Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-04-19
Napoleon and r.lIeyr.nd.

matte capacity, the proofs are abundan
In his correspondence. After Auster
litz he wrote simply to him: SCI want
peace; arrange the conditions as vel
as you can" During all the period oi
his most splendid triumphs of the FRS
Empire he listened patiently to the adj
vice and remonstrances of TalleyranC
when he would listen to no other. III
every critical juncture of affairs he con
suited him, and knew that whatever or.
ders he gave him would be completely
carried out, and with the most consum
mate tact. He gave wholly to him the
negotiations of Amiens, of Presburg
and of Tilsit, and recompensed his ser.
vices with unparalleled munificence
During the seven years that Talleyrand
was thus his Foreign Minister he gave
him place in his Privy Council, made
him High Chamberlain, Vice Grand
Elector, and created for him a fief in
Italy, with the title of Prince of Benev-
eDto. No one was more intimately as
sociated than NJ. DeTalleyrand with the
career of Napoleon, and he was the
statesman in all Europe who the bes,
understood the character of the Emperor
and the depth and extent of his designs.
Some of Talleyrand's mots during che
Empire have quite historic significance
as this one, for example. Napoleon al
ways was as curious to know the opin-
ion of the Fauburg st. Germain about
his victories as Alexander was to know
that of the Athenians. "What will the
Faubourg st. Germain say ?" he always
asked ironically after a great victory.
After the victory of Austerlitz he asked
1 nj naNarhnnnA vrhn lilo nj
was another aristOcratic diplOmatist in
his service, and whom he had over
whelmed with favors: "Votre mere
was embarrassed for reply, but Tai
leyrand came to his aid: "Sire, Ma
dame De Narbonne men est encore Qu'
radmiration."
Another mot too, in illustration of the
period of the domination of the sabre,
when the language of the camp invaded
even the salon. General Dorsenne was
engaged to dine with him, but arrived
late and found the guests seated. Tai
leyrand apologized. and the General re-
piled that he had been very busy dur
ing the day, and detained at the last
moment by a cursed pekin (the slang
military term tor a civilian.)
"May | ask you" said Talleyrand,
''for my private instruction, what is a
pekiRP"
"Ah, mon Dieu, Monseigneur, did
you remark the expression? Well, it
is camp word. We call pekin every
one who is not military"
"That is very good," said Talleyrand.
'fYou call pelrin everybody who is not
military. We do much the same thing :
We call everybody military who is not
civil"
Talleyrand, however. could upon oc-
casion turn a compliment even to mil
itary man for when Gen. Montburn ar
rived, like Gen. Dorsenne, late for din
ner and apologized: General, you have
come last, il is true but that only proves
that L did not invite you to battle, for
then, my dear Bayard, you would have
arrived first"
1t was pretty compliment which he
turned too for the Princesse lie Vaade-
mont, very charitable lady, when he
was asked for her address. "Rue St.
Lazare," he said. 81 forget the num-
ber; but ask the first poor persons you
meet; they will tell you. All the poor
know her house."
At last, however, in 1914, the Empire
was tottering to its fall, and the Allies
were pressing upon Paris; while Napo-
leon, by his wonderful strategic activi-
ty, multiplied the number of his troops,
and endeavored to save the capital. Ma
poleon, however, before quitting Paris
for the campaign, held council. He
already suspected Talleyrand of secret
intrigues with his enemies; and at the
conclusion of the council he arose in an
ger and declared he was surrounded by
enemies. He then addressed himself
especially to Talleyrand, and for more
than ten minutes overwhelmed him
with violent reproaches. Talleyrand,
of whom it has been said by Murat that
you might kick him from behind with
out his showing the least trace Of feel
ing it in his face, stood all the time he
was being thus rated at the corner of
the fire, using his hat as a screen; and
it was said if any one had entered at
the moment he would have thought that
Talleyrand was the last man in the room
who was the subject of Napoleon s abuse.
When the Emperor had come to an end
of his TRADE he went out of the room and
slammed Tie door violently behind him,
and Talleyranl Jook the arm of friend
and limped dow. stairs, saying coolly
and audibly. "A rat pity that so great
a man has sul d manners"
Napoleon, il ced, was not far wrong
in suspectlng Talleyrand of being false
to him, for his former Minister of For
eign Affairs was already in correspon-
dence with the Emperor Alexander, and
awaiting with impotence the entry OF
the Allies into Paris; but precisely at
the moment when he desired most to
remain in the capital Talleyrand re-
ceived orders to join the Empress Marie
Louise, who had been appointed Regent
and was departing for Blois. Talley-
rand did not even then dare to disobey
openly; Napoleon's game did not seem
even then wholly lost. Talleyrand
wished to keep up appearances, and not
have discredit of an abrupt desertion.
So inventive a genius, however, was
not at a loss TO manage to stay in Paris
and still keep up appearances. There
are two accounts of the manner in
which he effected this. The one says
that he ordered his state carriage with
great parade, and embarked in it with
all his baggage, making arrangements,
however, with Madame DeRemusat that
ner nuSDanu sllOulu dTTcsl nlil dt tuc
head of the National Guard at the gates
of Paris, with the declaration that so
important parsonage could not be al
lowed to quit the capital. The other
says that he arrived with full travelling
suite at the bdrriere, whens his servants
were asked for his passport.
"It is the Vice Grand Electeur, they
replied.
'.He can pass" was the reply.
.sNo." said Talleyrand, 81 will not
break through your regulations" And
he returned to his hotel In the Rue
Florentin. "Il ne convenient pas" he
said, ga tout lie monde de Sc faire ecra-
par les ruines dun edifice qui va crou-
ler." And NJ. DeTalleyrand was GER
tainly the last man i'm the world to al
low himself willingly to be crushed by
an edifice which he knew to be on the
point of tumbling down.
A mot of his had indeed gone the
round Of Paris some months before its
occupation by the Allies in 1S14-"C'est
lie commencement de la fin'-and the
,oof has Dassed intO a proyerh Tt ia