New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
upTTFRN1CHs MEMOIRS.

Charles Sciibrers sobs
The work for which The materials were known to
have been left in manuscript by Prince Me'terhich
# the time Of his death in 1859. comprising recol-
ectiops of his public and political life for period
of more than half century, has been looked for
with not little curiosity as illustration OF Que
of the most eventfu periods of modern European
history It's recent appearance in English from
New-York publishing house will direct wide at
tention to its contents, supplying. as 1t does, In
liberal measure, the personal and local DETAILS
which give naturalness and animation 10 the more
stately recitas of historic composition. III formeu
no part of the plan of Prince Metternich TO write
systematic history of the period during when ne
was one of the most conspicuous hgures Oh
the stage. He too prominent an ACTOR
in the events of the hour to preserve
the record of their progress. II have mace MS
tory.n he remarks "and have, therefore, not found
time to write it, The materials which have been
used in the preparation of the work include the
notes memoirs and correspondence which Meter
Mich deposited in the archives OF his family 1or 'he
benefit of his future biographer. These papers nave
been arranged by Prince Richard Metternlch. the
editor of the work. in chronological order, cassheu
according to the nature of the subjects ana OCCASION
ally supplemented by reference to the archives OF
the State The career of Metternch is divided INTO
three periods: the first extending from his brth III
1893 to the Vienna Congress of 1919; the second
from 1916 TO 1s4S, including a season of general
peace and euding with the retirement OF Mettermch
from political life; the third from 1slS to 1893,
period of repose lasting till his death. which took
Mace ON the 18th of June of the last named year.
The present volumes embrace the first part OF Met
tenrpchs ife and of course are made up, to great
decree of his official relations with the Emperor
Napoleon /.
After the battle of Austerlitz it found neces-
,ary TO make a change in the Austrian Ministry
and in the conduct of foreign affairs Metternlch
having been designated by Napoleon himself as the
most suitable representative of the relations
which he wished to establish between the TWO
,mpires The appointment was great surprise to
Metternich He resigned his previous position AT
ST. Petersburg with reluctance. Napoleon seemed
The incarnation of the Revolution. But the Austrian
,tatesman found in the power which be represented
The surest guardian of the principles which formed
The sole guarantee of general peace aud equilibrium
He looked at his task with profound sense OF It's
Importance to the welfare of Europe. he did not
fear TO 60 wrong from excess of sefove, or from
an overheated fancy but he was aware of the rocks
in his new position, and resolved to keep his amDis
hon within modest bounds. and at least to prevent
,v,l when lie could do no good. Metternich arrived
In Paris August f. 1906. He was cordially received
BY the Prince of Benevento. who was then Minister
t0f fOrelgu
This was in fact. the beginning of my public life.
All that had gone before might have shown the in
dependence of my character. As man OF primer
pies. could not and would not benz Wnen IL cae
10 the point of defending them. Within snort
space of time destiny had placed me lace 70 lace
with the man who at this epoch ruled the affairs Oh
the world felt it my duty ana had .nS HE;eS
never to offer TO mere circumstance sacrince Whch
could not defend to my conscience DOth as STATES
man and private individual ms voice OF con-
science followed; aud do not think IT was good
inspiration of Napoleons, which called me 10 rune
tOns which gave the opport unity OF approaching
his excelences but also the possibility of discover,
n1 the faults which at last led him to rain and
freed Europe from the oppression under whlch IL
languished. H. .aaooo..
of which had the opportunity OF proving III lew
years. 49, =, ..,.4 5o,;or
ing an address at the first AUDIENCE had al u.
Cloud rs was the custom of my colleagues. con
fined myself stating that as, in accordance with
his own wishes. had been chosen TO represent 'he
Emperor of Austria at his court, should strive on
every occasion TO strengthen the good reialOns pc
tween the two empires on that basis upon Wnic c
alone q lasting peace could be established DelWeeh
indeDendept States. Napoleon answered me IN the
same simple style, and our subsequent personal re-
Iat0ns took their tone from TINS nlst meeting
Prince Metternich acutcy felt the exigencies OF
the situation He was placed at the most promi-
nent post fcf observing the movement OF which
Napoleon was the centre. He represented at his
court aspowerful monarch, whose Kingdom had
Welded TO necessity, but was ready to rise ON the
first chance He was to play the part of a quiet
and impartial spectator at an epoch when Europe
was passing through a social transformation. NO
where was the effervescence more vehemept than IN
France Raised by the Revolution to the summit oil
power Napoleon sought TO prop up MS throne Dy
monarchcal institutions. The destructive parties
were anxious TO save from their works all they
could secure from the entertainments OF the Imperial
power. Their efforts were mpotent, but were none
the less worthy of observation.
After bringing the historical sketches to the close
of the Hundred DAYS, and the final overthrow of
Napoleon, Prince Metternch devotes a considerable
.nace in the work to general reflections suggested
by the past including variety OF pregnant com
ments both on events and characters His elabo-
rate porraiturc of Napoleon abOunds with decisive
points. presenting mastery ANALYSIS OF the per
sonal traits and political motives of the fallen En-
peror Some of these sketches will subjoin for the
benefit of our readers they occur In the text
NAPOLEON IN PRIVATE LIFE.
In nrivote life without being amiable, he was
pood-natured and even carried indulgence 10 the
nont of weakness. A good son and good kinsman,
with those little peculianties that are met with
more particularly IN the a the rxtTavapan n
courses of some of his relations without using
sufficient strength of will to stop them, even when
Ii would have been clearly 10 his interest to 90 So
His sisters in particular, got from him everything
that they wanted. .,. -
Neither OF his wives Dau ever any tnhe W Yum
plain Of from Napoleon's personal manners.
of the Archduchesse Marie Louise viii put it
in new light. II am sure" she said to me some
time after her marriage, that they think great
deal ahont me in Vienna, and that the general
opinion is that live life of daily suffering. so
true is il that truth is often not probable
have 10 fear of Napoleon, but Degin 10 thhA
that he is afraidOf me-"
NAPOLEON IN SOCIETY.
Simple and even easy as he was in private life, he
shaved himself to little advantage in the great
world Ii is difficult to imagine anything more
awkward than Napoloon's manner III drawing
room The pains which he took TO correct the faults
II cd only served 10 make his