, 1874-12-27
The Story Of a. Long-Deferred
Work.
The Death-Bed Of Prince Dc Tallcyrand-
His Reconciliation With The
Church.
Why His Reco!lections Are Not
Yet Published.

months before finally running her down. l
have Vory frequent opportunities for learning
the truth Of this saying. More Than two years
ago announced to the worla that the long-e1-
Eccted and auxiousiy awaited " Memoirs OF
Prince Talleyrand would not appear for many
years to come. Yet moro than once since have
had frequent occasion to correct popular rumor
that they wore about to appear. This was once
more stated some sR weeks ago, and am now
receiving Journals from all parts OF the world
announcing this ~ = fact. For this reason
shall now try to ''close the incident" Prince
Talleyrand died on the 18th May, 1888. During
his last illness. aud in spite OF his 81 years,
ho preserved al his senses. and also his
tinesse aud wit. When confined to his bed, as ho
had every reason to suppose for tho lust tire,
tho Frinco began to think about making his
Foace with the Church. SO far ss Lis future
state WAS concerned ho cared little for the e1-
communication that had boen pronounced
against Eina but he did for the effect that it
would have upon the public, and lie did not want
| to be the mems OF throwing shade OF discredi.
! upon the Church in tho boeom Of which lo hai
| been nurtured- Besides, he knew that the fact
! would create difficult position for those he left
bolsina him, Particularly his niece, whom he
t loved moot tonderly. He concluded, therefore.
! to make Ills peace with the Church. He wrote
| paper with his own hand, but hesltated 10 seud
it. Urged to do 80 by those around hfm, le
| always put it oil uhul the MORROW, aud seemed
to Le awaiting certain signs Of his eud, which Ee
know could not be far off. On the very day OF
| his death, II. De Taleyrand called for the paper
! tnst he had written two mouths before, and TO
| which he had given tie heading OF ''Ketracta-
tom" This WAS addressed to the Pope. After
| reading it once, Ta1eyT1nd. smiled, aud. with q
| peculiar look ut those who about his bed de-
ctazod that they were probably right; that ho
had been overcome by their arguments, and thai
he would now send tho rotsaetat;on to the Pope.
| He n,ade copy OF it in 8 tirm, bold band; then
wrote letter TO accompany it, also addressed to
! His Holiness. In this letter the Prince said ::
my memoirs, long suce completed. but which.
according to my last wishes, will nos appear runtu
thirty years after my death, will explain to pos
| to1ity my conduct durlus the torment Of tho
| the copy destined to tins Pope under envelope,
remitting tho other copy TO haonslegneur Dc
| Que1sn, Archbishop Of Paris. who had hurried to
his bedalde SOON IA. his illness was regarded Al
| Serious This copy was placed IN The archives Of
| the Episcopal Palace, where it now remains.
Tie "Ketractation hns been the cause Of
! much comment. The Prince said:
kors and touched by grare considerations, he'd
to judge with saugfrod tis Consequences Of revou
iou that has carried away everything and lasta1 for
nftv years. ha1e at the eni Of great ass and
after long experience, to blame the of the
certary 10 vhich haye belonged aud frankly
dcnln the serious faults that, in this long se1ies Of
year, have troubled .nd afflicted tho Catholic, Apos-
tossc anu Roman Church. and in Which hs the snis-
liu. VII the OF cccesass.csl functions,
have sought fn my oug political career occasions to
20 an n 70 eeraq Ih
vices that were within my power Never have ceased
to regard myself chlld of the Church. again de-
paore tho acts Of my Life which have afflicted eoatst)
her, and my last wianes will Iva for her aud for her
worthy supreme head
Talleyrand directed the letter to the Pope in
his own baud, aud then awaited death with al
air Of satisfaction. He tueH that it was coming,
and it Is probable that be had expressly waite1
for the supreme moment in order to show that
ho cared nothing personally for the ma!edlctiohs
Ut the Church. but lad taken this step to pre-
vent them frcm falling upon those he loved He
dropped OF as calmly IS En- infant that goes to
eloep. The day before his family had been worry
anxious, and during the morning, had urged him
10 send OH the retrGcta!lou. When no said ITO
morrow" they deSpnlTad. for al believed that
Anoned 20 tiEus Of concern. Lator III the day
the King came in, and Louis Philippe rushed at
once to tho bed. Despite the agony he suffered
IRON anthrax i'll the back, and despite his feeble
ness, Ialeyrand Insde movement as Il to rse'
Tie King pressed llitn gently back. - Sire" lie
Gald. ''tnis is the greatest honor that my house
has over. received" He talked as long as they
would permit, showing that his intellect was
clouded neither by age nor illness. and when tho
Kng seized both his hands. he eGaiu tried to
rr4o. As Louis Philippe turned away in tears,
Talleyrand called him back, and, beckoning him
near, snld in low tone: Sire, it il useless to
mako the usual perquisition l have burned
everything" It WAS tho last piece Of r2alico on
knew that the King would mover have come had
it not been for certain papers in Ialleyrands
possession, aud the willy Giplom.t!ss knew that
the seals OF State woald be placed upon his
pagers hour after his Death. lie gaya
The King to understand thas he had
long snco set bis house in order, and
that all the perqusltions In the world
would not get n the facts Of history he wished
to preserve. The look he turned toward tho
King as the latter weut out Of the door told
those around the bod that the old man felt in-
wnrdly content at the last SHIFT he had launch
cd. and satisfied with his last bon mot. The day
OF his death thoro Vas + ceremony OF first COM
muniou vt the Church OF the Assumption, and
after it the young gals iu tlleir white robes were
brought into N. De Tallcyrand's room, and I'll
knelt beto1s his bed. The Prince stretched out
both arms towards the children Sublime
contrast Of life he said to tho porsonn azoana
trass Of life; tho old man who quits 1t, aud
threshod!"
No State papers were found among tho effects
OF II. Dc Talleyrand except those he had himself
docketed aud directed to tho Foreign Office.
Nor wero his Memoirs found III tho chateau.
Louis Philippe Tas very anxious to hear what
Talleraud had to say about tire monarchy Of
July, but before be could ret any informationu upon
the subject he had followed Charles Z. into exile.
1t was ,hen that the world learned something
about the Memoirs that Talleyrand had announe-
ed in his letter to the Pope, aad which ha had
taid wers not to be published until thirty years
after Ills DEATH. The manuscript had been
placed in TITO hands OF II. De Dacourt, the
Princes executor, ''the most honest man he had
ever knoEn," to use the expression Of II. De
Tsleyrand. Efforts we're made to induce II. De
Bacours to violate the Princes wiehes on the
ground that the world had much TO gain by
having the judgments OF man who hnd had so
large part in the history of hscentury. u. De
Bacourt refused.
AS the term Fixed by Talleyrand expired in
1868, rlnlors Of the appearance of these Memoirs
were than enrront Those who had seen tho
manuscripts, or who pretended to have done 80.
said 60 much about the york that tho curiosity
OF the Emperor became aroused. 1t was said
that the Prince had attacked the Bonapartea,
and particularly the First Napoleo', and it seems
enly natural that such should be the case, since
Napoleon treated the Prince roughly on moro
than one occasion. But the EmpeTor said at first
that he did not think it possible II. De Talley-
rnud should have gone beyond the limits OF per
Iniszible appreciation respecting his uncle.
This was understood to refer to certain rumor.
Il will ba renemtered that tho shooting OF the