The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-05-15
Bark and Steel for the Mind"

From the New Orleans Sunday Times
TALLEYRAND.-"T There are more worship
pers of the rising than of the setting or eve
the meridian SUM- This remark of LORI
Bacon is more forcibly illustrated in the char
acter Of Talleyrand, than of any other person
age that has figured in the great political aren
during the last ninety years. Swearing fidelity
~ thirteen different Governments, and thel
becoming hostile to all Of them, he remained
always true to his own private interest, anc
the ruling power AS diplomatist Talleyrane
certainly stood unrisaled. Possessing talents
Of an extraordinary nature, he had only tt
direct them to noble purpose, and with his
high ecclesiastical position the good arising
from them would have been ncalculable.
Talleyrand had the misfortune to be born
club footed, and like Byron he studied to over
ceme his bodily deformity by his insinuatine
manners and agreeable conversation. From
his infancy he was the object Of his fathers
dislike, and was compelled by paternaI com
fnands to follow an ecclesiastical career. At
Ter finishing his education at the college oil
the Jesuits at Toulouse be took holy orders,
and by his engaging style, wit and hattery he
soon became the fayorite Able Boiteaux of the
haut-ton, and of all the literati of Paris.
He soon ingraiiated himself in the favor OF
Mirabeau and Voltare, and gained the friend
ship Of Diderot by whom he was presented to
the celebrated favorite Of Louis the Fifteenth,
Madame du Berr and by her powerful infu-
ence was appointed general agent to The Clergy
Of France. Talleyrand was depraved in his
private conduct and publicly immoral and un-
der the reign of this King was permitted the
immuuities of priest and Of noble. Alter
the death of his sovereign, he was coldy re-
ceiyed at the court of his successor, Louis the
Sixteenth, but in the course of time, by his
dupcity, he gained the friendship of Turget
and Neckar, and by that means secured the
protection of The lovely Marie Antoinette, who,
being generous and oblisng, solicited the
King to permit Talleyrand 10 retain the bishop
ric of Autun. But the Revolution Of 1889
crushed the despotism of both Church and
State, and the Bishop figured prominently at
that disastrous crisis. At the anniversary of
the federation he oficiated on the national al
tar of the Champs de, Mars; in the same year
he was elected Presiden. of the Legislative
Assembly, and he consectated the new con
sttutional bishops contrary to the orders Of
Pins vi, and was communicated.
Perceiring that the "Reign Of Terror
to England on a secret mission, which proved
bis disgrace, as his former friends denounced
him as traitor to sbe Republican party, and a
secret agent of the Royallsts of France. Thus
Talleyrand was expelled from England by
Pitt, and not having e1culpated himself with
the Jacobins, he was obliged to seek an asylum
in the United States, where he remained until
recalled TO France through the Influence Of
Mesdames de Stael, Barres, and Tallien. Tai
lcyraud had always made it part Of his tao
tics to ingratiate himself in the favor of the
ladies who possessed the most influence at
court, and secured by his diplomatic shrewd- /
Huss, iusiuuatng and deceitiai ways, added to
the strong solicitation of his fair protectresses,
the appointment of Minister of Foreign Affairs;
but instead Of buying the secrets of other ma
tons. he sold those of France and pocketed |
the money appropriated for that purpose. His t
extortions at length became 50 glaring that he
was advised to resign, which be did in 1899. /
On the return of Bonaparte from Egypt, Tai /
leyrand advised the ambitious warrior to crush
the Directory, and place himself at the head
of the Consular government, which advice be-
ing accepted, he was again made Minister of !
Foreign Affairs; but although the ablest di-
plomatist in Europe, on account of his insin-
cerity, be was placed under the surveillance Of
Fouche, the Chief Of Spies in France. He
all Bonapartes projects, contributed
T. all his trophies and glory; he concluded
treaties Of neutrality and peace with almost all
kingdoms of Europe, and by his dplomatical
foresight rendered himself necessary to the
great Napoleon.
The greatest blot on the name of Talleyrand
was his completely in the death of tie Duke
D Enghein. This horrible assassination is
oflen wrongly attributed 10 Napoleon. He
certainly contributed to its preparation, but it
Fas Ialleyrand that projected and finally e.
souted it, as be prevented tie First Consul i
rom receiving the Dukes letter, which would 5
lave secured for The writer better fate. t
Wien Napoleon was informed of his death, /
re found also the missise Of the murdered .
rince. and expressed his dissatisfaction 10 a
dessieurs Savery and Real for not receiving n
he letter in time "a
Talleyrand and Enunha ,rera hatl, a n, b;.;, !,