534 Readings in European History 456. Talley- rand writes to Louis XVIII de- scribing his successful diplomacy at Vienna. Treaty of Ghent (De- cember 24, 1814). as one would have wished. I do not enjoy the confidence of these people ; for the past five months they have taken no pains to conceal this fact from me. Under such circum- stances the best thing for a man to do, were it only possible, would be to stay at home. But Talleyrand had underrated his wonderful diplo- matic skill, and had failed to reckon with the assistance which he would receive from the conflicting interests and dissensions among the allies. Early in January he was able to write the following complacent letter to Louis XVIII. Vienna, January 4, 181 5. Sire : I have received the letter of the 23d of last month with which your Majesty deigned to honor me. On the 21st of the present month, the anniversary of a day of horror and eternal mourning, 1 a solemn expiatory service will be cele- brated in one of the principal churches of Vienna. . . . Everything in this sad ceremony must be proportioned to the grandeur of its object, the splendor of the crown of France, and the quality of those who are to be present. All the members of the Congress will be invited, and I am sure that they will come. . . . The news of the signature of peace between England and the United States of America was announced to me on New Year's day by a note from Lord Castlereagh. I has- tened to offer him my congratulations, and I also congrat- ulated myself on the event, feeling that it may influence both the disposition of the minister and the resolution of those with whose pretensions we have had to contend hitherto. Lord Castlereagh showed me the treaty. It does not touch the honor of either of the two parties concerned and consequently it will satisfy both. This happy intelligence was only the precursor of a still more fortunate event. The spirit of the coalition, and the 1 The anniversary of the execution of Louis XVI.
