New-York tribune., 1902-08-24

,s.-spfiop-whch again and again paraiyzeo
., Faculties for constructive craftsmanship as
~. courtiers OF the day may have possessed
-, ue os the attempt of Damiens upon the
~, :, tbe King, he tells us how he was struck
.,e tsleness in which the ministers were left
W -. .-;s,s and quotes with IL concealed
,ca the reply of those who were urged to
,+ -" action 10 assemble the council for con-
f,.o+ion on the measures TO be taken
.x.r. fulfil our duty" they said, when, under
,,,,oI circumstances, we are ready to execute
s-s without forestalling them" Bernis was
,..rotient. he did his best to compel the min
..a-s TO move and for once he seems TO have
~ more or less adequate to the situation But
,.ra is nothing in these volumes more charac-
,e,ic Of the time Of Bernis himself than
t,s account Of the thoughts and emotions with
,r,icb he proceeded to the court after receiving
a,rs Of the attack upon his master, whose
sootb of course, would have Immediately
shanred the status of his protectress. the Mar
,nise de Pompadour
-,ert II, 10 the Kings apartments, making
.s went ali the reflections that could be made
o. . minister attacked by jealousies, charged
with important affairs, who had many enc
nias and Tor sole friendship that of a woman
"a that woman likely, according to all appear
ances 10 be driven from court within few
hours These reflections came into my mind
jtb singular rapidity and clearneSS, and as L
r,ounred the stairs to the Kings chamber l
solved TO be a faithful minister in the strict
act sense and courageous friend to the
mise without allowing my personal interests to
sfsrt nv duty my sentiments.
! felt as 1 entered the Kings cabinet a pres
snca Of mind and courage that were almost
s1-pernatural all extraordinary events arouse
tbe soul and double its forces. 1 had inwardly
resolved as l crossed the courtyard and mount
a6 the marble staircase which leads to the
Ei,o's antechamber that if that prince died
of his wound l would request the Dauphin, then
King TO permit to retire from the Council
snfrafc-- Ia
Gill remain 10 that of Councillor of State
and the Abbey of St Medard; those were enough
for a younger son Of Languedoc. whom circum-
stances, and not ambition, mad raised higher.
The Dauphin Nine. de POmpadour's enemy;
he knew me then under the prejudice of my at
tachment TO her; by asking for my retirement
in the first moments of his reign / should
avert the storm to which that intimacy
rosed me Either he would permit me TO retire
al once or he would order remain in the
Council until the important affairs now in my
hands both within and without the kingdom,
could be handed over to ministers more ac-
ceptabe TO his majesty In the first case,
should be very happy. al forty-two years of age.
as a Councillor OF State, with an abbey Of 10000
francs a year: in the second case. L should
nersistently entreat the King to grant me
leave 10 retire; possibly, on knowing me bet
ter he might retain me- or he would send me
away without disgrace, as an honest man, who
did justice to himself and to whom no reproach
could be made.
As soon as 1 had chosen this course. and I
chose il instantly, felt myself full of strength
The state at so critical moment without look
ing either 10 the right to the left. and to
give to the marquise every proof of my friend
ship, so far as il WAS compatible with the duties
Of my ministry.
The spirit Of the naive confession was shared
bv everybody in the encourage of the King
Beruis was neither more selfish nor more cynical
than any of his fellows; in fact there was
good deal in his kindly nature which il would
have been difficult to find elsewhere in his circle
He was. according 10 his lights, sincere Never
theless, il goes without saying that a man capa-
bic Of the preoccupation disclosed in the lines
tust cited could never be Of first rate service TO
the State unless he had counterbalancing and
transcendng his solicitude for his own fortunes
the nasterful genius OF, say, Richelieu- Bernis
might have INDUCED in speculations about his
own welfare and his biographer would scarcely
notice them, if only he had laid high ability at
the feet of the King. 1t the misfortune Of
this amiable and clever courtier to do nothing
supre nlely we'll until Rome, he filled the role
Of Ambassador with just the right degree of
Diplomatic art and just the right measure OF
social ma gnificence to make the power Of his
country respected He never had the gift of
making that power feared in age when such
gift was rarely needed, and he remains there |
fore a charming rather than impressive |
figure.