Life of Prince Talleyrand: With Extracts from His Speeches and Writings (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Life of Prince Talleyrand: With Extracts From His Speeches and Writings

A little must be said regarding the sources whence this work is drawn. About the time of the elevation of Bonaparte to the imperial dignity, there appeared in England a small work, purporting to give an account of Talleyrand's private life and character. It was evidently the production of a French royalist pen. It collects all the scurrilous stories that were current regarding its subject; and on its face appears so bitter, prejudiced and partial, as to destroy its own credibility. It has, therefore, been very sparingly and cautiously used. A French Work of much later date, and both much more full and candid, was translated and re-pub lished in this country; but its narrative, at least in the American edition, breaks off at the time when Talley rand took office under Bonaparte. It has furnished some of the speeches, quoted as delivered by Talleyrand in the National Assembly, and also some of his public papers, with many facts and several anecdotes. The Magazine articles referred to indicate great intelligence and command of the facts of his life, a warm admiration of his character, candor and ability in the discussion of.

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