New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-25
The Romance of Metternich and
Nine. de LieUen.

Paris November IA.
Prince Clement de Metternich was the i'm
placsble enemy of the ideas OF the French Revo-
luton and Of liberal institutions. the clear headed
dipiomatist who spun the webs that finally en-
meshed Napoleon. the subtle negotiator of the
marriage between the Archduchesse Marie
Louise and the Emperor Of the French, the mas
tar hand of the reactionary coalition against
France the champion Of the Holy Alliance. who
after the downfall Of the empire. became the
erbiter of Europe He is revealed TO the world in
an entirely light by the remarkable collee-
tion of sentimental. impassioned. amorcus and at
times childlke letters that he wrote to the Com
tesse Dorothee de Lieven. wife of the Russian
Ambassador al the Court OF ST. James, with
whom ne had profound attachment. lasting
seven years-from October 1918. 10 1876. Cha
teaubrfand. who had once been a Jealous rival OF
Metternich in their mutual fondness for the
beautiful Juliette Recamier made some piquant
and rather malignant illusions in his Memories
6'Outre-Ton1be' to the relations OF Prince de
Netternich and the Comtesse lie Lieven. NJ
Ernest Daudet recently dealt somewhat vaguely
zith the same subject in ''Une Vie dAmbassa-
d-ice au Steele Dernier. but the series OF letters
now edited by NJ. Jean Hanoteau, and Just pub
lished by Plon- Nourrit. with preface by VI.
Arthur Chuquet. supply hitherto unknown side
OF the great Austrian statesman and furnish an
intimate autobiogra phical record OF his every
day life There is a frank unconventionality I'm
Metternich's letters almost suggestive of Rous-
seaus Confessions" He gives his impressions,
unharhpere by diplomatic phraseology, Of Ma
poleon. Pope Plus VII. Nine. de Stael, the Ouch
esse de Sagan TIE Duke Of Wellington. the En-
peror Alexander !. the Emperor Nicholas I. the
Emperor Francis ]. George ". Caroline Bona
parte Princess Murat with whom he also had
ri,rr1,, and
with his Irritation with Nine. JuncO, Lord
Lansdowne. Lady Grenville. Sir Thomas Law
renee the painter: Lady Jersev and scores Of
other prominent men and women Of his time.
Prince Clement de Metternich was in his forty
fifth year when he first met Comtesse Dorothee
de Iieven then thirty-fve. The presentation
took place at a reception given at Aix-la-Cha-
relle hy Cornte de Nesselrode. during the famous
European congress in October, 1918. Dorothee's
Impressions Of Clement were unfavorable. He
appeared cold. naughty, intimidating and dis
agreeable" Clement found Dorothee to be "a
tail. thin woman. brimful Of indiscreton." Next
day they were seated near each other at
diplomatic dinner. The following Sunday they
made an excursion together 10 Spa. when the
Russian Ambassador and his wife and Meter
Mich lunched at the Henrichapele Inn and re-
turned to AK in the same carriage. Their NUT
usl impressions had radically changed Shortly
after this the love letters began. on November
Il Clement writes 10 Dorothee: You came to
nv box at the opera. YOU had an attack Of
fever and our hearts were united! After sew
eral months separation he writes:
am most odd person. Do you know what in
our present relations HotheTs me most2 II IL the
hare idea that some indiscreet reader might find
that nv letters resembed those written in such
fearfr! PROPULSION bv oil lovers am convinced
that I do not Ike other lovers, and that my
sentiment is quite higher level fear lest the
same sndiscreet Teadn: should take me for an
fGealisf know my heart but / want you,
and y0u o7que know the real story of my life.
What Z field explore whole life How many
agreeable hours for you pass during long winter
evenings
The prince forthwith gives picturesque sum
mary Of his career. his marriage. his feelings
and relations with mis- wife. describes his daugh-
tiers zone OF whom, Comtesse Joseph Esterhazy,
Was close friend Of Mme.zd Lieven). narrates
the vicissitudes- and delights or his various at
tachments and love affairs with distinguished
women. and analyzes his conscience. his heart
and soul My first real love" he says was
my union with a lady who possessed a celestial
character. and who descended to this world only
as fitting spring-she died, and in her will.
addressed her husband. was q small sealed
casket which she bequeathed to me. on open