y were
given in a series of letters from old Lord H------, who had long been
a resident Minister there, and knew the people thoroughly. I followed,
very implicitly too, the counsels he gave, and was said to have
acquitted myself well, for I was "_Charge d'Affaires_." But what
absurdity it is to suppose that any exclusive information is ever
obtainable by a Minister, except when the Government itself is disposed
to afford it! I remember well, the spy we employed was also in the pay
of the French Embassy. He was a Sardinian, and had spent some years of
his life an Austrian prisoner in a fortress. We all believed, whatever
the fellow's sentiments on other subjects, that he was a profound hater
of Austria. Well, it turned out that he sold us all to Metternich.

Old Sir Robert W------ used to say to his _attaches_--"Never tell me
secrets, but whenever any thing is publicly discussed in the clubs
and cafes, let me hear it." In the same way, he always rejected the
authenticity of any revelations where Talleyrand, or Metternich, or
Pozzo di Borgo's names appeared. "These men," he always used to say,
"were their own confidants, and never leaked save to serve a purpose."
It was from Sir Robert I heard a story first, which has since, I
believe, been fully corroborated. An Under-secretary of Talleyrand,
during the Prince's residence as French ambassador at St. James's,
informed his Excellency one morning, that a very tempting offer had
been made to him if he would disclose the contents of his master's
writing-desk. He had not accepted, nor altogether declined the proposal,
wishing to know from the Prince how it might be made available to his
plans, and whether a direct accusation of the author, a person of high
station, would be deemed advisable. Talleyrand merely said, "Take the
money; the middle board of the drawer in my secretary is removable by a
very simple contrivance, which I'll shew you. I had it made so at Paris.
You'll find all the papers you want there. Take copies of them."

"But, Monsieur le Prince-----"

"Pray make your mind at ease. I'll neither compromise myself nor you."

The Secretary obeyed; the bargain was perfected, and a supposed
"secret correspondence between Talleyrand and Arnim," deposited in Lord
T------'s hands. About a week afterwards Lord T------ invited the Prince
to pass some days at his seat in Herefordshire, where a distinguished
party was assembled. The Ambassador accepted; and they met like the