New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-16
THE BASTILLE.
Nezo Light Shed on Its Mysteries by
NJ. Fanck-BrentanO.
Paris, July ..

Paris July D.
NJ Frantz Funck- Brentano. who has been Sc
lected as the Hyde lecturer at Harvard Univer-
sity for next winter, is described by Vicomte
Melchior de Vogue, OF the French Academy, as
the last prisoner Of the Bastille" For over
twenty years this interchangeable archeologist has
confined himself in the vast Arsenal Library (of
which he is the librarian, which is situated
the site once occupied by the Bastille. He is the
custodian of all the documents registers. lettres
de-cachet and manuscripts of the famous prison
which were saved from destruction July IA
1885, and which placed in the Arsenal
Library. where they still remain. NJ. Funck-
Brentano practically lives amid these literary and
historic relics. and processes paternal affection
for them. From them he has successfully I'M
earthed the secrets Of the "Montespan Poison
ers." Of the Affair of the Diamond Necklace
and of the Man in the Iron Mask" This week
further revelations of most interesting charac-
ter concerning the ancient prison fortress appear
in bulky. closely printed book entitled La
Liste des Prisonniers de la Bastille," from 1863
to 1GS9 in which he not only gives the names
and descriptions of the prisoners-which has
never been done before-but supplies carefully
authenticated information concerning their lives
and the circumstances of their arrest and deten-
tion. Here one finds veritable mine of material
for historians dramatists and writer's OF fiction.
oner comprises a story of crime revenge. fem
mime intrigue. adventure. martyrdom or ro-
nance.
The list covers a period of 100 years. and dur
ing this time 5.279 persons were confined in the
Bastille. OF these 1924 We're fncarcerated
through orders signed by Louis XIV. 2,64S by
lettres- -cachet of Louis XIV. while the benevo-
lent Louis XVI sent only 307 individuals TO the
royal prison The secret records now divulged
by NJ. Funck- Brentano reflect each successive
undercurrent Of French history. Every court
scandal, intrigue crime conspiracy had its
counterpart in the prison registers. More than
half the number Of prisoners owed their conflne-
ment to alleged implication in such notable
events as the Fouquet lawsuits, the Montespan
poison plot, the revocation of the Edict Of
Nantes, the Cellamare conspiracy. the wheat
and bread monopoly scandal and the diamond
necklace affair. The Marquis de Vardes and
the Chevalier de MaupeOu were put in the
Bastille because they were charged with having
written anonymous letters to the Queen de-
famatory Of Mile de la Vallere. Maupeou re-
NAMED in close confinement for thirteen years,
but was Unexpectedly released in 1874, when
Mile. de Ia Falliere voluntarily imprisoned her
self by entering the CarInelite convent Lar
messin, one of the most skilled engravers OF the
time. was imprisoned for life. together with his
his shop bearing effigy entitled'"Decadence de-
la France" which represented a man vomiting
forth lost battles, while a woman supported his
head with her arms. The man had the features
or the King and the woman strikingly resembled
Nine de MaIntenon. The Kings mistresses,
Nine. de Prize and Nine. de Chateauroux. man.
aged to obtain twenty-five royal signatures for
the Imprisonment OF their personal enemies. A
score OF literary men were locked up in the
BastiIe Tor life. because they were accused of
writing libelous songs or pamphlets about
Nine de Pompadour The virtuous Louis XVI
sent half dozen street poets to prison for in
suting Marie Antoinette. Indeed, the records
reflect pretty accurately the physiognomy of
each OF the three reigns
The majority of the prisoners confined by
Louis XIV were feudal mobiles who claimed as
their right privileges infringing upon the royal
prerogatiVe. Hundreds OF prisoners were desig-
mated by the initials "R. 2. R."-Religion Pre-
tendue Reformee-the avowaI and practice Of
the Reformed Protestant Faith being considered
by Louis XIV, and by Nine de Maintenon
amply sufficient TO draw upon the offender the
dreaded lettre- de-cachet. Want Of respect for
the Kings authority and for the dignity of the
Church were punished by Imprisonment in the
Bastille. The atmosphere Of the prison IN the
days OF the Grand Monarque was austerely
happy-go-lucky Louis XIV IT became lighter,
more frivolous and more picturesque MANY Of
the prisoners sent 10 the Bastille by him were
courtiers who had incurred the enmity Of tho
Kings fayorites or had aroused the vengeance
Of his nistresses. The severity OF the prison
rules were relaxed in favor Of prisoners of high
birth or OF wealth. Existence in the Bastille
was in some instances not only comfortable but
luxurious. The is cited of the young
Of some court intrigue His rooms were fitted
up by the finest upholsterers and he wa. allowed
to have his own cook prepare his meals. Ills
table served with trufled pheasants and
choice wines He was allowed to have his books
and musical instruments. On Sundays he was
permitted TO have friend dine with him. bur
all these privileges were suddenly withheld be-
cause the joyful young prisoner succeeded In
seducing the comedy chambermaid of the wife of
the governor of the prison.
Strange 10 say. il Necker the Finance
Minister. who during the reign OF Louis XVI.
obtained more lettres de cachet from the King
than did any else. Necker few into ter
rible rage whenever a pamphlet appeared de-
nouncing his financial schemes operations
If the author was discovered he was pretty sure
TO be confined in the Bastille NJ de Castr,es
Minister of War. had an adventurer NAMED
Alexis 'DanouiI imprisoned for having extorted
from the government 5000 louis dor under the
pretext of disclosing the secrets OF the Cabinet
OF London: but Alexis was released after two
months Incarceration. Documents reveal some
cleverly planned schemes of bribery 10 secure
government contracts for supplies for the army
and the navy. In 1855 the Conte de Launay.
Governor of the Bastille. had among his prison.
ers an unusually brilliant company, including
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