The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-03


charm OF his seductive ways was all the more
powerful for being clothed with manI srs
which we're Just then rare Added to natural
wit stamped with piduont originality, NJ de
Talleyrand possessed the distinguished and
easy manners Of the grand seigner Of former
days. and he greatly contributed TO the taste
which his master was soon to acquire for such
manners In this respect he had the merit Of
coming forward as the natural connecting link
between old France and new France. between
tho old regime and the new. II was manifest
TO Napoleon that Talleyrand could. without
danger. be made use OF for such purpose.
rs there was no fear OF his going too far.
It would have been hard to meet with man
more on his guard than he was against a return
tho former order Of things. A restoration OF
the Bourbon throne would have been frauRht
with too many dangers for Talleyrand. the ex-
Bishop OF Autun. for him not to take special
care to drive away from the mind OF the First
Consul everything liu bic to lead him to accept
u part similar to that which Cen Monk had
played on the opposite side OF the Channel.
Tho Ministry OF Foreign Affairs offered Tall
leyrand great facilities for wardinR OF such n
danger II gave him repeated opportunities
for discussing the political situation Of France
the strength OF that situation. and its inmen 10
possibilities. II turned to account by n genius
80 rare az Napoleons. and always seconded by
victories IN war The author OF these memoirs
mas no doubt that, with the object Of avoiding
the danger which he most dreaded in those
Jays. Iallcyrand for some years believed that
and cxtollng the ambitious genius which h5
later on sought TO control tut which then
laughed cruelty at his inpotent efforts
Chancellor Pasluier does not Ind II an ensy
task to trace thu portrait OF N de Tnlleyrand.
How. he asks. il one 10 REPRODUCE such pcr-
les his character the less one iathoms IL and
the Tact - that It is dinlrult to nnd In him any
crate desires rather than Of violent passions.
susceptible OF receiving evory kind oi impress
sion. prey to, all sorts of tastes. even tho
most desnicable no means was repugnant TO
him when the question arose OF gratifying his
desires and contenting his tastes. II is our
authors conviction that the world never pro-
duced n man m ore lacking in delicacy OF
sentiment than was Taleyrand. and more in
capable Of being in ilucnced 10y any "a OF NOR
atty. No one has so made sport Of the worlds
opinion lie deiiei II incessantly. both in his
private and public lifG; in his morals nndin his
political conduct. He seems to have been
thrown into the arms Of the revolution rather
by the desire OF shaking on the restraints OF
rcgrctfully and to which he had been COM
d"mned through congenital deformity. and
inc craving Tor unbridled RIGHTEOUSNESS, than
by any OF the liberal sentiments which he
sometimes sought to parade but which he
2 TIi.n trampled under foot, Although a
him little to be one Of the earliest descrters
from his caste and from his vows Of ordina-
firmer step. for to the revolution Tallsyrnnd
sacrificed with equal readiness the goods and
prVeses oerST as 10 n .e on% n5, ah h
Pasquier however. that II. amid the ruins
with which Talleyrand surrounded him:
Of any kind. 1t was the. sentiment of pride he
derived from his birth and from tho rank
did not prevent everything appertaining to
him. even his episcopal character. being placed
9 on GsPe he h sS % b since Is2
character was to transmit II to the new Bishops,
who did not hesitate to violate the rules Of IT,,
on the Champ de Mars the mass OF the first
tederation. La Fayette has recounted how
the Bishop Of Autun. when mounting the steps
OF the altar with the sacred vase in his hands.
saw him near the steps in command Of tho
National Guard. and. passing as close to him
not make me laugh"
!, Besides being, 20 to speak. the chaplain to
rand became, with the aid of tho dss,0ndis.
one OF the principal flnancicrs Of the. Ccnsti-
and gamble away his assignats on the green
baize cloth Of q gambl Ing house. which was
opened in the PAVILION de Hanovre 10y a NJ. de
Of public gaming place. His good luck would
have it that. during the existence Of a Legisla-
sion which took him TO England. where he
succeeded in putting himself on the footing of
ambassador whom the Frencb Cahuet ssnt we ne
England in those days Talleyrand's residence
abroad at this Juncture saved him from the
great measure helped to bring down on hiS |
country. He was In Paris on the 10th OF
to be followed by decree of acc usation hurled |
against him ly the Convention. At the time |
the declaration az q var which followed the
England. being the only French citizen of any |
note then sheltered in that country against |
ferred on him by the Alien act Thus no other
was left to Talleyrand than to make |
. Journey to America After the Terror how
came France. m m
nifty guaranteed to him by a decree which his
ormer friends wrested from the Convention.
lhenceforth his lie was spent in obscure in
rigues until the day when Mme. de StnGl
lifted him out OF distress by Introducing him
ward gave him the portfolio Of foreign affairs.
He III repaid the service rendered to him by
Nine lime de stael. when the day came for her to
con. According to Chancellor Pasquier. it
vas under the DireGtorate that Talleeyrand sent
sole reward he asked Tor the duchy Of Peri;
Jonds. The King granted the first request
Without making any difficulty. but. with re-
gard to the second. he replied that il was
natter which concerned the Pope. There
Upon negotiations were broken OF.
IL Is well known that NJ. dc Talleyrand did
Il his private interests, We are told that a
week alter becoming Minister he had acquired
I've or six hundred thousand francs This
him. he exercised 1t with unvaryinG good for.
une on all occasions, and no treaty is known.
n the framing of which he took n part that
Id not furnish him an opportunity. The |
rcaty OF Luneville. wherein IT was stipulated
hat Austria should redeem the paper money |
which she had issued in Belgium, gave him |
he means of Tcaping enormous profits for |
IL bought up this paper money before any
ody else knew If the stipulation. The seeI- |
iriZatiOn OF episcopal domains in Germany
nj the arrangements which new territorial |
artitions accustomed were another and |
reater source OF profit. Chancellor Pas
uier heard them valued by well-informed |
elple at four MILLIONS OF francs. OF course, |
AlieyTant could not keep to himself all tho |
ruits Of his yenaity. He was willing To allow
lany ~ his cu-worEers "A share. deeming IL a |
God way OF securing useful and faithful in |
tTumenis. That his gains must have been
immense is clear from the fact that they were
ullicieEt TO meet his enormous expenses, and !
D build up the fortune which he enjoyed in |
is later years But for that fortune il is prob
bic that the latter part OF his lie would have
cen passed In oblivion and neglect
Recurring t. Talleyrand's lack OF any dellc-
~ of sentiment, the author points out that he
Id not even POSSESS the kind needed 10 resent 1
Hence for any length 81 time The sentiment
I honest mi 10 which springs in the human
reast rom sense OF Offended dignity did NOT
Nist in Ialeyrand, and his whole moral per- /
pnlIity seemed covered with a hard and ,
~ he'd veneer over which insults and con-
INIT giiird without penetrating IT, There
- no sort OF airont which he would not