New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-19
THE MEMOIRS or MARSHAL M4CM1HON
WHAT THEY CONTAIN AND HOW THEY ARE
WRITTEN-HIS ACCOUNT OF HIS RELA-
TIONS WITH THE COMTE DE
CuAMBORD IN 1873.

CHAMBoRD IN 1873
The memoirs left by Marshal MacMahon have been
the subject OF much speculative discussion in Paris
since the old soldiers death. Among the interesting
ontributions to the subject is that OF writer IN
the Figaro" subscribing himself "Un Anoien Tune
tionnaire."
The memoirs" says the writer, comprise i've
volumes Up to the present time only a few people
have been allowed TO read them, including, or
course the Due de Broglie. They are almost eX-
clusively "A personal character and are free from
all revelations regarding persons and occurrences
No unknown document relating to contemporaneous
history Is to be found in them. They are dry
without literary merit-written entirely In the style
Of official bulletins. The five volumes bear the
titles Algiers The Crmean Campaign The ltal'
ian Campaign The War Of ls1O-l1, and The Press
idency' The personal "reminiscences are 10 be
found mostly in the first volume. 1t contains. in
fact some peppery anecdotes, which the Marshal.
despite the entreaties Of friends, never consented
to omit. In the volumes relating to the cam'
paigns are to be found detailed accounts or the
movements Of the troops, but not a word OF eriti'
cism of the politics of Napoleon H. The chapters
on the Presidency little more original
From this part OF the memoirs the contributor
TO the Figaro quotes not quite literally, the
following account of the visit of the Comte ds
caIsei 80 much talk at the time: M de Blacas."
the Marshal writes. called on Madame MacMahon.
telling her that the Comte de Chambord was IN
Versailles that he had left him in the avenue
near the Presidents palace. and that the Prince
depended upon Madame MacMahon 10 secure Tor
him the opportunity OF ecret reception py the
President NY wife decl ed TO undertake the
mission contenting her II with leading NJ de
Blacas my cabinet. | answered IN reply 10 MS
proposition that. II danger threatened the Comts
de- Chambori. | was ready to have my head
broken in defending him: but that in my position
with reference 10 the Assembly and the Ministry
It was impossible to undertake secret negouatlohs
| learned later that the Comte de cnaHlporu naI
said: The refusal of the Marshal did not astohsn
me. He wishes to remain at the mead Oh inc
Government He IS more ambitious IMAM l
thought ! was dumfounded At these remarks;
and took occasion discuss them with one or
my officers of ordnance, who OFTEN wen. -
Frohslorf He explained to the Prince that my
motive was entirely different one from ,hat
which he ascribed to me. The officer was told 20
that he had been deceived and would DO me tuii
justice +, .o.
"Gambetta also wished to speak 10 me III secrett
twice He had heard. | know not where that !
had said in the Ministerial Council one day:
Whatever opinion l had OF this matter. l am
nevertheless thankful to him that he showed true
patriotism during the war. which. although pos
slhly misdirected genuine Duclere toid , me
one day that Gambetta had been deeply touched
and astonished at the manner IN when l naa
spoken of him. He added that Gambetta begged
me to meet him at midnight in restaurant OF me
Rols de Boulogne | answered simply that tnat
manner of meeting displeasing 10 me. Snorty
afterwari. Duclerc made another attempt. IL was
I'm reference secret meeting. IN the nlgnt tiie;
with Cambetta in the garden OF the Presidehtu
palace at Versailles. l declined second time;
/ did not wish accord to Gambetta what hao
refused to the Comte de Chambord