Madame de Stal (1); A Study of Her Life and Times: The First Revolution and the First Empire

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881 edition. Excerpt: ...de Stael, ' had emigrant friends whose restoration we were busy XI. Talleyrand. 181 in soliciting. I obtained at this epoch many recalls, and, in consequence, the Deputy Legendre, a man of the people, denounced me from the tribune.' Her husband, sitting in state in his ' loge, ' had to hear in silence this tirade; but Barras defended her. In the confused reactionary state of public opinion, her influence was felt by both parties; the Jacobins dreaded it, the reactionists courted it. The heroic generosity which had led her to face death for the safety of her friends, in the terrors of the Revolution, was unabated, and she was incessantly labouring for the restoration of proscribed exiles. When Talleyrand was still far away beyond the sea she did not forget him, but succeeded in opening the way for his return. Chenier, the poet, who had been active in the Revolution, yielded to at least a literary sympathy with her genius, and was induced by her to deliver a speech in the Convention in behalf of ' Citizen Talleyrand.' The ex-bishop and ex-statesman was permitted to return. Her management with Barras led to his appointment to the department of Foreign Affairs under the Directory, and he was thus enabled to resume that remarkable public career which identified him for so many years with the history of Europe. Dupont de Nemours, whom she describes as ' the most chivalric champion of liberty in France, ' was in peril. ' I heard, ' she says, ' of the danger he was in, and sought Chenier, who at my instance had delivered the speech to which Talleyrand owed his recall. The poet was a man of tender susceptibility. He was moved at the picture of the situation of Dupont de Nemours and his family, and hastened to the tribune, where he saved him.'6 These...