of government which he had opposed
Bonaparte. to his credit be it spoken, respect
ed his courage, and suffered him to live in
unmolested retirement
Mark them further when the Allies
aHe rnh Al, 4 IN
began to descend, Talleyrand again consult
ed the weather, and pursued the way of pru-
dence. He was one Of the first to desert the
fortunes of the emperor, and to mount the.
cockade OF the Bourbons. What did Carnot ,
When he saw France invaded bv the foot of
foreigners. and those Bourbons, whose conduct
had provoked the Revolution, about t. be re-
stored with all their imbeci..iCs, Carnot came
forward to serve lis country. He did not turn
his back upon the setting, to salute the rising
sun. He forgot himself, he forgot his own in,
forests in those of his country. IF France was
unfit 20 exist as Republic, If that darling
vision OF his was forever to be blasted, still he
was unwilling to behold her destlnies direct
ed by Bourbon, imposed by the hand of A
foreigner. II came forward and offered bis
services to Brnaparte. He was entrusted
with the defence Of Antwerp ; his aChiev-
ments in that service are known to the world.
Carnot IS one oflhe greatest Engineers, as
wei as Statesmen in Europe.
For once, however, Taieyrand has been
left out in the cast of fortunes Bonaparte is
restored, and Talleyrand is in the service of
an eXiled master at Vienna.--If Bonaparts
remains firm upon the throne, he will never
coniide in the capricious minister. Ills recur-
renee 10 those ancient titles, which he was
once the first 70 rclinquish; his recurrence t.
the miserable cant Of legitimate Princes, is
sufficient t0.shut him out for ever. Ronaparte
will not E ret that in Note of Prime Fal-
leyrand addressed TO Prince McttcrniCh or
the 18th Of December lest, ne Congratulate 4
France on being "dclvercdf from that oppres
sinn Of which she was less the instru nett
'han the victim, happy on having recovered
her iegitiDiafc Princes, and with them, thu,
rcpose which She had reason to fear forever
lost"
Carnot on the contrary, IS the first man III
Bonaparies Council Of S,atc--but all hi,