1831.] Personal and Political Portrait of Prince Melternich. 299 



historian of his generosity and kindness, the Tyroleans record his 

 justice, and the Swiss descant on his respect for ancient freedom. 



The Prince, however, has been taught to feel that the schoolmaster 

 is abroad. Perhaps this is scarcely the proper moment to refer, with 

 exorbitant enthusiasm, to the admirable effects resulting from the 

 Congress of Vienna, which Prince Metternich has regarded as his field 

 of fame, and from which his greater wealth and dignity were derived 

 the vine-covered hills of Johannisberg, the friendship of his Grace, 

 and (Gallice) the eternal gratitude of Europe. " The division is now 

 complete !" was the triumphant exclamation of the prince, as he ter- 

 minated his labours. Whatever scepticism may have existed at the 

 moment on the subject in the minds of the ignorant and unenlightened, 

 there can be none now ; and, although late, verily, this Stultz of nations 

 " has his reward." But, it has been said (for decorum forbid that we 

 should originate the violation of the secrets of that council of national 

 representatives, or even disclose what we have heard, with pain and 

 sorrow equivalent to that of the man of office, who having married 

 a wife, in the prospect of his retiring pension, found himself under the 

 necessity of evacuating Downing Street a full honeymoon short of the 

 term of expected bliss) it has been said that a scene less pathetic than 

 singular occurred in that solemn convocation, which, in ludicrous effect, 

 might well have become a British House of Commons. In the warmth 

 of debate on a momentous and contested point, the prince, relying upon 

 his state and influence for protection, hesitated not to contradict a soldier, 

 and that soldier a Briton : the result whereof was a rather unequivocal 

 suggestion of the trite adage of " an Irishman's sword being the key to 

 the other world" a liberal offer of the choice of weapons, from a cane 

 to a cannon with some disagreeable hints from good-natured friends, 

 there present, of his antagonist's mattress being composed of mousta- 

 ches of the slain, and his possessing the tenantcy in common of a 

 private cemetery. The prince, in generous consideration of the happi- 

 ness of the human race, forbore any expression of sentiment that might 

 compromise that mundane felicity which he had just so ably settled ; 

 but, ardent for the emancipation of the Austrian vocabulary, his viva- 

 cious adversary appealed to his honour, by a laudatory argumentum ad 

 hominem, and in giving practical illustration of the principles of a 

 Holy Alliance, simultaneously overthrew the person and theory of the 

 Aulic counsellor, and frightened from their propriety the wits of the 

 illustrious members of that celebrated conclave. 



Whether or not the prince was above noticing what occurred " behind 

 his back," it is reported that he suddenly withdrew from that too 

 animated conference, and if ever afterwards referred to on the subject, 

 -adopted, haply, the skilful evasion of the gascon, who, on being reminded 

 by a good-natured friend that he had been publicly termed a coward, 

 replied, " Pho ! Nobody believed it." " You received besides a 

 blow I" " I am short-sighted, and took it for a mere gesture." " But 

 you were caned, and ran out of doors !" " My dear friend, I expected 

 my adversary would follow me!" His inimitable diplomacy and 

 pure virtue on the occasion, went not, however, unrewarded by those 

 in whose cause he suffered. The fair vine-covered hills, and proud 

 chateau of Johannisberg were his immediate recompence, the able con- 

 veyancers of the Congress having discovered an opportune flaw in the 

 title of Marshal Kellerman to those rich domains ; and who that ever 



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