[Footnote 48: "From the blood of our kings but a small drop escaping."--_Athalie_, act I., sc. 1.--T.] [Footnote 49: Chateaubriand's article, dated 3 March 1820: the _Conservateur_, vol. VI., p. 471.--B.] [Footnote 50: By the Papal Nuncio, in his congratulatory address, pronounced in the name of the Diplomatic Body.--B.] [Footnote 51: By Lamartine, in his ode, the _Naissance du duc de Bordeaux._--B.] [Footnote 52: M. Decazes resigned on the 17th of February. The _Moniteur_ of the 21st of February published three Orders, signed on the preceding day: the first accepting M. Decazes' resignation, the second appointing M. le Duc de Richelieu President of the Council, and the third conferring upon M. Decazes the title of duke and of minister of State.--B.] [Footnote 53: This is a clerical error. The Minister of Foreign Affairs in February 1820 was M. Pasquier. M. Molé, under the Restoration, held only the office of Minister of Marine, and that at an earlier date, from 1817 to 1818.--B.] [Footnote 54: The Duc Decazes was appointed Ambassador to England on the 20th of February 1820. He held that position until the 9th of January 1822.--B.] [Footnote 55: Sister to the Duc de Richelieu, and a very close friend of Chateaubriand's.--B.] [Footnote 56: 20 December 1820.--B.] [Footnote 57: Prosper Brugière, Baron de Barante (1782-1866), had sent in his resignation as Director-general of Indirect Taxation, a post which at that time carried a salary of one hundred thousand francs.--B.] [Footnote 58: Prince Jules de Polignac (1780-1847) had been made a peer of France in 1816, but long refused to take the oath to the Charter, which he considered injurious to the interests of religion and the Monarchy, and did not consent to take his seat until the Pope had raised his scruples. He was for some time Ambassador in London, and, in August 1829, became Premier of the ill-fated Ministry which, in 1830, brought about the downfall of the Royal House of France.--T.] [Footnote 59: Chateaubriand had been appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Berlin (_Moniteur_, 30th November 1820).--B.] [Footnote 60: Announcing the appointment of M. de Corbière and M. de Villèle as members of the Council.--B.] BOOK VIII[61] The year 1821--The Berlin, Embassy--I arrive in Berlin--M. Ancillon--The Royal Family--Celebrations for the marriage of the Grand-duke Nicholas--Berlin society--Count von Humboldt--Herr von Chamisso--Ministers and ambassadors--The Princess William--The Opera--A musical meeting--My first dispatches--M. de Bonnay--The Park--The Duchess of Cumberland--Commencement of a Memorandum on Germany--Charlottenburg--Interval between the Berlin Embassy and the London Embassy--Baptism of M. le Duc de Bordeaux--Letter to M. Pasquier--Letter from M. de Bernstoff--Letter from M. Ancillon--Last letter from the Duchess of Cumberland--M. de Villèle, Minister of Finance--I am appointed Ambassador to London.