Litchfield enquirer., 1830-11-18
TALLEYRAND.

Charles Maurice Perigord Talleyrand was horn in the year l754. and is now 76 years of age. His family, which is ancient and honor able, was allied to many European courts, and even to that of the ancient Kings of France.
 Destined by his family to be priest of the Romish church, Talleyrand commenced when young, to have always one OpiniOn-that the usefulness of the priest should be subordinate to his rank and that blOckhead, who was bishop, was much better man than phi losOpher or christian who was merely vicar. T.lleyrand embraced his profession as he would a mistress not because he loved it, for he was incapable of love, but because his profession and his mistress suited his convenience. In 178O, when % years of age. he was agent general for the clergy; and in 1888 he was Bishop of Aurun. At this time Talleyrand was lover of pleasure and blessed, or cursed, with fascinating manner and ready wit, he was general favorite with the giddy, and the idol of the profane.
 When the revolution commenced, Taley- rand turned demagOgue-was named deputy to the Assembly of States General by the clergy of his diocese, where he was the most zealous partizan of all reforms, and even rhe order to which he belonged became the sub- feet of his constant attacks. It was he who proposed the suppression of tithes, and after wards the decree for appropriating church property to the relief of the public treasury. fYet this very man in after years was the great friend of the Jesuits, and Grand Cham berlain in 1880 to Charles X.] He was one of the first who took the oath of obedience iO the civil constitution of the States General. For this act the Pope accommodated him, and the pious Bishop of Aurun made verses ridicullng the Pope and his bulls, and vowed that he would take his revenge by showing how ungodly a.life an ex-bshOp could lead.
 When TaIleyrand was out of favor at Rome, he contrived to get into favor with the people; and on the 16th Feb. 179O, Talleyrand was declared President of the Assembly, and on the 14th of July following, assisted pOntifical ly at the altar erected by the people in the middle of the Champ de Mars. at the fete of the premiere. federation. Though, however, he usurped the title honors of which his spir- itual head had deprived him, he resolved on getting rid of his priestly character entirely, and to enter intO. the career of politician.
 But politics without pay, without office or power, were very uninteresting to the ex bishop sO in March, 1791, he contrived to get elected member of the Directory for the department of Pans. In this capacity he lost much of his popularity; and in the iron chest, which in Nov. .l792 was opened, was found letter. dated April 2l, 179l, which showed that Talleyrand, while crying "Vive la Liberty" was offering his zealous services tO Louis XVI. and his minister Laporte.
 When this letter was communicated to the Convention in 1799, Talleyraud, who was then in England, charged with diplomatic mission by Louis XVII, was placed by this
 ss.v~,-~.y suoss.' :.:. e.. t-:- nomination had taken place after his offer of services But his embarrassment was of but short continuance. for he wrote a long ramb- ling letter of justification and nonsense. which arrived at moment when Louis XVI. was under trial, and SO, by piece of good tuck, he avoided the judgment of the Convention. Talleyrand was, however, accused of having cOnspired against the public cause. and re- rnained in England until i794, when of a sud den he received orders to leave Great Britain within 24 hours, and to embark for America. In 1795 the Convention recalled him to France, and he arrived there at the moment when the Directory was in full actvty.-l Madame de Stael now became his protect ress; and he who feels neither respect nor regard for women, courted her smiles, and said 'an,en' to all her decisions.
 In July, 1797, Talieyrand was named Min ister of Foreign Affairs He then courted the Directory, and appeared devoted slave to it's will. But this was all mistake. Tal- bGyTuUU was VtdytUk UUleE C0TUSe anu ne nfSt sought to enfeeble the Directory, and profit ed by its weakness. Napoleon, who had re- turned from Egypt. became the idol of Talley- rand and the frst Consul charmed with his diplomatic talents, received him with open arms. From this period Napoleon began to conRde in him: and in June, 18O6. he was named Grand Chamberlain to the Emperor and Prince of BeneventO. Talleyrand. who knew all the intrigucs of the Court, and how to profit by his intelligence, had made. from ,13O3 to 1909, large sums of money by his speculations, or rather his jobbings, for he played op certainty, and risked really noth- tug in the public funds. Thus riches and honors and place were all in his possession.
 In 1907 the fail of Talley rand commenced The more the Emperor granted. the more he claimed; nothing which the Emperor could bestow satisfied his rapacity, and he medta- { ted future vengeance against his patron, be- cause his wishes were not all gratiRed. and his vanity and ambition fully indulged. Ma pOleon and Talleyrand possessed the same faults but the former had virtues to atone for his vices, whilst the latter had nothing but his talents.
 Talleyrand now commenced an opposition to Napoleoa. He opposed the war in Spain, and predicted the fall of his master. That master now more than suspected, for he ar- rested him and although subsequently, the Emperor tried to gain his confidence, Talley- rand turned his eye to the rising sun, and in his capacity of President of the Goaprnment
 Pr0DiSoirp sTalle rand ,n.r.o.,,.-l l ....L,.