New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-09
1aIIeyrand and the French So
ciety of His Time.
Paris July l.

Another book about Talleyrandi
very Interesting one. too II is q SOHO
work OF three hundred pages. entitled
-.Taliavrand and French Society. from
The Prince de Benevent to the Duo de
Norny," By Nj. Frederic Loliee, published
ny F-liie-PauI Next after Napoleon
-e,Is5rsad. Prince de Benevent. was the
most picturesque and dramatic person
aEs Of MS time. One finds here con-
scientiously compiled anecdotal history
or the chameleonlilIe diplomatist, from
4he DAYS when the Juvenile Able de
pk-irord obtained through the favor OF
tic Comtesse du Barry HIS first pre-
bendarvship to his rupture with Ma
roleon. in 1913. He had many faults, but
he loved peace as intensely as Napoleon
loved war Some Of the quarrels be-
tween the two men are highly edl1ylfls-
..Yot, are q robber, q coward. man
without conscience. and you do not be-
Ue,-e IN Cod" were invectives addressed
bv the Emperor TO his grand CHAMBER
lain in the presence Of several ministers
inst after the conclusion OF the Treaty
20 4o-est,,-r. in which Taileyrand mao
rnftixate6 several OF the requirements IN
sisted upon BIZ Napoleon. Talleyrand on
these occasions would walt until the out
hurst Of anger had subsidized, when. With
out changing II expression or attitude
he would give valid, technical reasons
fer his conduct. or else would remain
silent until some fitting moment
chapfer is devoted 70 Talleyrands
experiences ia the United States. when
ne went 10 Philadelphia, IN lISo. pro-
7-ided with a letter Of Introduction from
lord Iansdowne 10 George Washington
All had been arranged by his friend.
Alexander Hamilton, for a friendly Visit
-a the President. But Citizen Fauchet-
then r,lenipotentiary OF the French Com
raittee Of Public Safety, violently reTnon-
et-ated with Washington and threatened
10 demand his papers Of recall shouIo
the President receive such a suspicious
rovalist and enemy Of the French repuo-
lie as the former Bishop OF Autun For
raolirical motives Washington, who wished
m aroid friction with France, declined
70 receive TaIleyTand. During his stay
at Philadelphia. New York and Boston
TaIlevrand kept up volumlnous CORE
Enondence with Lord Lansdowne ana
with his close friend. Mime. de StaeL- he
formed & vast project for organizing q
French banking house in New York ana
submitted the details 10 Nine dc Stael'
who had inherited from her father'
o1ecker. the Minister Of Finance OF Louis
XVI sound business notions. This prop
osi-io- was abandoned. however, on Tai
Lar
through the influence OF Mime. dc StaeI
ne was presented 10 the then ali power
4D1 Bar-as. who made him one of ms col
1Aagnes in the government Of the Dlrec-
TORY He was iatrusted with the duties
q foreign affairs.
Tsllevrand was the first 10 appreciate
the genius Of Napoleon. His correspond
ence with Bonaoarte, then commander
~ ne army Of Italy, clearly shows Ihat
he mined his faith 10 the young general
and already regarded him as the future
,,,l.r of France. In fact. he became a
sort Of accomplice of Bonaparte. When
the latter was about TO leave Paris LOT
Fgvpr ne called upon Talieyrand' VINO
Was III in bed. BonRparte talked frankly
about his future plans. He incidentally
mentioned that he was sorely pressed 1or
money. Talleyrand raised his head from
his pillow and said with q smile: LOOK
here: open that little drawer You VIII
find in = 100000 francs that belong TO
ne Take them. They are yours. II
van like. YOU can pay them back again
when YOU return from the East" Bona
r,z-te rnbraced the willy diplomatist, pro-
fuseIy thanked him and went Of as
merry as q cricket. Years afterWaro'
when NAPOLEON asked him, BY the way
What interest did you have in lending me
100 coo francs when had not even asked
vou for them ?" Talleyrand replied;
u had no Interior motive Whatever N
lending YOU that sum. felt very III. II
might well have happened that We shoulo
never meet again. But you were young
@rY1 Of ambition. bristling with life ana
s,,ne-b projects. You aroused my sym
-qarhv and I was anxious 70 render you
8 service" Napoleon looked At him Win
penetrating. inCreduious glance
Whether Taneyrand was sincere ID MS
remark was never disclosed
He was not long IN breaking of his m
.imacv with Nine de Stael as soon as ne
Raw how bitterly Napoleon dishked that
oueen Of bluestockings. Subsequently,
Napo1eon compelled Talleyrand, then
Minister Of Foreign Affairs, TO marry
Nine. Grand, who had been the oipio-
rnatist's companion for some time IL
IS curious 70 note the extraordinary
svs-sio- Of ReNbeT one Of Talleyr2no'
colleagues in the Directory. for me
subtle diplomatist- He is the incarna-
ZION of knavery and the eagle OF the
birds of III ornen," was one Of RewbelI
remarks TO Barras. II. Loiee's Dook'
which is 20 be followed by second vol
rr1e. is well Illustrated with portraits OF
Nine. Du Barry. Nine Grand, Nine
Adelaide. daughter Of Louis XIV; Nine.
Arrault. TaIleyrand during the Directory
from. q miniature by Isabey), Napoleon
n coronation robes and Taileyranc as
minister during the Empire and as grand
chamberlain. II Loliee believes IN the
ruth Of the legend that Talleyrand was
ne grandfather CT the Duo de Morny.
c. ! 2.
SIR WALTER