The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-04
NAPOLEON AT BAY.
Extract from Prince Metternich's
Memoirs.
Mine Hours OF Machiavellian Fencing
mt Dresden.
Marrying Marie Louise Mistake.

Al announced IN the Iferutd few days ago,
Prince Metternlch's posthumous memoirs
from i773 to 1915, published by bis son. Prince
Richard WInnehurg, were TO have made their
appearance on the fourth or fifth instant, In
three languages. In London Paris and Vienna
simultaneously. There has been delay In the
appearance OF the work, however, caused by
the fact that the English translation Is not
uuite ready Tie memoirs were written
partly In French and partly In German, 80
that the tack OF rendering them from one Of
these languages Into the other was q ligh
one when compared with that Of preparing
nm entirely new volume. The conditions arc
that the publications shall be simultaneous.
The French publishers are obliged to walt
until their English colleagues can produce
their edition. Tho memoirs will doubtless
create considerable sensation. In Difference
TO special testamentary disposition made by
the Prince n period Of twenty-five years was
to elapse after his death before they should
he given 10 the world, when they were to be
edited by competent persons and printed.
The memoirs are said to contain political
revelations and personal ana ~ extraordinary
value TO the historian and OF lively interest
to the public of every European country"
One Of the most interesting episodes re-
counted I'm the memoirs Ia doubtless Meter
nich's own account ~ tho mompntous Inter
view which took place between himself and
Napoleon | Mt Dresden. on the twenty sixth
June, 1918. The Prince on the part OF Austria,
offered mediation with u Wow OF closing the
war but meanwhile WAS conducting the nego-
ffationa which led 10 the quadrupie alliance.
and ultimately to Napoleons defeat at
Leipsic:
NAPOLEON IN THE SAXON CAPITAL,
I'D at the house Of Count Bubna. Napoleon
arrived at the Saxon capital u few hours later
than myself and summoned me TO his quar-
ters for the following day. flo was staying
mt villa In the MafColln Gardens, upon tho
EIstsrweise for he did not venture to take up
hiH abode In tho city ITSELF and more than
10000 Of his troops were cramned into the
Friedrich suburb for his protection Napo-
icons position toward his army, Us well as
toward the French people, was NJ that time u
very critical one. The whole nation was split
up Into two parties the one consisting Of the
"Mon OF the Revolution, comprising a host
of persons whose destiny was bound up In the
endurance OF the empire. and the other com
pretending all the adherents OF the royal
Bourhons. The former were grooming over
the hazardous situation into which Ma
poleon's devouriDg ambition had brought
their interests the latter did not
as yet dare to raise their heads, but
were awaiting with impotence the results Of
was even then making gigantic preparations.
The French army Itself yearned for peace. |
Its generals, without exception, felt but little
confidence 10 10 tho result Of tho struggle. |
which would become more than unequal 80 |
soon ms fresh allies should Join the Russians |
and prussians. The governments or the |
Rhenish Federation experienced great diff |
Guilty In restraining tie detestatton OF Ma |
poleon animating tho German people; their |
own attitude toward him was doubtful o a..
which caused Europe to watch that of Austria
with all tho more pagerness and anxiety. |
Under these circumstances the appearances of
the Austrian Minister OF Foreign Affairs at
Napoleon's headquarters could not but be re-
garded by the leaders of the French army as |
an event. the consequences of which would |
prove conclusive. 1t would be difficult |
Tor me to convey In words any idea |
of the miserably carsworn expression |
which 1 observed In the faces of the
courtiers and generals oil gltterlng with |
gold though they were, who crowded the |
Emperor's antnchambcrs rs passed through |
them. The Prince of Neufehatel (Berthler) |
whispered to inc, "Do not forget that Europe
asks for peace-above oil, France, which will
not hear of anything but peace" | made no
reply, and entered the Emperor's private
room. Napoleon was awaiting me, standing,
his sword mt his side, his cooked hat under
his arm. He approached me with obviously
affected calm, and inquired after the health
OF my Emperor. Soon. however, his counte-
nance darkened, and standing opposite 70 me
we'll, then; you shall have 1t | annihilated
the Prusslen army Mt Luton. defeated the
Russians ut Bau'zsn, now you want to have
your turn. give you rendezvous Mt Vienna.
Human beings are really incorrglble; moth
ing will Induce them to take lessons from ex-
perience. Thrice have replaced the Empe-
ror Francis upon his throne: have promised
him to remain Mt peace with him Tor the rest
of my life, have even married his daughter.
When / did so | said 10 myself You are
N If n iu tFttfA md |
cannot be helped. although now regret it,
GREEK MEETS GREEK.
From these Introductory remarks | gath
cred that my position was even u stronger
one than had believed 1t to be. At that do
cisive moment was enabled to regard my
self rs the representative Of European socle-
ty. Yes, | may now confess 1t Napoleon
then appeared TO me small indeed. War
and peace" 4 replied, fare In your majesty's
hands. My MASTER the Emperor. has duties
20 fulfill before which all other considera-
lions must give place. Europe's future and
your own arc entirely dependent upon your
self. An abyss yaWns between your wishes
and that which Europe desires. The world !.
asks for peace. To assure that peace you
must withdraw within the limits that are ,
,omp atible with general tranquility, or you
must succumb In the otherwise Inevitable /.
struggle. To-day you can still conclude
peace, tomorrow will be, perhaps, too late =
or you to do 80. The Emperor my SOW
conduct solely by the voice of his con
science. Listen, sire. now to yoursW .
eplied Napoleon, hastily. That
lnow how to die, II necessary, but not how !
b cede one inch Of my territory. Your mon !
4rehs who are born to thrones can allow !
themselves TO be beaten twenty times run !
ling, and then return to their capitals as II
othing had happened to them. | cannot,
anausn am only parypnu of n soldier NV !