The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-11
HOTIC1s OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.
rHu cHsvALIrR wnoYE's NEW WORK.

TIL CHxVALlEh WlkOfk D NEW WVnAs
We have received the proof sheets OF the nrst
chapters of the Chevalier Wikof's new work on
European politics and diplomacy which is about TO
be published simultaneously in London and New
York These important subjects are handled in the
Chevslier's usual Off hand and lively style, and pre-
sent the leading questions and politicians OF the
day under quite a new aspect. They give US, in
fact, an inside view OF much that we were only su-
periciaIly acquainted with. The ChevaEer has been
80 intimately mixed up with the intrigues and move
ments of the European governments for the last
dozen years and has had such close relations with
the principal actors in them, that man living Is
better qualified TO enlghten US as to the secret
springs and motives Of the events which have re-
Gently agita.ed the world. Ne dams fe serdI en-
conait ies detouTs. He belongs to that class OF
rowing, prying amateur diplomatists, half coxcomb
and half literary, of which that astute statesman
Prince Kaunit 2, had at once great dread and
made such frequent use. 1t is related of this Minis
ter that he enjone the Austrian representatives in
London and Paris to keep At religious distance
all the men who, like Wikof, are continually fut-
tering about the embassies in the expectation of
picking up information that may be turned to useful
account. To the German legations just the reverse
instructions were issued. There diplomacy, like
mirror, was intended to reflect just mnch or as
little as was suffered to transpire Of the political
movements at the superior courts. The Austrian
statesman, though childish in the excessive egotism
of his character, was yet no mean Judge of human
nature. He knew when and where to employ the
men whom he either distrusted or feared, so as to
render their pecuarties harmless or profitable,
as the case might be.
The present Emperor Of the French is remarkable
for the possession of the same intaitiYe perception
80
in his way. He met Wikoff when in exile, and sue
ceeded in impressing him, Lot only With the great
ness of his talents, but with conviction Of the
splendid destiny that awaited him. He could not
have better chosen his man He knew that the
Chevaer, in desiring profit to the utmost by the
honor Of his acquaintance, would, in his turn, be-
come the trumpeter of his views or at least Of 30
much Of them he was then DESTROYS Of confdlng
to the world. OF the accuracy Of his calculations
we have proof in the account, published by the
Chevalier some years ago, Of his conversations with
the prisoner of Ham. Wikof acted the part of a
faithful Boswell, and swallowed implicitly all that
the Prince poured into his ear. Although duped,
like the rest of the world by the democratic fervor
of the dess Napoeoniennes, it is bnt due to the
penetration of the Chevalier to say that he was
OF the first to recognise the great abilities Of the
man who has since raised himself from the position
Of an obscure adyentuIer to that OF the virtual
bitter Of the destines Of the world
Lord Palmerston not equally happy in his APP
probation of the seryiceabe qualities of our author.
Unlike Kaunitz and Louis Napoleon he did not
possess the faculty Of putting the right man in the
right place. The circumstances of the Chevaliers
connection with the English government show
that had he been properly managed, he might have
teen made most valuable instrument Of and per,
haps have sa,ed, the administration from the conse
quences of some of their own errors. Wikof, as
our readers probably recollect, distinguished him
self during the debates the constitution in the
Constituent Assembly Of France, by the publica-
ton Of some articles in the Steele and the Pressc,
showing how the principles which had guided the
trainers Of the constitution of the United States
might be usefuly applied to the work then in hand
The ability and extensive political information dis
played in these articles procured for their author
the notice of some of the leading politicians in the
French capital, and amongst others, the then Sec
rotary to the British Legation. After sounding
Wikofr as to his views, and as to his DISPOSE
ton to accept employment under the Eng
lish government, this gentleman gave him q
letter Of introduction to Lord Pamerston,
armed with which chevaler Immediately start
ed for Broadlands his lordships country seat,
Southampton, and there concluded h bargain with
the minister. OF what occurred between them and
of the precise character OF the mission entrusted
him, respecting which there has been some doubt,
we presume that we shall be fully informed in the
future pages Of this book We shall not attempt to
anticipate WikofTs own account Of the matter, but
shall content ourselves with accepting the generally
received idea Of his functions, which were those of
manager general of the French and American
press, in the joint interest of England and the
United States. OF the cheyaliers capacity for this
post we need not remind readers, after the dis
play which be made Of his abilities in this line Las
year in his joint management of that most unman-
ageable body, the Directors Of the Academy OF
Music, and of the New York press in connection
with it. Whatever may have been his instructions,
he certainly rendered great service to the British
government in Paris, during most important and
anxious crisis Of its affairs, the advanta ges of
the enttnte cordiaie not being 30 we'll under
stood by the red republicans as by the old
citizen king and his imperial successor. It
was by WikofT that General Changarner's project
of landing army Of invasion in England. and un-
CALAMITY knocking the walls Of Buckingham Palace
about her Majestys ears, was first communicated to
Lord Pamerston. The Chevaier had the honor Of
doing that which no man ever did before hm-of
giving the Duke of Wellington twentyfour hours
collie from pure apprehension. From some cause or
other with which we suppose we shall be made &C
quainfed in the present work, Lord Pamerston
quarieIled with his agent; it may be from jealousy
of the superior diplomatic skill which he displayed
in his mission, or it may be from that lamentable
defect Of ingrattude, which, since the time Of Sir
Robert WaIpoe, seems inherent in British Minister'S
The vindctve part which his ordship acted in that
unfortunate and memorable affair, which consigned
our author to Genoese prison, did not Of course
tend to soothe the feelings excited by our authors
dismissal from his post. Hence the desire of the
latter 20 illustrate Lord Palnerston as he illustrated
his quondam fame, Miss Gamble, and his quondam