The reader will kindly excuse this bald translation. I have simply aimed at giving a literal one.
[79] To obtain the Order of Maria-Theresa, one of the first among the military orders of Europe, the recipient must, by his own initiative, have gained a battle or carried to a successful issue some state affair without previous instruction from his superiors. After that, his claim is submitted to the chapter of the order, which discusses it, grants the claim after discussion, or dismisses it.—Author.
[80] His fortune yielded an income of 17,000,000 francs. See infra the particulars of Razumowski, the favourite of Elizabeth, and the father of the ambassador.
[81] The official despatch of the ambassadors of the French King at the Congress of Vienna reports the incident as follows:—
The Emperor of Russia.—‘I have pledged my word and I shall keep it. I promised Saxony to the King of Prussia the moment we joined each other.’
Talleyrand.—‘Your Majesty has promised to the King of Prussia between nine and ten millions of souls. Your Majesty can give them without destroying Saxony.’
The Emperor.—‘The King of Saxony is a traitor.’
Talleyrand.—‘Sire, the qualification of traitor can never be applied to a king; and it is important that there shall never be any necessity for applying it.’
After a few moments of silence the czar resumed:
‘The King of Prussia shall be King of Prussia and of Saxony, just as I am Emperor of Russia and King of Poland.’—Mémoires de Talleyrand, vol. ii.