Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-06-16
From the London New Monthly for July.
TALLEYRANDISM
OF THE DRAWING-ROOM.
BY MILES GERALD KEoN, ESQ.

BY MILES GERALD KEoN, ESQ.
Tout ce qul parat hazardeux ct qu pourtant ne
rest pas, est pressure toujours sdge."-CARpiNAL DE
RErz.
Some persons are apt to suppose that the
social machavellism that distinguished the
era preceding the French revolution, has
been altogether banished from the higher
circles of Europe; and that all the subtle
and fnessing diplomacy which, even in the
saloon, was indefatigaby busy during that
stirring day, in its vocation of reading hearts
and contriving plots, of concerning ambitious
intrigues, and acquiring or fast-holding the
emoluments and digniies of courts, has been
of late replaced by the old straightforward
system Of downright plain CORRECTNESS"
They who entertain this impression, arc en-
dowed with admirable simplicity. Not ma
ny years since, the occurrences which am
going to relate took place in London; and
they will serve to show that these Alcibiades
arts are yet cultivated in the ambitious at
mosphere of courts.
A ministerial crisis had arrived. The
government was fiercely pressed by the OPP
position, and the votes in the lower house
stood so nearly balanced that the voice of
even one member had become matter of
very anxious importance.-In this state of
things, the victory was likely to favor the
more active party of the two !; emlssaries
were abroad in every quarter; all the expe-
dents of ingenuity, and all the refined blan-
dishments of the most viglant address, were
by both sides equally resorted TO. In one
word, there teas a game of diplomacy.
In the very midst of it there suddenly APP
peared young man, whose wonderful skill
Visible chiefly in its effects) excited the OBJ
servation and fixed the attention of all the
higher political personages of the day. He
had precisely the characteristics Of the old
school of diplomacy-,hc portraitures of
whose disciples are to be seen in many of
our most accepted romances.
As he was a mlnstorialist, proselytes of
government everywhere started up before
the witchery of his presence. Yet no one
could divine the process by which these i'm
portant conversions were achieved.
In his manners there was an incxprcssi-
bic charm which always procured him dis
tinguished reception dupres DIES danes. In
deed, nothing could exceed-scarcc even
can memory now recall the selfpossession of
his deportment.-His velvet football, his
cold bright eye,-so watchful, yet so calm,
his smooth unruffled forehead, which no
expression of joy or Of alarm, of astonish-
ment. Of contempt, or Of disappointment, ev-
er visited with its tell-tale presence; these
we're the well-known Municipalities of his
demeanor.
To do his memory justice, however, he
had not the darker qualities of his class he
seemed to take infinite delight in the scenes
in which he was engaged, and to exult in
the exercise Of his wonderful intelligence,
like the conquerors of old, who often derv-
their military skill, than from the equisilons
ofterritory which accrued to them by means
Of its exertion. lie had, IN fact, all the tai
ents, without particle of the malignity,
which generally belong to the state ntriguer.
So that it was evident he pursued his profess
sion as an amateur, delightng to feel his
power; and though often exerting it without
regard to the strict casustry of right, YET
never welding it to crush a personal enemy,
or TO wreak personal revenge.
The ideal associations connected with q
career like his, in his earliest youth, fascina'
ted his Imagination. The tapestried closet
the rich and retinued hall, the crowded evce
and the gay excitement of the ballroom
were scenes among which he loved to move
and where he was eminently fitted to figure
The midnight conference, the critical charge
the delicate and difficult interview in which
only the most consummate fact could avail
him; these, and such as these, had for hin
all the charms of romance.
On tho other hand, however, il must be
admitted that his practice was not always SC
poetical as his theory; and that he did occa.
sionally perform some mischievous achieve
ments. Divisions and broils among the hes
OF friends, we're as frequently observed tt
make mysterious appearance where he hat
for a while fitted, as reconciliatons between
the most deadly enemies were known to b.
the certain results of his mediation-not tina
he carried tales; he was never SO insane
and it was frequent phrase with him, tina
there was no ingenuity in lie All thel
that can be said is, that he contrived matte
according to methods of his own, which i
would perhaps be vague and visionary TO di
vine.-lndeed, during one season, when h
was particularly capriCious, so many unac
accountable dissensions, and such high war
fare of scandal took place, that one lady
whose name VIC need not mention, but whom
we believe to have been more observan, tina
the rest of the world, was heard to say, Il
VIZ were living few centuries back, I shout
assurdly believe tina, that young elegant ha
the evil eye; he bu, looks on you, an