New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-22

some dcmur he accepted an invitation TO zine WIN
the Director: and he made such good use Vi
his opportunity that Barras took strong hAihS
TO him. and soon after upon the OCCURRENCE Vi Z"
change in the Ministry. this Director procured
for him the post of Minister of Foreign Reiatiohs'
At this time affairs were really more st"plc '"di'
Talleyrand has admitted, for the enemies oil iaioo
had been beaten everywhere. ana the star vi
Ronaparte had risen above the HORIZON h' A'uis
conqueror was even then negotiating 'he ue"'S
Of Campo Formio and cordial relatlohs iiln''-
diately sprang up between him ana 'he hc"
Foreign Minister who was quick to SEE the genius
and power of the soldier.
Tallcyrand's service under the Directory was nor
y source Of characterization for him Inc Vlo-
lcnce and folly Of the Government made IL lihpos-
siblc for him To apply his own principles Iiis W.
sire was to secure a solid peace with EUROPE Wneie
as the Directory was perpc,ually embroIling rance
in new ouarrcls The Foreign Minister TealiAeu
presently as he says that he could nei'hc' "o any
GOOD nor prevent mischief from helhg dohc anu
when NAPOLEON went 70 Egypt. Tallcyrand resisheu
b;s oAice On the return Of BOnaparte the sltua-
ton changed The Directory had ceased 10 ne
powcrful either AT home abroad and its enemies
proceeded to hatch the conspiracy OF the lo'h
Rrumoire. Tallcvrand relates that one evening ne
and Napoleon were together discussing the arrange
ments for the coup d'ctat. when tie NOISE Oh
cavalry was heard in the street below, ana IL SUD-
denly ceased before the house in which they were.
Napoleon turned pale" says Ialleyrand, ana L
have no doubt that did the same for they both
thought that body Of horse had peeh seh'
bv the Directory TO arrest them. 1t proved false
alarm, however. and the plot went forward win
what result all know The progress from the Con-
in these volumes, though Talleyrand candidly
avoucbes his participation in all Napoeon's pro-
ceedings at this time. He had once more become
Foreign Minister. and though he soon found that
his new master was not less self-wllcd than his
predecessors he thought at first that 1t would he
possible TO carry out his views and make france
at once strong and safe. The accession To In
peral power. however, quickly changed Napoleohs
polcy and one Of the most bancul results was,
according to Tallcyrand. the creation by the CON
queror Of all those petty and feeble Kingdoms whch
he destined for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF his iamily'
and every one of which was to create new enemy
and prove new source of weakness.
After Austcrlitz Talcyrand received the title Of
Prince of Rencvcnto though the Emperor was dis
SAT SIZED with him because he sought to mitigate
the harshncss OF the terms offered the vanqushcd.
Soon occurred that rash step of the Prince OF
Peace which was to furnish Napoleon the preieNt
he sought for the intrigue against Spain which,
while running that country and changing tie
dynasty. was fatcd t. hasten the downfall OF the
Empire The destruction OF the Spanish house
of Bourbon nj any price was then determined
upon by Napoleon, land J., says Tallcyrand, Il took
inwarlly the oath to cease At whatever price, u
he his Minister as soon as we should have returned
10 France" Tie barbarous treatment Of PRUSSIA
at Tilsit. for which the Minister was made to ar-
pear largely responsible confirmed him in tins
resolution, but lie was not to he released yet
He went with Napoleon to Poland. ard witnessed
oil his cff5r-s 10 build strong State out OF the
chaotic material AT his disposal \ military force
which later proved useful was the direct product
Of thosa manocuyres. On the return q Pans Tai
lcyrand was made vice grand-cecior. an honor
able and lucrative sinccurc. a he terms the posi-
and he then left the Cabinet ON his position
NJ this time he makes the following remarks !:
During all the time | had charge OF the man.
aqcmerit of foreign affairs, served Napoleon WIN
fidelity and zeal. As TO the Emperor. he adhered
for a long time to the views which ] considered
il a duty to suggest TO him. These views were
based upon these two considerations To csiah
llsh for Franch monarchical institutions WHEN
should secure the prcrogative Of the Crown and
within Just limits: 10 spare Europe in order that
tie Powers might pardon France her achieve
ments and glory In 1907. Napoleon had already
fer long time past il must he owned, kept away
from the path on which ! had done my hest
70 keep him but had been unable. until the
occasion which now presented itself. TO give up
tho nominal direction Of foreign affairs n'Was
not 50 easy rs one might suppose TO resign q
post the duties Of which brought It's occupant
in daily contact with him
But Tallcyrand was not - remain lde long, Tor
Alexander and Napoleon were 10 meet again AT
Crfurt 70 renew and conclude the Tilsit confer
enccs; and the Emperor, though very cold ~
with his late minister desired the latter To accom-
pnnv him to Erfurt, thinking he might he useful.
Tacvrand at this point intcricctS chapter on
Spanish affairs giving a detailed account OF the
ntrigucs by which the Emperor proceeded 10
carry out his designs against the Spanish B"nr-
hons This relation is highly interesting, and the
narrator spares no opportunity OF putting Napo-
Icons actions in the worst possible light II Is 70
be noticed, indeed, that a. least 50 far rs these
volumes are concerned. Ta!cyrand recognizes Ma
pocons genius but slightly and grudsngiy, while
he is merciless and exhaustive upon his errors and
crimes There is in his criticism no such Judicial
balancing of facts and estimates rs Tame fur
nisheS in the admirable characterization WhIch
appears in the fifth volume Of his great work.
With his miailing tact, Tallcyrand- whose main
nurpose is 10 vindicatc himself at the expense of
no matter whom. and following the principle
upon which the memoirs are arrangcd-care-
fully throws into high relief everything which
makes against his masters prestige, and as care
fully ignores keeps in deepest shadow whatever
rebounds to his credit advantage So in pc
In vi,
some allowance must be found for the bias of the
author. though even with such allowance il must
bc acknowledged that the course of Napoleon re-
mains singularly trcacherous and base If we
bear in mind and accept Tanc's suggestion that
tie Emperor was really man without a con-
,cicncc-a moral monster in fact, who made his
own laws of conduct in accordance solely with
what he thought his personal Interests, we must
no.I,it Lin. snmn A1eul nl The chnr0e Of mCnn-