d'esprit, quelque chose de gracieux qui captivait, de malicieux qui effrayait,* beaucoup d'ardeur contenue par une prudence suffisante et conduite par une extrême adresse, devait nécessairement réussir." opinion that there was much worth preserving | as the Abbé de Perigord. "Contrarié dans in the existing state of things. He had too les goûts, (says Mignet,) il y entra en méconfine a fancy and too powerful a mind not to tent, prêt à y agir en révolutionnaire. Il y participate in some measure in the hopes obtint, dès l'abord, la réputation d'un homme then entertained by all the more "erected avec lequel il fallait compter, et qui, ayant spirits" of the nation, of an era of glorious un beau nom, un grand calme, infiniment social regeneration. He was a bishop against his will; he had lived in the very centre of all the elegant immoralities of Paris; and he had studied and conversed with Voltaire. He was the eldest son of one of the noblest families of France, but having been lamed He soon became agent-general for the by an accident arising from the combined clergy-an office of great influence and imneglect of parents and menials, he was com-portance-and subsequently bishop of Au pelled, by one of those acts of family tyranny tun, and when the States-General met, he then by no means uncommon, to forego his was elected as deputy from his diocese. Ha birthright, and accept the destiny of younger was now thirty-five years of age. He at sons in that age and of that rank, viz., to once embraced the popular side, and be go into the Church. Without being allowed came prominent and powerful. His voice to return to the paternal roof, he was trans- was raised in favour both of liberty of ferred from his nurse's cottage to the eccle- thought and of equality of civil rights. Ha siastical seminary of Saint Sulpice, and supported the union of the three ordersthence to the College of the Sorbonne. He the first great step of the revolution; he was made a priest without the slightest at- persuaded the assembly to decide against tention either to his wishes or his character. those mandats impératifs, which would have Boiling over with youthful passions, with made its members the mere slaves and healthy energy, with splendid talents, with mouthpieces of their constituents; he was mundane tastes, he was condemned by an one of eight who was selected to prepare act of flagrant injustice to a life of celibacy, the New Constitution which was to regene of inaction, and of religious duties which, in rate the country; he was appointed to re the case of one so devoid of devotional sen- port upon a system of National Education, timent as he was, could only be the most and the memoir which he presented to the loathsome and wearisome hypocrisy. What Assembly not only obtained an instant and wonder that a mighty wrong like this should vast celebrity, but formed the foundation of have sunk into his mind, and greatly modi- the plan then adopted, and which exists fied his views and feelings, even if it did not with little change to the present day. Be sour his temper? At College he brooded sides these labours, he paid special attenover his mortification, and looked his destiny tion to the finances, which were then in a in the face, and deliberately took his course. most deplorable condition; he supported With rare powers like his, he felt that ob- the proposals of Necker; and it was on his scurity was impossible, but that he must rise motion that the Assembly resolved on the by a different ladder from the one he would seizure and sale of all ecclesiastical property himself have chosen. He resolved to tri- as belonging to the State, and on the reumph over those who had degraded him, but duction of the clergy from the position of to whom he knew himself in every way independent proprietors to that of salaried superior; and he prepared himself to do so employés. In doing this he proposed to by sedulous and earnest study. He spoke improve the condition of the inferior clergy, little, he reflected much. Naturally both while he hoped at the same time to avert a intelligent and ardent, he taught himself to become well-informed, reserved, and selfrestrained; and from the training which the Catholic Church has always given to its servants, he learned that untiring and watchful patience, that deep insight into men, that quick appreciation of circumstances, those gentle and insinuating manners, that habitual quietude, that prompt and well-timed activity, which were his most distinguishing qualities through life, and his chief instruments of success. When he had completed his theological studies he entered the world -to enjoy it and subdue it. He was known *Talleyrand, at his first entrance into society, armed himself with that fine and subtle wit which has made him so renowned, and by one or two crushfeared. But in general at this period his sayings ing repartees made himself both respected and were distinguished rather for finesse than severity: He was in the salon of the Duc de Choiseul when was announced. She was a the Duchess De N— lady whose adventures were then the talk of all Paris, and an exclamation of oh! oh! escaped the Abbé, so loud that the Duchess who entered at that moment heard it. As soon as the company wer seated round the table, the lady said, "Je voudrais bien savoir, M. l'Abbé, pourquoi vous avez dit oh! oh! lorsque je suis entrée ?" "Point, Madame, (reped the Abbé,) vous avez mal entendu. J'ai dit ah! ah!" national bankruptcy. At the same time he | England, M. de Talleyrand went to Amerisupported the equalization of imposts, and ca, and, as a Memoir which he afterwards. the entire suppression of all feudal and seig- read before the National Institute testifies, norial rights. Finally, he was appointed by did not waste his time while there. But his colleagues to draw up an address to the when a better day began to dawn after the nation explaining and justifying the proceed- overthrow of the Reign of Terror, Chénier, ings of the Assembly, and so admirably did at the instigation of Madame de Staël, prohe discharge this function, that he was short-cured a decree of the Convention, erasing his ly afterwards elected President by a large name from the list of emigrants and permajority. mitting his return. He re-entered France, What might have been his course during and after a short interval was made Ministhe subsequent and more stormy phases of ter of Foreign Affairs under the Directory; the Revolution we cannot pretend to con- but as they became more and more imbejecture. Happily for him he was saved cile, and a change more and more inevitable from having to take a part in scenes where and desirable, he was or contrived to be almost any part would have been question- dismissed in the early part of 1799, and able, objectionable, and unsafe. He had thus found himself at liberty to assist Buoresigned, or rather abjured his clerical func- naparte in his revolution of the 18th Brutions, and early in 1792 was sent to Eng- maire, which it is difficult not to regard as, land on a diplomatic mission, the object of under the circumstances, the greatest service which was to substitute a national for a court he ever rendered to his country. Madame alliance. Thirty-eight years afterwards, at de Staël never forgave his adhesion to the the age of seventy-six, he was again ac- popular young hero.* But Talleyrand saw credited to the same country on a similar that France was perishing for want of a errand. His first and last diplomatic acts government; that her political notabilities at least were consistent and in unison. He were neither honest enough, wise enough, remained in England (with the exception of nor able enough to rescue and regenerate a short visit to Paris,) till the following her; disorder in the finances, disorganization year, when Robespierre proscribed him, and in the interior, and disaster abroad, all clashortly afterwards Mr. Pitt ordered him to moured loudly for a change; and in the quit the country in twenty-four hours. His vigorous intellect, gigantic sagacity, and iron residence here, chiefly in the society of Ma- will of the young conqueror of Italy, Taldame de Staël, increased his admiration for leyrand, like most Frenchmen, recognised our institutions, but he was ill received in the Man for the crisis-l'homme nécessaire, the higher circles-being regarded partly as as Necker termed him. The mode in which an apostate priest, partly as an intriguing the Directory and its councils were overrevolutionist. But those who knew him at thrown was audacious and violent enough; this period describe him as one of the most but the result went far to justify the actors. fascinating of companions, quiet, gentle, Order at home and victory abroad followed caressing, and attentive-speaking little, in quick succession; the finances were rebut when he did speak, compressing volumes stored; confidence was re-awakened; the into a single phrase. Champfort relates, that funds rose ;t an admirable system of adminwhen Rhullhière observed, "Je ne sais istration was established; France was at once pourquoi j'ai la réputation d'être méchant: je n'ai fait qu'une méchanceté dans ma vie," -Talleyrand, who had taken no part in the conversation, and sat at a distant corner of the room, asked, with deliberate significance, "Ét quand finira-t-elle ?" On ano-shortly afterwards, and paid her the usual complither occasion, when relating some atrocity ments on the performance, adding, in his gentlest and of one of his colleagues, his auditor re- sweetest voice, the keen sarcasm. "On m'assure marked, "Mais l'homme qui a pu com- que nous y sommes tous les deux, vous et moi, démettre une pareille action est capable d'as-guisés en femmes." † An enemy of Talleyrand having hinted to Buosassiner." "D'assassiner, non.........(said Tal- naparte that the ex-abbé had become very rich, and leyrand reflectively)...............d'empoisonner, probably by no very creditable means, the First Qui.' Proscribed in France, and banished from *When "Delphine" appeared, Madame de Staël was currently reported to have drawn both herself and M. de Talleyrand therein-herself as Delphine, him as Madame de Vernon. Talleyrand met her Consul took him to task in his usual rude and riche, citoyen; comment cela se peut-il ?" "Rien de "On m'assure que vous êtes très brusque manner. plus simple, (replied the ready-witted and imperturable courtier) j'ai acheté les rentes la veille du dix* A friend having spoken of Sièyes as "un hom-huit Brumaire, et je les ai révendus le lendemain."me profond"-" Profond............ce n'est pas le mot, (said Talleyrand;) c'est creux, très creux, que vous voulez dire." Could there be a more effective silencer, or a more delicate and subtle compliment? Buonaparte had not another word to say. reconstituted, after ten years of misery, and tenais qu'il fit un quart d'heure plus tard."* chaos; and crime, the period from 1800 to La perte d'un pareil conseiller dut être un 1807, during which Talleyrand was the princi- malheur pour lui, en attendant qu'elle devint pal minister, was beyond example the most un danger."t glorious in her annals. It is true that much of Napoleon never forgave Talleyrand his the work of Talleyrand's earlier years was up- condemnation of the Spanish invasion. He set: much however remained indestructible. hated him, as he hated all who opposed his It is true that under Napoleon, France enjoyed will or criticized his measures; but at the only the shadow of those parliamentary insti- same time he knew him too well not to fear tutions to which Talleyrand was sincerely at- him. He suspected his designs and dreaded tached, and which formed part of the origi- his intrigues; but he dared not take any nal constitution urged upon and adopted by decided steps against him, and Talleyrand the First Consul; but probably by this was far too wary to give him any excuse. time the experienced Minister had begun to Under the irritating influence of these feelfeel that at that crisis a man was more im- ings the Emperor lost no opportunity of portant than an institution-which it must menacing and insulting the retired minister, be allowed had not been attended with any often in the vulgarest and rudest manner. brilliant success. It is true that during his Some of these sallies Talleyrand endured period of office Talleyrand had to sanction with the imperturbable and impassive manand transact many acts of injustice and op- ner which distinguished him, some he repression to foreign nations, and to witness torted with spirit and success. But those much tyranny at home; but he probably who read the account of the scenes which satisfied himself with reflecting that he was passed between these amis d'autrefois will serving his chief and aggrandizing his coun- find little reason either for wonder or for try. He quitted office after the Peace of blame, if the ex-minister's patriotic desire Tilsit, when France was at her culminating for the termination of Napoleon's reign was point. He set his face steadily against the heightened by something of personal animoEmperor's subsequent aggressions. He con- sity. Be this as it may, Talleyrand redemned the invasion of Spain so severely, that Napoleon, in deep indignation, deprived *It is interesting to see how closely this account him of his dignity at court as Grand Chamberlain. His deep and far-seeing sagacity probably perceived that the ambition of the Emperor had blinded and impaired his genius, and that he had embarked in a course which must lead to ultimate reaction and tallies with that given by M. Thiers in his Consulat ruin. In all likelihood this ruin was greatly hastened by his retirement from the direc† No government which disgraced Talleyrand, or tion of affairs, for his coolness, patience, and was deserted by him, ever prospered long after his wisdom had often tempered the hastiness retirement. "Sire, (said he once, by way of explaand impetuosity of Napoleon. "Le grand nation of the fact, to Louis XVIII.,) il y a quelque chose inexplicable en moi qui porte malheur aux esprit de Napoléon et le bon sens de M. de gouvernemens qui me négligent." Talleyrand (says Mignet) semblaient faits When the Spanish princes were brought to l'un pour l'autre. Ce qu'il y avait d'inventif, France they were consigned to the charge of M. de de fécond, de hardi, d'impétueux, dans le pre-country-house. It was rumored that one of them Talleyrand, who was obliged to be their host at his mier, avait besoin de ce qu'il y avait de net, employed his forced leisure in seducing Madame de de froid, d'avisé, de sûr, dans le second.- T. It is said, we know not with what truth, that L'un avait le génie de l'action, l'autre celui Napoleon had the brutality to venture on some indu conseil. L'un projetait tout ce qu'il y Talleyrand himself. The Grand Chamberlain resulting allusion to this rumour, in conversation with avait de grand, l'autre évitait tout ce qu'il plied with his usual immovable calmness, "Il est y avait de dangereux ; et le fougue créatrice vrai, Sire, qu'il eût été mieux et pour l'honneur de l'un pouvait étre heureusement tempérée de votre Majesté et pour le mien qu'il ne fût jamais par la lenteur circonspecte de l'autre. M. question de ces Princes d'Espagne." Whether this be true or not, the following unquestionably is: de Talleyrand savait faire perdre du temps When Talleyrand appeared at the Emperor's levée a l'empereur lorsque sa colère ou sa passion after the battle of Leipsig, the latter accosted him l'auraient poussé à des mesures précipi. with his usual brusquerie, accused him of caballing tées, et lui donnait le moyen de se montrer vehement reproaches, ending by saying, "Mais prenez against him, and overwhelmed him with the most plus habile en devenant plus calme. Aussi, garde, si j'étais malade dangereusement, je vous averdisait-il avec une exagération spirituelle tis, vouss seriez mort avant moi." Sire, (answered dans la forme, mais non sans vérité: 'L'Em- the courtier,with the most polite smile,) je n'avais pas bésoin d'un pareil avertissement pour addresser au ciel pereur a été compromis le jour où il a pu des vœux biens ardens pour la conservation des jours faire un quart d'heure plus tôt ce que j'ob-l de votre Majesté.” mained in a state of watchful inaction till | riority annoyed and eclipsed him, had comthe Allies approached Paris in 1814, when mitted folly after folly, had disgusted the it became evident that Napoleon's career was army, and alienated the returning affections ended, and that all a good citizen could do of the people. Napoleon had landed from was to make the best terms he could for his Elba, and was again upon the throne, and country, both with the enemies who had con- Louis was a fugitive at Ghent. The Allies quered her, and with the sovereign who was had to commence a new war, and the crownto mount upon her throne. This task Tal- ing victory of Waterloo, and the surrender leyrand undertook with unusual vivacity and of Napoleon, placed France more completely energy. After the capitulation he saved at their mercy than before. Their indignaFrance from much misery, and possibly from tion was, of course, more vehement than a civil war, by his resolute opposition to any ever, and the task of Talleyrand in appeasmezzo-termine, such as a regency and the pro- ing them incomparably more difficult; and clamation of Napoleon's son, or of Berna- finding his efforts of no avail, either to condotte, as was once proposed. "Non, (said trol the irritated monarch or pacify his he to Alexander, who had a lingering admi- furious allies, he quitted office to avoid signration for Napoleon, which made him un- ing the humiliating treaty of 1815. Before willing utterly to destroy him,) Non, Sire, doing so, however, he had persuaded Louis il n'y a que deux choses possibles-Bona- XVIII. to issue the Proclamation of Camparte on Louis XVIII. Bonaparte est un brai, promising a more faithful adherence principe: Louis XVIII. est un principe-tout to, and a more liberal interpretation of the ce qui n'est ni l'un et l'autre n'est qu'un in- Charter, and greater deference to those notrigue." He therefore supported with all his tions of liberty which the revolution of 1789 influence the restoration of the Bourbons; had indelibly rooted in the minds of the but, cognizant of their incurable character, people. He had the utmost difficulty in and faithful to his old political ideas, he in- persuading the incurable old Bourbon that sisted upon the promulgation of "the Char- the permanence of his throne depended on ter," which establishes a constitutional mo- his management of the democratic spirit, narchy and two Chambers. The basis of and that the adoption of the policy of the the institutions which governed France from Legitimists would be fatal to him. The 1814 to 1830, she owed to Talleyrand. king became anxious to get rid of his impor His next task was a far more difficult one. tunate councillor, and by way of hinting to It was to act as minister for the foreign him the propriety of retiring, he asked him affairs of a conquered country, and in a camp one day, how far it was to Valençay, the of conquerors met to decide upon her limits country seat of M. de Talleyrand. "Je ne and her fate. His genius was never so sais pas au juste, Sire, (replied the minister,) manifest as at t'e Congress of Vienna. He mais il doit avoir le double du distance had to deal with sovereigns burning to d'ici à Gand;"-intimating that before he, avenge spoliations and humiliations which Talleyrand, could reach Valençay, Louis, no doubt might justify the severest retalia-deprived of the safeguard of his counsel, tion, and furious at the sufferings and mal- would be again an exile. treatments they had undergone; he had to From the time of his retirement he took persuade them to turn their vengeance his place in the ranks of the liberal opposi against Napoleon, not against France. They tion in the Chamber of Peers, and steadily had met to despoil and deal with her at set his face against the oppression and retheir free pleasure; he had to induce them actionary follies of the Restoration. In 1830 to admit her as one of the high contracting what he had long foreseen took place: a new powers. He succeeded chiefly through his revolution, patiently toiled for during fifteen influence with Alexander, in obtaining a seat years of selfishness and blunders, again at their councils, and once there, his supreme drove the Bourbons into exile, and sumability soon gave him an irresistible ascen- moned the veteran diplomatist into public dant: he succeeded in sowing dissension life once more. He gave Louis Philippe between the Allies, and at last in persuad- the benefit of his multifarious experience, ing them that it would be a bad and shallow policy to weaken France too much. But in tionel avait été tenu des emplois publics, presqu'unithe meantime Louis XVIII., freed from the quement accordés à d'anciens royalistes; l'ignorance et la maladresse avec laquelle on avait donné la counsels of his wise minister,* whose supe-France à régir a des hommes nourris dans l'émigration, étrangers aux idées et aux sentimens de la "Déjà de Vienne il avait écrit à Louis XVIII. nation nouvelle, qui avaient alarmé ses intérêts et toutes les fautes qu'on reprochait a son gouverne-soulevé ses haines; et l'absence d'un ministère homent en 1814: l'abandon de la cocarde tricolore; les mogène, formant un conseil responsable, dirigé par un restrictions apportées aux garanties établies par la président, et capable de gouverner."-Mignet-NoCharte; l'eloignement dans lequel le parti constitu- tice Historique. 2 VOL. XX. and accepted the embassy to England, with all inflexible constancy-times which tried the view of cementing that alliance between the courage of the bravest, the convictions the two countries which had been the earliest of the most obstinate, the faith of the most object of his official life. That done, he earnest-we shall be disposed to judge him once more retired into privacy; and died at with unwo ted indulgence, and may perthe age of eighty-four, with faculties and haps be justified in pronouncing him as cheerfulness alike unimpaired--though no worthy of esteem and admiration as any man had lived through scenes more calcu- public man can be who lays claim to no lated to crush the one and exhaust the lofty sentiment, no stern principles, and no other. spirit of self-denial or self-sacrifice. The great crime against political morality Of Benjamin Constant, the friend and with which he is reproached-his incon- ally of Madame de Staël for upwards of stancy-seemed at all times to lie very twenty years, we have left ourselves little lightly on his conscience. He spoke of his space to speak; and in truth his was a type changes without the smallest embarrassment of character with which, though well worth or shame, alleging that what he served was studying, we can feel little sympathy. He not this or that Government, but his Coun- was a second Voltaire, almost as clever as try, under the political form which it had the first, far more selfish and egotistical, and put on for the time being; that he was faith- with none of his redeeming benevolence and ful to each Administration so long as it sincerity. By universal consent he was, suited France, and wisely and honestly con- among men, the most brilliant converser of sulted her interests; and that he never de- his age. All his contemporaries speak of serted any till it had become the duty of his esprit as something perfectly wonderful every good citizen to do so. He has also and enchanting. In the tribune he was forbeen severely reproached with avarice and midable from his wit and pungency. As a corruption, and probably the charge was not writer he was acute, sparkling, and subtle. without foundation; but there is no reason His letters are models of grace and finesse— to believe that he ever betrayed or sold his as heartless and affected as those of Walcountry or his employers for his own pri- pole, but incomparably cleverer and more vate interests; and at a period when it was entertaining. But he was spoilt and blasé a customary and almost an avowed transac- at a very early age-"used up" before tion for Ministers to receive vast presents, most young men have even begun to taste called pots-de-vin, from powers or parties the enjoyments of life. At the age of threewhom they had been able to gratify and and-twenty his whole soul was withered and serve, we can scarcely judge a man accord- dried up:* he had tried everything, and ing to the purer delicacy and severer stan- thrown everything aside; he had analyzed dard of to-day. This much is certain-that, everything, and found everything hollow surrounded with enemies and beset with and deceptive; he had exhausted the pleasdangers at every period of his public life, ures and interests of the world, and prohe was never known to counsel a violence, nounced everything to be "weary, stale, or to be guilty of a vengeance; he punished flat, and unprofitable." He had "travelled his adversaries by bon-mots alone; he was from Dan to Beersheba, and found all barin all things a moderator and a friend of ren." His heart had become as arid as the peace; and in private life he was gentle, desert sand; he was a persifleur to the very amiable, and singularly beloved by all who core; profoundly cynical and profoundly were admitted to his intimacy. The charac- sceptical, he loved nothing and believed in ter of his intellect was, in many respects, nothing; and a deep and paralyzing con. Italian rather than French; and to find his parallel we must go back to the statesmen who ruled Florence and Milan during the Middle Ages. His subtlety and finesse belonged to both countries: his patience, his quietness, his imperturbable sweetness of temper, were exclusively Italian; while there was something almost feminine in the à tout. seductive attractiveness of his manner. On ussisse, que je plaise, que je vive?" †The work of Constant, "De la Religion," which the whole, if we consider the moral atmos-occupied him at intervals for thirty years, is the phere in which he was born and bred, the only one of magnitude he has left behind him; and false position in which early injustice had it is characteristic of the man that the first portion placed him, the fearful times in which he and outline of it was written on the backs of packs of playing cards. After his strange piece of political lived and acted-times eminently fatal to inconsistency, (joining Bonaparte during "the Hunall high enthusiasm, to all fixed opinions, to dred Days," he wrote an exculpation of himself to * In one of his letters to Madame de Charrière he thus describes himself in 1792:-"Blasé sur tout, ennuyé de tout, amer, égoïste, avec un sorte de sensibilité qui ne sert qu'à me tourmenter, mobile au colie qui interrompent tous mes plans, et me font point de passer pour fol, sujet à des accès de mélanagir, pendant qu'ils durent, comme si j'avois renoncé Comment voulez-vous que je ré |