Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-11-05
TALLEYRAND, THE FRENCH AMBAS-
SADOR TO ENGLAND.

oil the newly appointed aWDassauoI anu us
plenipotentiary from the court OF Louis Philippe
L. to Ens!and:-
Charles Maurice Perigord Talleyrand was born
at Paris in the year 1854. lie is therefore now
seventy six years OF are. His family when Is
ancient and honorable, was allied to many Euro
2ean courts, and even to that of the ancient kings
Of France.
Destined by his family to be a priest Of the
Romish church, Talleyrand commenced when
Young, having always one opinion, that the use
iulness of the priest should be subordinate to his
rank; and that a blockhead, who was a bishop,
was a much better man than Il philosopher or
Christian who was merely a vicar. Ialleyrdnd
embraced his profession as he would his mistress:
not because he loved it, for he is incapable OF
love-but because his profession and his mistress
suited his convenience. In 1880. when twenty
six years of age, he was agent general for the
clergy; and in 1888, when only thirty-lour years
old, he was Bishop of Autun. At this time
Talleyrand was a lover OF pleasure, ann knew as
much about religion as he cared about liberty
Blessed. or cursed, at that time with fascinating
manners and ready wit, which he has retained to
the age OF seventy-siX, he vas 4 general iavorite
with the giddy, and the idsl of the %profanc.
When the revelation commenced, Talleyrand
turned from ~courticr to demagogue-was named
deputy to the Assembly of States General by
the Clergy of his diocese, where he was the most
Jealous p%artizau of all reforms, and even the Or
der to which; he belonged became the subject Of
his most constant attacks. 1t was lie who pro-
posedthc suppression of tithes, and afterwards
the decree for appropriating church property to
the relief of the Public Treasury. Yet this very
man in after years was the great friend of the
JesuIts, and Grand Chamberlain in 1850 to his
mast Ehrit.,n Na.actv Charlas v Ha wac npn
of the first who took the oath of obedience to the
civil constitution of the States General. assisted
by the Bishop of LYDIA and Babylon! For this
act the Pope accommodated him, and the pious
Bishop of Autun m dc verses ridiculing the Pope
and his bulls, and vowed that he would take his
revenge by showing how ungOdly a life an ex-
bishop could lead.
When Talievrand was out of favor at Rome.
he contrived to get into favor with the people;
and on the 10Th of February, 1870, Tal!eyrand
Was declared president of the Assembly. and on
the 18th ofJuly following oiiiciated pontiiicall at
an altar erected by die people in the middle Of
the Champ dc Mars, at the fete of the Premiere
Federation. Though. however, he thus usurped
the title honors of which his spiritual head had
deprived him, he resolved on getting rid OF his
priestly character entirely, aud to enter into the
career Of politician.
But politics without pay. without Office or pow
er, were very uninteresting to the ex-bishop; so,
in March 1921. he co%ntrived to get elected
member of the Directory for the department of
Paris. la this capacity he lost much of his popu-
larity, and in the iron chest. which in November
1892 was opened, was found a lctter, I~.ed the
3lst of April, 1891. addressed by the munster
Laporte to Louis XVI. in which the minister
thus spoke Of st, TsIlfaF s ssrvl Ri d oAea IF s" se ma
fait dire que vouse p%ouyicz fare l'essal de son
Zelc ct de son credit"
So the man of the people, who CRED "VIve la
liberte." was at the same moment Offering his
and jealous services to Louis XVI.
and Laporte, both of blessed memory.
When this letter was communicated to the
Convention in December. 1899, Talleyrand.
who was then in England, charged with a diplo-
matte mission by Louis XVI. was placed by this
discovery in an embarrassing position for his NOM
nation had taken place after his offer OF servi-
ces. But his embarrassment was but OF short
continuance, for he wrote a long rambling letter
of justification and nonsense, which arrived at a
moment when LOUIS XVI. was under trial, and
so by a piece of good luck, he avoided the judy
ment OF the Convention.
Talleyrand was, however, accused Of having
conspired against the public cause. and remained
III E1Glanu uiui lISt: NHeN Vi Il SuuutH lie re-
ceiyed order, to leave the shores of Great Britain
withia twenty-four hours, aud to embark for Ame-
"ica. In 1875 the Convention recalled him to
France, and he arrived in France by Hamburger.
at the moment when the Directory was in full
activity. Madame de Stael now became his pro-
tectress-and he who feels neither %resrect nor
love for woman, courted her smiles, and said an
episcopal :. Amen to all her decisions.
On the 18th July, 1877, Talleyrand was named
Minister of Foreign Affairs. He then coufted
the Directory, eulogized the existing system. and
appeared a devoted slave to its will. But this
was all a mistake. Talleyrand was playing other
cards. and he first sought to enfeeble the Direc-
tory. and then profited by its weakness Napo-
leon. who had suddenly returned from Egypt, be-
came the idol of Talleyrand: and the First Con-
sui, charmed with his diplomatic talents, and
hattered by the attentions and praises of a man
claiming such noble origin, received him with
open arms.
From this period Napoleon began to confde in
him: and on the 9TH June, 1906. he was named
Grand Chamberlain to the Emperor and Prince of
Benevento!!. Talleyrand, who knew all the in