Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-22
TALLEYRAsD'S MEMOIRS.
why They Have Not Yet Been Gfven
90 che World-His Reconciliation
with the Church.

why They Have Not Yet Been Given
90 the WOrld-His Reconciliation
with the Church.
Paris Correspondence Of the New York Tines.
Prince Talleyrand died on the 18th of
Nav, 1888. During his last illness, and
in spite of his eighty-four years, he preserved
all his senses and also his .JiReSse and wit.
When confined 10 his bed, as he had every
reason to suppose for the last time, the
Prince began to think about making his
peace with the Church. So far as his
future state was concerned, he cared little
for the accommodation that had been pro-
nounced against him, but be did care for
tie effect that it would have upon the pub
lie, and he did not want to be the means of
throwing a shade of discredit upon the
church in the bosom of which he had been
nurtured. Besides he knew that the fact
would create difficult position for those
he left behind him, particularly his niece,
whom he loved most tenderly. He con
cluded, therefore, to make his peace with
the church. He wrote paper with his own
hand, but hesitated TO send it. Urged to do
so by those around him, he always put it off
until tomorrow, and seemed 70 be awaiting
certain signs Of his end, which he knew
could not be far of. On the very day Of
his death, Ii. de Talleyrand called for the
paper that he had written two months be-
fore, and to which be had given the head
ing of "RetraCtion." This was addressed
to the Pope. After reading it once, Talley-
rand smiled, and, with peculiar look at
those who sat about his bed, declared that
they were probably right; that he had been
overcome by their arguments, and that he
would now send the retraction to the Pope.
He made copy of it in firm, bold hand,
then wrote letterto accompany it, also adj
dressed to His Holiness. In this letter the
Prince said: MY memoirs, long since
completed, but which, according to my last
wishes, will not appear until thirty years
after my death, will explain to pOSterity my
conduct during the torment of the Revolu-
tion.n The dying man put this letter and
the copy destined to the Pope under en-
yelOpe, reInitting the other copy to Mon
siegneur De Quelen, Archbishop Of Paris,
who had hurried to his bedside as soon as
his illness was regarded as seriOus. This
copy was placed in the archives of the
Episcopal Palace, where it now remains.
The "Retraction" has been the cause Of
much comment. The Prince said:
"More and more touched by grave con-
siderations, led to judge with s1RqfrOid the
consequences of a revolution that has car
ried away everything and lasted for fifty
years, / have come, at the end of a great
age and after long experience, to blame
the excuses O1lhe century to which l have
belonged, and to frankly condemn the seri-
Gus faults that, in this long series Of years,
have troubled and afflicted the Catholic
Apostolic, and Roman Church, and in which
had the misfortune 10 participate. Dis
pensed by the venerable Plus VII from the
exercise Of ecclesiastical Functions, have
sought in my long political career occasions
to render TO religion, and TO many hOnOra-
bic and distinguished members Of the Cath
Ollie clergy, all the services that were within
my power. Never have L ceased TO regard
myself as a child of the church. | again
deplOre the acts of my life which have az
flicted (cOatTiste) her, and my last wishes
will be for her and for her worthy supreme
head"
The manuscript had been placed in the
hands of NJ. De BacOurt, the Princes ex-
ecutOr, 'tte most honest man he had ever
known" TO use the expression Of NJ. De
Taheyrand. Efforts were made to induce
NJ. De Bacourt to violate the Princes
much to gain By having the judgments of
a man who had had so large a part in the
history of his century. N. De BacOuri
refused.
AS the term fixed by Talleyrand expired
in 1868, uumors of the appearance of these
Memoirs were then current. Those who
had seen the manuscripts, or who pre-
tended to have done so, said so much
oh of no af,ri,cffx- of fl,..
Emperor became aroused. Ii was said |
that the Prince had attacked the Bona |
parties, and particularly the first Napoleon,
AID il seems only natural that such should |
be the case, since Napoleon treaeld the |
Prince roughly on more than one &C. |
caSiOn. But the Emperor said at first that |
be did not think it possible NJ. De Tai |
leyrand should have gone beyond the /
ing his uncle. This was understood to re-
fer to a certain rumOr. 1t will be remem-
bered that the shooting of the Due D'Eng-
hien in the moat of Vincennes has never
vet been cleared up. Napoleon said that
he Duke never would have been shot if
NJ. De Talleyrand had not invited the act
IS a necessity, in a note, and not even then
f final order staying the execution had
lsl DENu away WILL Dut TIC nOlt 1
N question was never found. NOtwith- |
sanding, there is a rumOr that it exists,
and that it somehow came into the
hands of Queen Hortense, together
With many important papers regarding |
he Dauphin, Louis XVII. The story
,Oes that Talleyrand knew of the exist
nee of these papers, and hence those in
he secret comprehended the remark made
N,.n1na- u f.lf fl,s |
VI. De Talleyrand would not 90 too far in
lis criticism. He asked to see the chap
ers before they were published, and found
hat his judgment was correct. But the
'rince had sadly maltreated Nj. Guizot,
Il. Theirs, and all the men who belonged
o the Louis Philippe regime, and they |
we're then in the opposition. As he was
ryingtO win them over, the Emperor de-
lined to irritate them by the publica-
ion of these memoirS.if he could possibly |
reyent it. He procured a promise that |
hey should not appear until the men
reated so harshly had had time to die.
u few years more none of them could be
IT. NJ. De BacOurt and the heirs of the
'rince were in favor of the Empire. 1t is
aid to have been after this, if not on ac-
cunt of it, that the Emperor revived the
ncient title Of Due De Montmorency for
'rince Tallyrand's heirs. The term fixed,
t the Emperor's request, was twenty-five
ears, and hence. in case there is no fur
ler delay, the memoirs will appear in the +;
ear 1890. Those Of us who live sixteen 5
ears more can hope to read them.
An incident transpired at a paper-miI
Niagara Falls, one day last week, which. I
, Tho la1Sf fantalizinrr a la4 l 2