Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-03-19
WHOLE NUMBER $50.
Talieyrand and His Times.

Among he'many Lectures delivered before our
Literary Institutions, this season, says tho "Uni>
led States perhaps none has been more replete
wiih useful ntotmation, conveyed in an easy,
pleasing style, than that delivered before the Mar
shall Institute, on Thursday evening. bv ]. II. s.
Sullivan, Esq , on 1aufyrand and his Times. To
DO II justice III an abstract would be iRpos shle.
II brings up IN panoramic review tho whole drama
OF the French Revolu,'on, that great poem, as a
distinguished individual calls it, and in this we
easily follow, through all his many windinss, tho
principal character IN tho lecture: that man who
so Justly adopted the motto. 'Je pile ct ne romps
pas" referring 10 the reed. The length which
would be necessary will not permi, US 10 follow
him, but we cannot fprbear TO give a few speci.
mems of the closing par, Of tho lecture.
This world have called him great! Who nre
the great? Tho hero of a CORY feldf The lion
stays with miider cruelty. The victor of the cas-
ties Of the sea9 The silent rock is more efec-
tive IN It's might. The conqneror of a thousand
thrones? Where died Napoleon? On a sea-gif,
rock, washed by a thousand painting biliows-nnd
there, too, dies his military glory. Had he left
10 monuments Of his mind, he might have been
regarded as a meteor Of tho sky, flashing a mo-
ment IN lis firerv course, then lost forever. Men
are to be idged like deeds-by their effec.-and
those alone are good and great which have a ten
dencv 10 improve mankind. He alone is great
who rises by his moral force above tho chance Of
fate; who builds himself a pedestal, against, whose
base the surges Of misfortune waste their strength
IN vain, and on whose surface sleep the ray Of
melting temptation without effect. Those men
are great who leave behind them immortal mon.
unents OF high, generous deeds, or Of their &C.
MUS, which may servo as bencon lights TO poster
ity.-And those who have by acts, however bold
or renowned, endeavored but 10 aggrandize them
selves at the cost of virtue, honor, religion, and
Of human life, are never great, bu, stand as giant
models Of deiorm:ty.
"Talicyrand was not great-he was a%riful.
quick, and seltish!-hc was a model Of untiring
watchfulness; was ungra,eful when il suited his
Purposos-pious when it tended 10 his advance
ment; forgiving when he could gain by its infu-
solute when left to himself. If he was essential
TO his day. God grant tina, VIC may never see his
day ngain!
Sand here we leave him. A few years only
have elapsed since The remains Of Taile rand
were given TO the grave. Among his other hon
oIs he was created Prince, and died as such.
'TLus We havo hastily, and necessarily so. from
no 'irno aitutteu ~ such n uIscUurs.. fuIlow.d III.
dissolute boy to an aged grave-crowned with
pubic honors at every step, yet over mistrusted
and feared. What was the secret Of his success
He made himself necessary to The ruling power,
whether it was Republican. Imperial. Despo,ic, or
constiIutionally Monarchial. TO whit can we
liken hint To nothing but himself. Whatever
may be said Of him, he certainly pursued a course
most beneficial to his country. When France
was entrusted 20 his care, he ever carried her
through the diplomatic contest with honor. Ii
he betrayed his friends, he never did so until ho
could no longer save them, or until his support
would only have rnined himself. If he betrayed
the governments no had been instrumental 10 ere.
aiing, he never did so until they began TO tot,er
beneath their own weight. Fortunately his in
leres,s kept pace with The changes Of tho time;
and he was never SO blind TO danger TINT he did
notdesertih the ed flee whose approaching fall would
have crushed him beneath its ruiDs!o