New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-10

me me Able vermond's papers, I see no reason to
usoeleve the genuineness OF the vast majority
sesses. N' r
now easy to write history IL every author
were OF Won sybers Arm" turn 81 mind,
Many Of the letters in these volumes are from
eminent Frenchmen-the Due d'Aumale. the
Comte de Paris. NJ. de Tocquevilie Guizot and
the Comte de Circourt They are largely liter
AIRY and political in character. and are not al
ways OF general interest. One would naturally
expect to find severe judgment of Bismarck
in Frenchman's letter; and II We quote a por-
ton OF one Of the last Of De Circourt's epistles
1t Is because it contains a prophecy which was
afterward fully realized 1t in 1879 that
he wrote TO Reeve Of Bismarck:
He is no fnancier, no economist: and as he
does always act upon the interests OF the pres
ent hour. without regard to past enga gements.
ne can have with him but those who supersti-
-, ueem MN prophet, or those who choose
ana vindictive. The only great Minister with
whom he can be compared. Rchelieu. was at
least frank and open toward friend and foe. Bis
harck has never negotiated with any man. nor
charged any man with An important measure
without becoming their ruin or changed them
mo lmpiaoable enemies-Savigny Csedom. Ar:
MIN. Gortschakoh. Why did he leave half
OF the forts round Paris in the power not OF our
army. but of the armed rabble. to which he left
the possession Of 100 field pieces end 100000
guns While he dsarmed the regulars 10 the
last man? To his calculations we owe the Com
mune. posterity will hold him responsible for
that incaculable calamity which it a. every
hour in his power to avert. or 10 crush instantly
Presently his tenure OF Office is very precarious
The Emperor is eighty-two and has never liked
Bismarck he has gwen recently some signs
hat he feels CALLED by the chain The Crown
Prince may make Of him. and sacrify (sc)
his personal feelings 10 the advantage not 10
upser suddenly the system of government. but
ICr Erg11 ,icl fbo1 low &c
more than probable that Bismarck shall have
TO choose between retire and disobey.
We have on previous occasion tod the story
Of Reeves connection with the Greve me-
moirs They we're left 10 his discretion by their
writer and. rightly enough. he cut no more
than was absolutely necessary. The Queen was
offended by Greville's frank statements con-
corning her uncle Of unpleasant memory George
", and her complain. that the book tend "a
to weaken the monarchy" showed ar Unde-
standing less clear and judgment less wise
than we have been accustomed 10 eXpec; from
her. Her admirable reign has more than re-
deemed she errors and folcs Of the TWO pro
ceding e Her pardonab,e feminine Indignation.
we are told probably deprived Mr.. Reeve Of the
X. c. B.. to which he had been confidently LOOK
ing forward Possibly he found consolation In
the large sums which the Memoirs" brought to
over TO him a a free gift. II is worth while
10 remember in reference TO Greville's picture
Of George " tina, Lord Russell pronounced him
mot bit too sever. and added. concerning
the King "A worse man has not lived in our
time" OF much abused Greville. his friend
Cheney wrote 10 Reeve. in letter quoted in
this work: He had been spoiled child all his
life. His original education was defective. He
lived with the selfish and the seif-indulgent
and naturally became selfish and self-indulgert
himself. AT six years old an old friend Of his
mothers found him crying at dinner because
ne had not got the liver wing of the chicken
and 10 the last he would have wanted the
liver wing But he had naturally kind heart
ana a just perception; and he admired what
was noble and generous II he did not always
practise Il His last years were unhappy
The indulgence Of his temper made his company
often disagreeable, and he very keenly felt the
neglect Of his old friends. With better educa-
ton he would have been valuable man, FOR his
natural powers were considerable" Neglected
as he was however, his memoirs are a part OF
English social and political history, and Henry
Reeve will probably be remembered only as
civ nIi