Talleyrand by Duff Cooper

Author:Duff Cooper [Duff Cooper]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2010-12-02T05:00:00+00:00

8

In February 1812 Talleyrand was appointed one of the Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of General Dupont in the matter of the capitulation of Baylen. He was much impressed by the defence and was in favour of taking a lenient view of what had at worst been only an error of weakness. Napoleon insisted, despite the recommendation of the Commission, on condemning Dupont to imprisonment for life, a sentence which he was serving two years later when Talleyrand procured his release and his promotion to the post of Minister of War under the Restoration.

Later in the year there seemed to be a further prospect of practical employment for the Vice-Grand Elector. Although Napoleon would not commit himself to a definite policy with regard to Poland it was most important for him to be able to rely, during the Russian campaign, on the enthusiastic support of the Poles. The position of his Ambassador at Warsaw would therefore be one of great responsibility and would demand the exercise of first-rate diplomatic and political ability. Despite the grave misgiving with which he already regarded Talleyrand, Napoleon appears to have decided to entrust him with this mission for which he obviously possessed the necessary qualifications. But whether, as Countess Kielmannsegge asserts, some of Talleyrand’s ladies talked too imprudently about the appointment before it was confirmed, or whether Savary’s version is correct that the Emperor wrongly suspected Talleyrand of speculating in exchanges when he was only obtaining the necessary Polish currency to enable him to take up the post, whatever the reason may have been, the offer was withdrawn and Napoleon sent instead to Warsaw the Abbé de Pradt, whose hopeless incompetence proved more disastrous than treachery and whose mistakes contributed largely towards the approaching calamity.

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