Memoirs of the Duchesse de Dino (Afterwards Duchesse de Talleyrand et de Sagan), 1836-1840

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 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!