New-York tribune., 1890-04-20
M DE ROTH1N'S PICTURES.
TIE FAMOUS GALLERY OF THE DEAD DlPLO-
MArIST TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION.

Paris, April !.
The expulsion of NJ. dc Rothan from lilsacc in
1885 gave his name q worldwide publicity IT
became known that he had been the most watch
full diplomatist in the service of France from
1s47 until 1871, when he retired from the ser
vice in reading his works and hearing the story
of his life, one feels tempted I" ask whether
he had not been raised up purpose by the
ruardion angel of France TO divine the schemes
of Bismarck and to thwart them. His insight and
prcsccncc appear TO us. in the light Of the events
of 1864. of sG6 Of the Luxembourg incident of
1867, and the invasion of France three years
later. as nothing short of the divination of
seer and prophet Nobody ever dcducca more
clearly from the present what the future held in
store Prince Bismarck felt that he was being
watched and penetrated by the little Alsatan
secretary of the French Legation at Frankfort"
lie remarked of him: He is hard worker. and
he docs not like me-" VI. de Rothan did not dis
like Bismarck; but he saw through him. and
warned time after time the foreign secretaries Of
Napoleon Ill Sometimes the warnings were In
the form Of dispatches, followed by "pTivate
letters, sometimes made verbally III flying visits
10 Paris without leave of absence, and undertaken
because the Asatian diplomatist felt that his
country was on the verge of ruin and utterly un-
conscious of its danger. lie prevented France
from letting herself be dragged into a war about
LuNcmburg in 1867. lIe did all that
lay in him to stop the feather
headed Olivier Ministry from allowing itself TO be
hurried into a quarrel about the Hohcnzollcrn in
cidcnt His vision Of what was coming was so
lucid that he warned the French Government.
since il could not be prevented from taking the
mOmcntOnS step. TO place III safety on SHIPS OF
war; al Bnrs' The crown Jewels. the treasure 81
the Bank of France and The most precious works
OF art in the Louvre. IhiS was done. .
NJ. de Rothan quilted diplomacy in ISL. lie
had fortune in his own and in his wifes night:
The latter inherited from her father paper mn
al Lutlenhach. in the Valley Of Munster. and also
the beautiful old seat Of the SchOcphln family,
adjoining it--a chateau in which Volairc spent
over a year, and where he wrote the " Annals OF
the German Empire The management OF his
wifcs. his own fortune. literature and fine arts.
became his all-absorbing occupations. lie helped
10 organize two retrospective art exhibitions III
Paris-one Of which held in 1913 and the
other in the spring OF 1885. The latter was
devoted exclusively TO the representation OF works
Of art OF The eighteenth century From ihr paint
ings exhibited Oh that occasion the public awokc
10 the fact that the fal- sighted dpomatist was
ono OF the first picture experts in existence. and
that he had formed one Of the finest collections
in France There were works by Icpcir Ian
crct Vatican. Rirand Boucher thc two best
he ever painted. Natter, Grcuze. Largllicm and
ON being Ianishcd from Al,ncc a few wears
ago NJ Rothan hired a large floor in corner
house in the Avenue Montaiene. corner house
has more windows than an ordinary onf. ana ne
wanted all the light that he could possibly Oh
tain 10 be thrown on hi pictures lie died
short time ago III this abode One OF me clauses
in his will directs that the incomparnble gallery
is to be brought 10 the hammer. The family OF
NJ 10 RDthan is composed of his widow a'd ar
only daughter. who are both i'm delicate health
lie know that such collection of paintings would
invite thieves TO lav sicsc to ,fcir house. and he
y source 10 them Of constant anxiety were they
to continue in possession thereof J." {.