Charles Maurice De 1754-1838 Talleyrand-Perigord

The Restoration.

At the congress of Vienna (1814-15) for the settlement of European affairs, Talleyrand, as the representa tive of the restored house of Bourbon in France, managed adroitly to break up the league of the Powers (framed at Chaumont in February 1814) and assisted in forming a secret alliance between England, Austria and France in order to prevent the complete ab sorption of Poland by Russia and of Saxony by Prussia. The new triple alliance had the effect of lessening the demands of those Powers and of leading to the well-known territorial compromise of 1815. Everything was brought into a state of uncertainty once more by the escape of Napoleon from Elba; but the events of the Hundred Days, in which Talleyrand had no share—he remained at Vienna until June io—brought in the Bourbons once more; and Talleyrand's plea for a magnanimous treatment of France under Louis XVIII. once more prevailed in all important matters.

On July 9, 1815, he became foreign minister and president of the council under Louis XVIII., but diplomatic and other difficulties led him to resign his appointment on Sept. 23, 1815, Louis, how ever, naming him high chamberlain and according him an annuity of ioo,000 'francs. The rest of his life calls for little notice except that at the time of the July Revolution of 1830, which unseated the elder branch of the Bourbons, he urged Louis Philippe, duke of Orleans (q.v.), to take the throne offered to him by popular acclaim. The new sovereign offered him the portfolio for foreign affairs ; but Talleyrand signified his preference for the embassy in London. In that capacity he took an important part in the negotiations respecting the founding of the new kingdom of Belgium. In April, 1834 he crowned his diplomatic career by signing the treaty which brought together as allies France, Great Britain, Spain and Portugal; and in the autumn of that year he resigned his embassy. During his last days he signed a paper signifying his reconciliation with the Roman Catholic Church and his regret for many of his early actions. The king visited his

death-bed. His death, on May 17, 1838, called forth widespread expressions of esteem for the statesman who had rendered such great and varied services to his country. He was buried at Valencay. He had been separated from the former Madame Grand in 1815 and left no heir.

The Talleyrand Memoires were edited by the duc de Broglie in 5 vols. (Paris, 1891-92). They have been translated into English by A. Hall, 5 vols. (London, 1891-92). Of his letters and despatches the following are the chief collections:—G. Pallain, La mission de Talleyrand a Londres en 1792 (Paris, 1889), and Le ministere de Talleyrand sous le Directoire (Paris, 1891) ; P. Bertrand, Lettres inedites de Talleyrand a Napoleon, 1800-09 (Paris, 1889) ; G. Pallain, Talleyrand et Louis XVIII. (Paris, 1880, and Ambassade de Talley rand a Londres (1830-34), 2 vols. (Paris, 1891).

Among the biographies, or biographical notices, of Talleyrand the following are, on the whole, hostile to him: G. Touchard Lafosse, Talleyrand, histoire politique et vie intime (Paris, 1848) ; G. Michaud, Hist. politique et privee de Talleyrand (Paris, 1853) ; A. Pichot, Souvenirs intimes sur Talleyrand (Paris, 1870) ; Sainte-Beuve, "Talley rand," in Nouveaux lundis, No. xii. ; and Villemarest, Talleyrand. The estimate of him of Sir H. L. E. Bulwer Lytton in his Historical Characters, 2 vols. (London, 1867) and that of Lord Brougham in Historical Sketches of Statesmen, 3 vols. (London, 1845, new edition), are better balanced, but brief. Of recent biographies of Talleyrand the best are Lady Blennerhasset's Talleyrand (Berlin, 1894, Eng. translation by F. Clarke, 2 vols. London, 1894) Talleyrand, a Bio graphical Study, by Joseph McCabe (London, 1906) ; and Bernard de Lacombe, La vie privee de Talleyrand (Iwo) ; C. Dupuis, Le Ministere de Talleyrand en 1814 (2 vols., 1919)• (J. H. Ro.)