Memoirs of the Duchesse de Dino (Afterwards Duchesse de Talleyrand et de Sagan), 1836-1840
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MEMOIRS OF THE
DUCHESSE DE DINO
MEMOIRS OF THE
DUCHESSE DE DINO
(_Afterwards Duchesse de Talleyrand et de Sagan_)
1836-1840
_Edited, with Notes and Biographical Index, by_
THE PRINCESSE RADZIWILL
(_NÉE CASTELLANE_)
WITH FRONTISPIECE
SECOND SERIES
NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN
1910
_Printed in England_
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
Paris, January 2, 1836--Dispute with America--Country
Life--Politics in Paris--Ministerial Crisis--The New
Ministry--The "Imitation"--Spring--Lacordaire--M.
Thiers--Prince Royal's Tour--The Abbé Girolet--The
Princes at Berlin--Spanish Affairs--Mme. de Lieven--The
Tour of the Princes--M. de Talleyrand--Address to the
King--Alibaud--Cardinal de Retz--Duc d'Orléans
Marriage--Letter from Vienna--Duchess Stephanie--Moral
Reflections--Revolution at Lisbon--The Queen of Spain--The
Political Prisoners--Outbreak at Strasburg--Death of
Charles X. 1
CHAPTER II
Paris, April 17, 1837--A Dinner-Party--The Princess
Helena--The Ministry--The Review--London Gossip--The
Abbé Dupanloup--Marriage Preparations--Fontainebleau--The
King in Paris--English Politics--Duchesse
d'Orléans--Appointments--At Valençay--Queen
Victoria--The Pantheon--M. de Salvandy--Private
Theatricals--At Rochecotte--Champchevrier--Retrospect. 81
CHAPTER III
Rochecotte, January 1, 1838--Life at Paris--At
Saint-Roch--Villemain--Bonnétable--Princess of
Denmark--Marriage Proposals. 146
CHAPTER IV
Amiens, May 16, 1840--Travel in Belgium--Aix-la-Chapelle--The
Art of Travel--Berlin--Life in Berlin--Princess
Albert--The King's Illness--Tegel--Death of the King--The
King's Will--The Funeral--Silesia--Günthersdorf--Wartenberg--News
from Paris--Countess Dohna--Start for Berlin--At
Berlin--Court of Condolence--Dresden--The
Castle--Carlsbad--Löbichau--Nuremberg--Baden--Egyptian
Question--Umkirch--France and England--Foreign
Politics--Mgr. Affre--Peace or War?--The Lafarge
Case--Events in Prussia--Madame Lafarge--French
Politics--Prospects of Peace--Queen Christina--The
New Ministry--The King's Speech--Thiers and Guizot--News from
Berlin--Napoleon's Funeral--Russian feeling. 190
APPENDIX I 321
APPENDIX II 332
APPENDIX III 335
APPENDIX IV 343
APPENDIX V 357
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 361
MEMOIRS OF THE
DUCHESSE DE DINO
CHAPTER I
1836
_Paris, January 2, 1836._--M. de Talleyrand is working hard to advance
the claims of M. Molé to a seat in the French Academy. He is supported
alike by M. Royer-Collard and by the Ministers; hence M. de Villemain
found occasion to say, yesterday evening, that all the most _diverse_
and _inverse_ influences were in combination to _transport_ or to
_export_ M. Molé to the Academy, and that he himself was strongly in
favour of _importation_, as a seat in the Academy was no obstacle to
other posts. This play on words was no less pointed than malicious.
There was much talk of the various speeches delivered before the King
on New Year's Day, and in particular of M. Pasquier's speech, which
was remarkable for the boldness he displayed in his use of the word
"subject," which M. de Villemain called a _progressive_ term.
The King was delighted with Count Apponyi's speech, and the Diplomatic
Service were equally pleased with the King's reply. In any case,
Fieschi and Mascara[1] were so much treasure-trove to all the
speech-makers; emotion and sympathy in every degree were noticeable,
and M. Dupin was moved even to sobs!
[1] Mascara, in Algiers, was captured by the French in 1835.
Concerning M. Pasquier, a notice was inserted by some jester in a
low-class newspaper to the effect that his recent illness was caused
by his recognition of Fieschi as his natural son! The old Comtesse de
la Briche, who is falling into her dotage, went off in all seriousness
to relate this piece of folly with sighs of profound emotion in the
_salon_ of Madame de Chastellux, the Carlist headquarters. Such want
of tact is almost inconceivable, and great merriment was aroused!
_Paris, January 4, 1836._--The illness of Madame de Flahaut's second
daughter has become critical, and provided me yesterday with an
illustration of that truest of parables, the beam and the mote, when
Madame de Lieven said to me, in reference to Madame de Flahaut: "Can
you conceive that she talks politics to me at a time like this and
orders her carriage to visit Madame Adélaïde? She will even leave her
daughter's room to discuss public affairs with her visitors, and asks
me to dinner to-morrow to distract her thoughts, as she says, and not
to be left alone in her anxiety!" Apparently people cannot see
themselves as others see them, and such incidents give one startling
cause for introspection.
The much-discussed communication from President Jackson,[2] which has
been expected with great impatience, has reached the Duc de Broglie,
by way of England. He went to the King five hours later, to inform him
that the communication had arrived; when the King asked to see it the
Duc de Broglie told him that it was of no importance and that he had
already sent it to the newspapers! He made the same observation to his
colleague, M. de Thiers, who told every one he met during the evening,
on the faith of this information, that the message was of no political
significance. The next day the King and M. Thiers were able to read
the message in the papers, and found that it was very cleverly
conceived, very insolent to M. de Broglie personally, and exactly
calculated to terminate the existing dispute. Council after council
was then held, and lively discussions took place; at length the royal
will has triumphed, with the support of M. Thiers, and the
communication will be declared satisfactory. The intervention of
England is to be declined, and a statement will be made that France is
prepared to pay the sum of twenty-five millions as due under the terms
specified. M. de Broglie eventually yielded, though his surrender was
delayed by the wound to his self-esteem. At first he refused to submit
for approval his note thanking England for her offer of intervention,
but it was eventually shown to the King yesterday. It was criticised
as being too long, too diffuse, and too metaphysical. There was a
vigorous discussion in the council, but the King concluded the matter
by giving his hand to the Duc de Broglie with a kind word. At the same
time a considerable amount of ill-temper remains on both sides.
However, a war with the United States would be very disadvantageous to
French commerce; so this conclusion will probably have a good effect
upon public opinion.
[2] _See_ Appendix. In 1834 Jackson had claimed an indemnity of
twenty-five millions, in very haughty terms, from the Government
of Louis Philippe as compensation to the United States for the
loss of ships seized under the Empire; in the event of refusal,
confiscation was threatened of all French estates within the
territories of the Union. While the claim was entirely
legitimate, the insulting form in which it was presented delayed
a settlement, until President Jackson retracted his words in the
communication to which reference is here made.
_Paris, January 11, 1836._--Yesterday morning I had a call from M.
Royer-Collard. He had just left M. de Berryer in a state of
considerable vexation and disgust; their conversation had dealt with
Prague. M. de Berryer said that at Prague M. Royer was in many men's
minds and was well spoken of; that Charles X. had several times
repeated his fear that he had not sufficiently considered several
things which M. Royer had told him in a long conversation at the time
of the much-discussed address[3] of 1830. The curious point is that
when the old king attempted to recall these important points, of which
he had but a vague recollection, he found himself unable to remember
them. The incident is very characteristic of the man's good intentions
and incompetency.
[3] The Address of the 221 (March 3, 1830). This was a reply to a
speech from the throne, and plainly expressed the displeasure of
the 221 Deputies at seeing M. de Martignac deposed from the
Presidency in favour of the Prince Jules de Polignac.
_Paris, January 16, 1836._--M. Humann, Financial Minister, delivered a
tirade yesterday in the Chamber of Deputies, in which he very
imprudently raised the question of the reduction of the State bonds,
without previously consulting his colleagues. It was thought that a
dissolution of the Ministry would be the consequence, but the
difficulty has been settled, and matters remain as they were, for the
moment.
The King has personally seen Count Pahlen and soothed his feelings,
and it is hoped that the speech of the Duc de Broglie in the Chamber
of Deputies will not lead to any outburst.[4]
[4] The speech to which reference is made will be found in the
Appendix to this volume.
_Paris, January 24, 1836._--The Chamber of Deputies remains disturbed
and restive. Apathetic as the session was at its opening, it provides
vexation enough to those responsible for the government. The
prevailing ill-temper is especially manifested against the Duc de
Broglie, the tone of whose speeches displeases the Deputies. His
observation in the Chamber the other day, "is that clear?" is regarded
as almost unpardonable.[5]
[5] M. Humann submitted to the Chamber as a necessary measure a
scheme for the conversion of Government 5 per cent. bonds, which
had already been attempted in vain by M. de Villèle in 1824. The
Chamber was inclined to receive the idea favourably, but the
Cabinet showed some ill-temper as it had not been previously
consulted, and M. Humann resigned. A question was asked in the
Chamber on this subject on June 18, and discussion was opened by
the Duc de Broglie. "We are asking," he said, "whether the
Government intends to propose the measure in the course of this
session. I answer, No; is that clear?" This last remark excited
general disfavour, and was the subject of adverse comment
forthwith.
_Paris, January 28, 1836._--Yesterday we were dining with Marshal
Maison. It was a remarkable dinner for many reasons, but especially
for the stories told by the Marshal's wife, one of which amused me for
a long time afterwards. They were speaking of crowded balls and saying
how difficult it was to discover the exact number of guests actually
present; thereupon the Marshal's wife observed in her high, shrill
voice: "I have an admirable method which has always worked
successfully in all the balls I have given; I put my chambermaid
behind the door with a bag of beans at her side, and I say: 'Mariette,
when any one comes in, you will take a bean out of the big bag and put
it in your handbag.' Thus the numbers are exactly known, and that is
the best way of doing it." So strong an inclination to wild laughter