Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-03-17
rALLEYRAND BORN in mAINE2
Documents Partly Prove He Was
Born on Mt. Desert Island.

The story that he was the son OF poor
fisherman's daughter, and that his father
was French naval officer who visited the
island "jnst before the French war; has
been current ever since TaIleyrand himself
went to Mount Desert in 1875 during his
exile from France.
The proof, il any, OF the truth Of the
documentary matter in the Maine state
library relating to the early history OF the
State. In addition to statements made by
Hon. Edward Robbins, Of Boston, nearly
thirty years ago, are traditions Of Talley-
rand's visit TO Frenchman's bay, handed
down to their descendants by colonists OF
MAZDA re La Val, founder of refuge in
the Maine wilderness for her immigrant
countrymen, near what is now the site of
Lamoine. Tog sther with bis escort, Al
bert Gallatin, Talleyrand was deliberately
entertained there.
One Of the descendants of the colonists,
Hon. John DeLaittre, Of Minneapolis,
Mimi, recently found mention of Talley
rand's visit among some papers belonging
to his ancestors. From Investigations
made by him and from the statement Of
Mr.. Robbins, the summary Of the testi-
mony is about as follows:
The Hon. Edward Robbins, Of Boston,
founder OF Robbinston, Maine, was at the
time OF Talleyrsnd's visit to the United
States, speaker OF the Massachusetts, house
Of representatives. He made the acquaint-
ance Of Talleyrand during the latter's
stay in Boston and their relations became
cordial and intimate.
Not long after Talleyrand had left Bos-
ton, Mr.. Robbins was called to Mount
Desert on business, and it was ct one OF
the small settlements on the northeastern
shore, in the vicinity Of Hull's Cove, that
he found the inhabitants greatly exercised
to know who the stranger could be who
was stroiling about their locality-a lame
Frenchman, Of whom nobody could learn
anything. Mr.. Robbins soon came upon the
stranger and was greatly surprised to find
that he was no other than Talleyrand,
who evidently did not care to be recog-
nized, declined to explain what he was
doing there, and treated Mr.. Robbins
with decided GOODNESS as well.
Madame La val's colony OF immigrants
was the key to the explanation Mr.. Rob-
bins needed for Talleyrand's presence in
that remote place. He saw no reason why
he should conceal the name OF the French
man, and did not do SO. Then it was that
some of the old fisher folk declared that
they had seen in the crippled gait Of the
stranger what reminded them OF the
''lame French boy", who had been taken
away from the island just before the war.
Talleyrand soon disappeared, and Mr..
Robbins left no stone unturned in collect
ing information about ''the lame French
boy", the son OF a French navel officer
whose ship had come into port for repairs
in 1853 or "a. When the boy was about a
year old the French ship and its captsin
had come again, and handsome provision
had been made for mother and child, the
father promising to return in year or two
and marry the fishermsn's daughter. But
he never came back.
When the boy was less than two years
old his mother overturned . kettle of hot
water on his foot, crippling him for life.
She died "about the time the French war
was over, and soon after q French gen.
tleman came for the boy, saying that his
father was dead, and that Q rich uncle, .
fine gentleman in France, had promised
the father that he would adopt the child
and bring him up as his own. The grand
parents had been most unwilling to give
him up, but finally consented when album
dant provision had been assured them for
the balance Of their lives. The boy was
then about eight years old, the same age
as the little lame boy Of Talleyrand's
memories.
The grandmother mentioned in his
memoirs was the solitary member OF Tai
leyrands family whom he had ever loved.
81 was really fondiy attached to her. To
this day her memory is dear to me-" he
said, suggesting to those inclined to credit
the story of Mr.. Robbins, that Taileyrand
had really in mind the old fish wife grand
mother when he drew the picture of
mother, and of the wild, rocky shore of
Mount Desert when he wrote-''a new
land, the dangers OF storm, the picture
o; wreck all this had deep in
terest for me-"
Talleyrands journey from Philadelphia
to New York, Boston, Maine and Niagara
Falls in 1886 may be traced in the local
annals of the places he visited. That
there was plebeian stratum in his nature
is abundantly confirmed in these local
accounts, one OF which records that "he
ate like a glutton and talked with his
mouth full'.
His own mention of his visit to the
United States is very brief. There is not a
word OF his trip to Madame La Vafs
colony and Frenchman's bay, nor OF
Albert Gallatin. He does say, however, "a
violent storm compelled me to stop at
Machias, seaport on the Maine coast be-
tween Mt. Desert and the st. Croix."
But in this calm and dispassionate light
of history, there are many who doubtless
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