New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-19

store the MONARCHY il was their duty 10 MAKE
no demands upon the latter, was dsregarded oy
the representatives Of England Prussia austria
and Russia in the most ruthless way.
The terms proposed were such as Napoleon him.
self miobt have offered q conquered country. III
is needless to recapitulatc the conditions. which
have long been part of European history Int
worst of them was that while Louis dared not
reject them peremptorily knowing that the AliieS
had the power to enforce them, he could only ac
cent them at the imminent risk Of SACRIFICING all
his popularity with his own subjects, VINO were
certain to haId the existing Government respon-
ebIa for such National humiliation as these con-
ditions involved Prince Talleyrand entered upon
the work of resistance with his Characteristic
energy and skill, but he soon discovered, iirst'
that tho Allies were in very unamiable and per
sstent mood, and, second, that Louis had no
serious intention Of holding out. The fact was
that he was surrounded by "emigres, who were
perpetually telling him that he could not afloru
To offend the Powers that had restored MIN loI
the second time TO his throne and the hlng' "ho
was easily influenced, could not stand against
these arguments. AS soon as he percclNeu V'i''
his position had become untenaDle, iaIIeSldh"
lost no time in abandoning 1t. he was not Vic
man 10 permit his name TO he forever assocla'eu
with National humiliation certain TO damn al
directly connected with it. His ambition was
to win great diplomatic successes which should re-
dound TO his personal credit. No man was less
likely TO sacrifice his reputation for the sake VI
master like Louis and besides. Louis could al
ways find men to employ upon such Dusinese
H. required no Diplomatic skill or experience 10
agree 20 terms framed by foreign Powers. SO he
resigned and withdrew into private life, despite
the solicitations and circumstances Of Wellington
Castlereagh, Aletternich and other plenipoten-
taries-who perhaps did not express the highest
sense of his patriotism in asking him to DE the
Minister of Europe in these circumstances
In an appendix to the ninth part o. the
memoirs which deals with the events just noted
Prince Talleyrand gives his defence against the
Duke of Rovgo'S charge that he was a chlel aseHV
in the murder of the Due dEnghien, ana he more
briefly notices another accusation preferred pS
the Marquis of Maubreuil, TO the elect thaC tic
tried TO procure the assassination OF Napoleon
while he was at Elba. The statement OF lalleS
rand concerning the death of the Due dEngmen Is
10 the effect that in 1905 NJ Rcguier, Councillor
of State who was temporarily administering tne
general police department, the Ministry Oh "hicn
had been suppressed some months BEFORE sehV
renort 70 the First Consul complaining that an
organization of emigres, subsidized by bngi'hu' was
making Ofenburg in the electorate Of Baden, us
French Government. 1t was the year of the con-
spiracies of Georges, Pichegru Moreau, etc, ana
rumors of plots weTe in the air, and were eagerly
accented Upon receiving this report the fHSV
Consul directed Taleyrand 10 demand the extra
dition of the accused French emigTes from inc
Baden Government Such measure was already |
provided for by the treaty OF Lunevule 1hlIey-
rand amends the letter which he wrote III accord
once with his instructions. 1t does not mention
the Due d'Enghien, and is precisely as he de-
scribes it.
This note was dispatched OH the 9th Of March
A few hours afterward Taleyrand was sent lor
by the First Consul, whom he found in state
of violent agitation" He was accusing VI. keal
one of the police directors OF not knowing that
the Due d'Eughien was at Ettenheim with General
Dumouriez, plotting against tho safety OF the Ike
public Then he turned upon Tallcyrand and re-
nroached him. asking how il was that the Charge
dAfTaires at Carlsruhc had failed to report the
| facts 10 him. As soon as he could secure the
First Consul's attention, which was not easy.
Talleyrand saws lie observed that the presence OF
| the Due d Enghen in the Electorate OF BADEN had
| long been known TO him (the -irst Consul, ana
| that he had even instructed Talleyrand to inform
! the Elector that no objection would he made by
| the French Government to his residence at Ettcn-
| helm As to the alleged intrigues, either they
| were imaginary or the Charge dAilaireS thought
| them too insignificant 10 report. The anger Of
Napoleon, however, rot appeased by any repre-
sensations lie exhibited the reports he had re-
! ceved concerning the presence Of General DumOu-
| riez at Ettenhem, and he forthwith resolved TO
have the supposed plotters seized by French troops,
who would violate the territory Of Baden in carry
| ing out this order. Talleyrand then ordered
10 write again TO the Electors Minister, inform
| ing him of the contemplated STEP bu/ II was in
! tended and arranged that the latter should not
| be delivered until the raid had been accomplished
| These Talleyrand declares, the only two let
| tiers written by him having any connection with
the affair, and beyond the writing of these letters
| he had nothing TO do with it. The First Consul
| did not consult him about the matter nor did. lie
confde his intentions Talleyrand knew nothing
of the proceedings OF the court-martial the find
ing, the execution until it all over. 1t turned
out afterward that the person taken for General
| Du1nouriez was another of no significance.
But the presumption is that Napoleon had made
| up his mind beforehand to Kill the Due d'Enghien,
| and any preteXt served. Talleyrands de-
| fence appears to be almost conclusive as concerns
himself, apd apart from this there is in his favor
| the absence of adequate motive, especially
weighty consideration in the case Of a man like
him
AS TO the charge of planning the assassination
| of Napoleon, Talleyrand relies mainly upon the
| character OF Maubreuil, which. as described by
him, is certainly almost as bad as it could be.
Here too, there is an obvious lack of motive, and
moreover Maubreuil did not pretend that he had
even SO much Us seen Talleyrand himself. Accord
ing TO him an agent of the Minister negotiated
with him, and we believe that lie failed to point
out that alleged agent. This charge however,
must have ranked, Taueyrand would hardly
have noticed it in his memoirs He demanded an
official investigation of Savary's charge, but the
King would not permit this, fearing rake up the
past at so critical period He, however, de-
clared his complete confidence in Talleyrand, and
as evidence Of his opinions, gave orders that the
Duke of Rovigo should henceforth be denied the
entree to IL Tuilerics. Concerning Savarys own