Memoirs of the Duchesse de Dino (Afterwards Duchesse de Talleyrand et de Sagan), 1831-1835

Paris, December 6, 1835.– Here is a story which M. Molé told me last night. Madame de Caulaincourt (Mlle. d'Aubusson) married in 1812. On leaving the church after the ceremony she went back to the convent where she had been educated, and her husband left for the front. He was killed at the battle of La Moskowa, where his brother-in-law, a young page of the Emperor, disappeared and was never heard of again. Madame de Caulaincourt, after her year of mourning, returned to Society, but did not go out much. She kept her father's house, he having been for long a widower. Her eldest brother, shortly after his marriage with Mlle. de Boissy, became completely insane, and her sister, the Duchesse de Vantadour, was attacked by a slow consumption. The father, all of whose children were stricken, decided to marry again, and did, in fact, marry Madame Greffulhe, mother of Madame de Castellane. Madame de Caulaincourt then retired to a convent, where she wished to take the veil. Her father opposed this and the Archbishop of Paris, whose consent was necessary, refused to give it so long as M. d'Aubusson withheld his approval. Madame de Caulaincourt was forced to give up her idea, but she took part in the exercises of the Sisterhood and wore their habit, never leaving the convent except when her father was ill. Her grief at not being allowed to follow her vocation undermined her health and the mischief settled naturally on her chest. On her deathbed she at last obtained her father's permission and sent for the Archbishop, to whom she communicated her desire to take the veil at the same time as she received extreme unction. There were some difficulties about this, but they were overcome, and forty-eight hours before she breathed her last she received the last sacraments and the veil that she so ardently desired! She died yesterday morning, in the odour of sanctity, a young woman.

Paris, December 9, 1835.– Madame la Princesse de Talleyrand died an hour ago. I have not yet told M. de Talleyrand more than that she was dying. Even where there is no affection the word "dead" has a sinister sound, and I do not like to say it to an aged man in ill-health – the less so as when he awoke to-day he had another slight heart attack, which abated on the application of mustard to his legs. He fell asleep again, and I shall tell him of his wife's death when he again awakes. He is in haste, I think, to be free at all costs from the agitations of these last days.

Paris, December 15, 1835.– M. Guizot came to see M. de Talleyrand yesterday, and told us that among the papers of M. Réal, formerly Chief of the Imperial Police, there had been discovered the original manuscript of the Memoirs of the Cardinal de Retz, with the erasures made by the monks of Saint Mihiel. The manuscript had been bought by the Government, which had invoked the aid of the cleverest chemist in Paris, who, having vainly tried various methods, had finally discovered one which enabled the superimposed text to be removed and the original to be read. A new edition of the Memoirs, based on this manuscript, is to be published.

Madame d'Esclignac, who is behaving very badly about the property of the Princesse de Talleyrand, had a discussion on the subject yesterday with the Duchesse de Poix. The latter tried to make her see the impropriety of her conduct, how odious the publicity of a lawsuit would be, and how ungrateful to M. de Talleyrand, who gave her a dowry and is still paying a pension to her old nurse, whom she had left to die of hunger. To all this Madame d'Esclignac replied: "For my own part I do not fear any scandal, and as far as my uncle is concerned I desire it. I shall have the Faubourg Saint-Germain on my side, for I had the Archbishop of Paris to administer the last sacraments to Madame de Talleyrand."

Paris, December 21, 1835.– Count Pahlen received from his Government yesterday very satisfactory despatches, which assure him that the extravagances of the Journal des Débats are not confounded with the views of the King and his Ministers. These despatches, which came by post, were quite obviously intended to be read by the public. The Ambassador expects a courier every day, who will no doubt bring an expression of the private views of the Czar.

The Princesse de Lieven, whom I met yesterday at Madame Apponyi's, spoke to me about her affairs, and said that for a long time back her husband and she had invested all their savings out of Russia in order that they might be safe from ukases.

The Prince de Laval said yesterday, amusingly enough, that M. de Montrond's wit "fed on human flesh!" M. de Talleyrand thinks this "very true and very neat!"

Paris, December 30, 1835.– I saw Madame Adélaïde yesterday. She was much satisfied with the opening sitting of the Chambers, which had taken place that very morning. She was pleased with the reception the King had, both coming and going, and along all the way from the Garde Nationale. There had been great difficulties in settling the terms of the speech from the Throne, which was still under discussion ten minutes before the sitting. The words "the Head of my Family," which are causing a great sensation, which are thought bold, but which please the diplomatic corps and every one who is on the side of stability, originate neither in the Palace nor in the Cabinet. They come from a sentence composed by M. de Talleyrand and me, which the King eagerly adopted, but the Cabinet would only authorise the words "the Head of my Family." The Carlists think them insolent! They are horrified at the idea of a fourth family! The Republicans like them no better, perhaps rather worse; … every one else approves of them highly.

Yesterday we had at dinner Madame de Lieven, Mr. Edward Ellice, Count Pahlen, Matuczewicz, and M. Thiers, who was in high spirits and very brilliant in conversation. He took me into a corner and told me that le Bergeron, of Port Royal, had a new criminal enterprise in hand. He had disguised himself in woman's clothes along with one of his friends, with the intention of making as if to present a petition to the King, and while doing so to shoot him point blank. The plan miscarried because the King, instead of riding to the Chamber as he had intended, went in a carriage because of the frost. Several arrests were made, but as nothing was actually attempted it is thought that they will have to release the suspects.

The fact that eight horses were attached for the first time to the King's carriage attracted attention. The real reason for this is unknown to the public, and is as follows. For greater safety the King (without his knowledge) was given the carriage formerly used by the Emperor Napoleon, which is lined with iron throughout to protect it from shots; it is extremely heavy, and requires eight horses.

Count Pahlen yesterday received despatches modifying his first instructions, which were very severe in their terms and made his position here impossible. It appears that this has been clearly understood at St. Petersburg, and that he is to be given more scope. This will greatly please Madame de Lieven!

APPENDIX

I

Speech made on October 6, 1830, by M. de Talleyrand on the occasion of his presenting his credentials to the King of England as Ambassador of France at the Court of St. James's. See page 270.

Sir,

His Majesty the King of the French has chosen me to be the interpreter of his sentiments towards Your Majesty, and I have joyfully accepted a mission which sheds so much lustre on the end of my long career.

Sir, of all the vicissitudes which I have seen in the course of my long life, in all the changes of fortune which I have experienced during forty eventful years, nothing perhaps could have so completely satisfied my desires as an appointment which would bring me back to this happy country. But how times change! The jealousies and prejudices which so long divided France and England have given place to sentiments of esteem and enlightened affection. Common principles bind the two countries even more closely together. England in her foreign policy repudiates, like France, the principle of interfering in her neighbour's foreign relations, and the Ambassador of a Monarch who is the unanimous choice of a great people feels himself at ease in a land of liberty in the presence of a scion of the illustrious House of Brunswick. I appeal, Sir, with confidence for your countenance in the duties with which I am charged at your Majesty's Court, and I pray that your Majesty will be pleased to accept the homage of my profound respect.

II

Speech addressed by H.I.M. the Czar Nicolas to the Municipality of Warsaw on October 10, 1835.61

Gentlemen, I know that you wished to speak to me, and I even know the contents of the speech you proposed to make. It is in order to save you from uttering a lie that I do not allow that speech to be made – Yes, Gentlemen, a lie – for I know that your sentiments are not what you would have me believe. How could I believe you whose language on the eve of the Revolution was the same? Was it not you who five years since, aye eight years since, talked to me of your fidelity and devotion, and made the finest protestations? Before a fortnight had gone you broke your oaths and committed the most atrocious crimes.

The Emperor Alexander, who did more for you than an Emperor of Russia should have done, was recompensed with the blackest ingratitude. You have never been content with your position, however advantageous it has been made for you, and you have ended by destroying your own happiness – I am telling you the truth as this is the first time that I have had occasion to see you since the late troubles. Deeds, Gentlemen, are required, not words. Repentance must come from the heart. I am speaking without heat; you see that I am calm: I bear you no malice and I will do you good in spite of yourselves.

The Marshal here is carrying out my intentions and assisting me in my plans; he too is concerning himself with your welfare. (Here the members of the deputation bowed to the Marshal). Well, Gentlemen, what do these bows mean? Before all things you must do your duty and behave like decent people. You have to choose one of two courses, either to persist in your illusions about the independence of Poland, or to live quietly like faithful subjects under my government.

If you are obstinate enough to go on dreaming of a separate nationality, of an independent Poland and chimeras of that kind the only possible result will be that you will bring disaster on your own heads. I have built a fortress here and I assure you that on the slightest symptom of revolt I will have the town bombarded. I will destroy Warsaw, and most assuredly it will not be I who will rebuild it.

It is very painful to me to speak to you thus. It is very painful for any sovereign to have to address his subjects in such terms; but I do so for your good. Your business, Gentlemen, is to labour to deserve that the past should be forgotten, and it is only by your devotion to my government that you can achieve this.

I know that correspondence is carried on with foreign countries and that malignant persons are sent here to pervert you. But with the best police in the world clandestine relations cannot be altogether suppressed on a frontier like yours. You must yourselves act as police for the suppression of the evil. Bring up your children well and inculcate good principles of religion and fidelity to their sovereign, and you will have no difficulty in keeping the right road.

In the midst of all the troubles which are agitating Europe and all the theories which threaten the fabric of society, Russia alone stands firm and intact. Believe me, gentlemen, it is a piece of real good fortune to belong to her and to enjoy her protection. If you behave well and fulfil all your duties my paternal solicitude will be extended to you all, and in spite of all that has passed my government will constantly study your welfare.

Think well of what I have said to you!

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF THE NAMES OF PERSONS MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK

A

ABERCROMBY, George Ralph (1800-1852). A colonel in the British Army; also a Member of Parliament and a Lord Lieutenant. He was a member of Lord Grey's Cabinet.

ABERDEEN, George Hamilton Gordon, Earl of (1784-1860). He served with distinction in the British Diplomatic Service, was a member of several Ministries, and became Prime Minister in 1852 for three years.

ABERGAVENNY, Henry, Earl of (1755-1843). Married in 1781 Mary, only daughter of Lord Robinson. The family name is Nevill.

ABRANTÈS, Laure de Saint-Martin-Permon, Duchesse d' (1784-1838). Descended through her mother from the Imperial family of the Comneni. Born at Montpellier, she married General Junot on his return from Egypt, followed him on his campaigns, studied and observed much, and on her husband's death in 1813 devoted herself to the education of her children. She wrote several novels more suited for the circulating library than for serious reading.

ADÉLAÏDE D'ORLÉANS, Madame (1777-1847). Youngest sister of King Louis-Philippe, to whom she was devotedly attached. This Princess had much influence on her brother, and was spoken of as his Egeria. She was a woman of intellect, and in the time of the Restoration she helped to gather round Louis-Philippe the most distinguished men of the Liberal Party, and in 1830 she persuaded him to accept the Crown. She never married, and left her immense fortune to her nephews.

ADELAIDE, Queen (1792-1849). Daughter of the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. In 1818 she married the Duke of Clarence, who ascended the throne of England as William IV.AGOULT, Anne Henriette Charlotte de Choisy, Vicomtesse d'. Died in 1841. She was lady-in-waiting to Madame la Dauphine, whom she followed into exile. She died at Goritz. She married the Vicomte Antoine Jean d'Agoult, who died in 1828. He was a Grand Cross of the Order of St. Louis, and Governor of Saint Cloud. He was made a Peer of France in 1823 and a Knight of the Saint Esprit in 1825.

ALAVA, Don Ricardo de (1780-1843). Lieutenant-General in the Spanish Army. Along with the Prince of Orange he was aide-de-camp to the Duke of Wellington during the war, and at that time became intimate with the future King of the Netherlands. He was Minister Plenipotentiary of Spain in Holland, in London, and in Paris after the death of Ferdinand VII. In 1834 he was made a Senator by the Queen Regent, Maria Christina. After the insurrection of La Granja he retired from public life and settled in France, where he died.

ALAVA, Don Ricardo de (1780-1843). Lieutenant-General in the Spanish Army. Along with the Prince of Orange he was aide-de-camp to the Duke of Wellington during the war, and at that time became intimate with the future King of the Netherlands. He was Minister Plenipotentiary of Spain in Holland, in London, and in Paris after the death of Ferdinand VII. In 1834 he was made a Senator by the Queen Regent, Maria Christina. After the insurrection of La Granja he retired from public life and settled in France, where he died.

ALBANY, Countess of (1753-1814). Caroline de Stolberg. She married in 1773 the Pretender, Charles Edward, who had taken the title of Count of Albany. She separated from him in 1780 and lived with the poet Alfieri, who had a great passion for her, and who secretly married her after the death of the Count of Albany. After Alfieri's death the Countess returned to Florence, where she formed relations with the French painter Fabre.

ALCUDIA, Comte d'. A Spanish statesman. He was a member of the Calomarde Ministry during the lifetime of Ferdinand VII., and replaced Salmon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was, however, always a person of secondary importance, and lost his place at Calomarde's death.

ALDBOROUGH, Cornelia, Lady. The eldest daughter of Charles Landry; she married Lord Aldborough in 1804.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT, King of Macedon (356-323 B.C.).

ALEXANDER I., Czar of Russia (1777-1825). Eldest son and successor of the Czar Paul I., he was celebrated for his great struggle with Napoleon.

ALFIERI, Count Victor (1749-1803). The great Italian tragic poet. Left an orphan at an early age his education was much neglected, but at the age of twenty-five a sudden change took place in him. To please the Countess of Albany, who had inspired him with a taste for poetry and literature, he undertook a most elaborate course of study, created a new system of poetical composition, and wrote prose works which entitle him to rank with Machiavelli himself.

ALLEN, George (1770-1843). A learned English doctor, who produced numerous works on history, metaphysics, and physiology. He was very intimate with Lord Holland and lived with him.

ALTHORP, John Charles Spencer, Lord (1782-1845). An English statesman. He was made Chancellor of the Exchequer after having been Home Secretary and a Lord of the Admiralty. His eloquence and financial capacity were only moderate, but he was a laborious and conscientious Minister and proverbial for his political honesty.

ALVANLEY, Lord (1787-1849). Son of Richard Pepper-Arden. Created Lord Alvanley in 1801. He had a duel with Morgan, son of O'Connell.

AMELIA, Princess of England (1783-1810). The last of King George III.'s fourteen children, her father's favourite and companion. She died unmarried at the age of twenty-seven.

AMPÈRE, Jean-Jacques (1800-1864). Professor at the Collège de France. A distinguished man of letters, member of the Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres, and of the Académie française.

ANNE OF AUSTRIA, Queen of France (1602-1666). Eldest daughter of Philip II., King of Spain. She married Louis XIII., King of France, and at his death became regent during the minority of her son, Louis XIV.

ANNA PAULOWNA, Queen of the Netherlands (1795-1865). She was a daughter of the Czar Paul of Russia, and in 1816 married King William II. of the Netherlands.

ANNE, Queen of England (1665-1714). Daughter of James II. During her reign there was a long struggle with Louis XIV., and the Union of England and Scotland was brought about.

ANTROBUS, Lady (1800-1885). Only daughter of Hugh Lindsay and wife of Sir Edmund Antrobus.

APPONYI. Countess (1798-1874). Daughter of Count Nogarola; married in 1818 Count Antony Apponyi, who for many years was Austrian Ambassador at Paris.

ARBUTHNOT, Mrs. Died in 1834. Mrs. Arbuthnot and her husband, Charles Arbuthnot, nicknamed "Gosh" in society, were the most intimate friends of the Duke of Wellington, with whom they lived, and were very well known in the best London society.

ARENBERG, Louise Marguerite, Duchesse d'. Born 1730. She was the only daughter and heiress of the last Count de la Mark, and married in 1748 Duke Charles d'Arenberg.

ARENBERG, Prosper-Louis, Duc d' (1785-1861). Married a Princess Lobkowitz in 1819.

ARENBERG, Prince Pierre d'(1790-1877). Married first, in 1829, Mlle. de Talleyrand-Périgord, who died in 1842. In 1860 he married the daughter of Count Kannitz Rietberg, widow of Count Antony Starhemberg.

ARENBERG, Princesse Pierre d' (1808-1842). Alix Marie Charlotte, daughter of the Duc de Périgord.

ARGENSON, Comte Voyer d' (1771-1842). Grandson of Marc-Pierre d'Argenson, Minister of War under Louis XV. He entered the army in 1791. In 1809 he was Prefect of the Department of Deux-Nèthes (Antwerp). Under the Restoration and the Monarchy of July he was a Deputy and conspicuous for his liberal opinions. He married the widow of Prince Victor de Broglie, mother of Duke Victor.

ARNAULT, Antoine Vincent (1766-1834). A French tragic poet and fabulist. He attached himself to Bonaparte at an early period, and accompanied him to Egypt, and was made by him Governor of the Ionian Islands. He then worked at the organisation of Public Instruction. He was made a member of the Institut in 1799, and in 1833 became Perpetual Secretary of the Académie française.

ASHLEY, Lord (1801-1881). An English statesman and philanthropist. In 1830 he married Lady Emily Cooper, and in 1851, on the death of his father, became Earl of Shaftesbury. In 1826 he was elected to the House of Commons, and was a member of several Ministries.

ATHALIN, Baron Louis Marie (1784-1856). A French General of Engineers. Served with distinction in the Imperial Campaigns, received the title of Baron after the Battle of Dresden, and under the Restoration became aide-de-camp to the Duc d'Orléans. He was entrusted with several diplomatic missions and was made a Peer of France when Louis-Philippe ascended the throne. After 1848 he retired into private life.

AUBUSSON DE LA FEUILLADE, Pierre Hector Raymond Comte d' (1765-1848). Under the First Empire he was Chamberlain to the Empress Josephine, then Minister Plenipotentiary and Ambassador. The Emperor made him a Peer during the Hundred Days, but the Restoration removed him. He did not re-enter the House of Peers till November 1831. He was the father of the Duchesse de Lévis and the last of his name, having in 1842 lost his son who had become insane.

AUGEREAU, Pierre François Charles (1757-1816). Marshal of France under the First Empire and Duc de Castiglione. He distinguished himself in several campaigns and carried out the coup d'état of 18th Fructidor.

AUGUSTA, Princess of England, daughter of King George III., died unmarried.

AUSTRIA, Emperor of, Ferdinand I. (1793-1875). Son of Francis II., ascended the throne in 1835. His incapacity for Government and his bad health obliged him to leave the control of affairs to a regency chiefly directed by Prince Metternich. He abdicated in 1848 in favour of his nephew Francis Joseph I.

AUSTRIA, Archduke Louis Joseph of (1784-1864). Son of the Emperor Leopold II. and of the Empress Marie Louise, daughter of Charles III. of Spain; he was Director-General of Artillery.

AUSTRIA, Archduchess Sophia of (1805-1872). Daughter of Maximilian I., King of Bavaria, married in 1824 the Archduke Francis-Charles, and was the mother of Francis Joseph I.

B

BACKHOUSE, John, died in 1845. An English author and statesman. He was for some years Canning's private secretary, and was twice Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

BACOURT, Adolphe Fourrier de (1801-1865). A French Diplomatist and a Peer of France. He was sent to assist the Prince de Talleyrand while the latter was King Louis-Philippe's Ambassador in London, and was afterwards Minister at Carlsruhe and Washington, and Ambassador at Turin. He resigned in 1848.

BAILLOT, a young officer and an only son who was killed in Paris during the émeute of April 13, 1834, by a pistol shot fired at him point blank while he was carrying an order from Marshal Lobau.

BALBI, Comtesse de (1753-1839). She was the daughter of the Marquis de Caumont la Force and married the Comte de Balbi, a Genoese. She was lady-in-waiting to the Comtesse de Provence, and was honoured with the friendship of the Comte de Provence (afterwards Louis XVIII.).

BARANTE, Baron de (1782-1866). He was successively Auditor of the Conseil d'État, charged with various diplomatic missions, Prefect of La Vendée, and then of Nantes, Deputy, Peer of France and Ambassador at St. Petersburg. He was very successful as a historian and was elected to the Academy.

BARBÉ-MARBOIS, François, Marquis de (1745-1837). Before the Revolution he held several diplomatic appointments. At the Revolution he was deported to La Guyane, and did not return until after the 18th brumaire. The First Consul made him President of the Cour des Comptes, an office which he held till 1834.

BARRINGTON, Charles, a young Englishman intimate with Lord Holland towards 1832.

BARROT, Odilon (1781-1873). A French politician. He began as a lawyer and took an active part in the Revolution of 1830. Under Louis-Philippe he was the leader of the dynastic Left.

BARTHE, Felix (1795-1863). French magistrate and statesman. He was connected with the Carbonari and a violent opponent of the Restoration. In 1830 he was a Deputy and was subsequently Minister of Public Instruction, Garde des Sceaux, and President of the Cour des Comptes. In 1831 he was made a Peer. In the Molé Cabinet he was Minister of Justice, and in 1852 he was summoned to the Senate.

BASTARD D'ETANG, Comte (1794-1844). French magistrate and politician. Conseiller à la Cour in 1810, in 1819 he was summoned to the House of Peers. He conducted the prosecution of Louvel with integrity, showed much political independence, and after 1830 was one of the members of the Upper House charged with the prosecution of Charles X.'s ministers.