The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-23
LOUIS XIII.
The Part He Took in the Publication
of French Newspapers.

! When was erected last year a statue to the
! founder OF the Freacn press the part which
Louis XIII took in the publication of newspa-
pers was hardly mentioned. Yet il was a con-
siderable part ana Louis XIII deserves to be
recorded as an ancestor in the profession of
journalism. In protecting the work of the
London physician, he was only following the
example OF Queen Elizabeth, and it is well
known that Chinese EmperorS addressed com.
munications TO the journals of the empire
But, II he was not the first in chronology among
newspaper men who were sovereigns, he was
assuredly the most important and the most reg.
MAR among them He was professional news
paper man.
This is the journal of the great tile powerful
ON earth" Renaudot wrote at The end of the
year 1881. Everything herein is by them aud
for Them"
Ailusions like this were frequent. They were
ordinarily distant and yelled, but the reader
understood them.
One day the editor of the Gazette appealed to
the chiefs. who themselves made exploits the
truth OF which should be known" He asks
them TO let him know the truth. This invita-
tion might have been vain in an epoch when
the advantages of publicity were not appre.
Grated as they are now. But Renaudot argued
as follows:
Il think thar those who thought formerly
that they would have wronged themselves by
relating deeds In which they mad part are
now convinced OF their error by The example of
the Commentaries OF Caesar, who was as great
captain as they are"
Renaudot wanted exact information. The
King satisfied him. The Kings collaboration
was twice profitable to him, since 1t made his
Journal and secured for INN pension of 500
ecus. But this collaboration almost eutailed
his ruin
After the death of the King the numerous
enemies OF Renaudot thought OF revengfDg
themselves upon him. Anne OF Austria did NOT
like him. His enemies found page of the
Gazette OF June, 1888. containing an article
feierflhg 10 plot with a foreign court an
a11alr which had provoked the arrest of Don
Juan Medici. a relative of tile Queen. The
article was full of malicious destinations.
henaudot had gone through other perils, but
ms tlme the case was grave. He was without
protector and feared disgrace the least
effect OF which would have been the loss of his
privilege. Forced TO defend himself Repaudot
replied boldly: Everybody knows that the
deceased King not only read my Gazette, but
contributed memoirs to its publication"
After which Renaudot, rendering unto Caesar
me things which were Caesars. revealed the
fact That the famous discriminating article was
by lhe King himself, saying
MY pen was only machine; my presses are
no more guilty for having rolled the ink of these
memoirs than the Ministers may be for having
read them"
he article was. in fact. by Louis XIII. The
Able de la Rache, secretary to Richelieu, had
brought 1t 10 Renaudot 10 the night of June 4.
1888. The forms of the journal we're already
closed, and, 10 insert the Kings cOpv the Ga
Zelte was entirely made over.
RenaudopS revelation was probably not new
to Anne OF Austria, but as the Kings work
Hau uocu Hdue kuOWns henauQOpS enemies
could do nothing against the Gazette. The
editor was not disturbed.
This circumstance is an evidence of the
Kings collaboration, but there are material
proofs due 10 the Pere Griffet who found them
10 Two volumes of manuscripts, described by !
him as containing "the minutes OF different |
articles written by the hand of Louis KILL"
These volumes were lost for a time but they |
have been rediscoVered in the National Library |
In one volume, bound in fine red morocco, dec. !
GRATED with the arms Of PbiIiDpe Comte da !
from LIE Temps.