Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/571

 CHAPTER XXXIX EUROPE AFTER THE CONGRESS OF VIENNA I. The Congress of Vienna When the long and bloody struggle of the European powers against Napoleon was finally brought to a suc- cessful issue in the spring of 1814, France, who was looked upon as the chief promoter of discord during the previous twenty years, was naturally viewed as the black sheep by the allies. But Louis XVIII was represented at the Congress of Vienna by a well-tried diplomat, Talleyrand, who skillfully took advantage of the diver- gent interests of the allies and soon restored France to her natural position of importance in the concert of the powers. Nevertheless, when Talleyrand left Paris for Vienna the outlook was gloomy enough. He said to Pasquier on the eve of his departure : I am probably going to play a very sorry part. In the first place, what kind of a welcome shall I receive ? Shall I ever get a hearing ? Following upon the convention of the 30th of May, the allied sovereigns made the king of France bind himself not to interfere in the partition they should see fit to make of the territories wrested from Bona- parte. If it is their intention that that engagement shall be strictly adhered to, I shall be present there only as what is altogether wrongly styled ad honores. I may occasionally open my lips for form's sake, but no heed will be paid to the words issuing from them. On the other hand, I shall be blamed at home for everything that does not turn out 533 France at first viewed as a black sheep at the Congress of Vienna. 455. Talley- rand's dis- couragement upon start- ing for the Congress of Vienna. (From Pas- quier's Memoirs.)