The Journal of a Nobleman; Being a Narrative of His Residence at Vienna During the Congress (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1833. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXI. Dinner-party with some friends--Anecdotes related by them--Toulchin--Biographical sketch of the celebrated Countess Polocka--A description of her palace at Toulchin--Mode of living in it--Incessant influx of guests. By the rapid and extraordinary changes of latter times, how many men have been suddenly thrust out of the sphere of their affections and habits, far from the circle for which fate had destined them How many victims of violent political commotions have perished on the rock on which they had climbed to save themselves from the shipwreck Happy are those who, by their efforts, have succeeded in stemming the torrent, and who, turning to good account the lessons of their experience, or the vicissitudes of their destiny, create to themselves a second youth by the interest of their recollections. Still more enviable perhaps are those who, having lived in peaceful times, have only to relate a simple unostentatious tale, and not a history, the extraordinary nature of which recommends it to posterity. Among the persons I had invited to dine with me were Sir Sydney Smith, M.M. Rouen, Isabey, Borel, Ompteda, and Tettenborn. The party was small and select, and the conversation was consequently animated and unconstrained; and all seemed pleased one with another. Borel related some of the current anecdotes of the day, in that tone of good nature and simplicity which rendered him so dear to his friends. In the world, which he loved, he was in his turn truly beloved for his excellent qualities of mind and heart: he was amiable in the strictest acceptation of the term; for he never sought to appear so at the expense of any one. It was not exactly so with Baron Ompteda: he took a minute survey, not of the interior of the cabinet of the plenipotenti...