The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-09-05

writers of fiction. The "dossier," or
record, of almost ever yprisoner COM
prises a story of crime, revenge, fem
mime intrigue, adventure, martyrdom
or romance.
The list covers a period Of 100 years,
and during this time 5,279 persons were
confined in the Bastile. OF these 1924
were incarcerated through orders signed
BY Louis XIV, 2,648 by letters-de-ca-
Chef of Louis XIV, while the benevolent
Louis XVI sent only S07 individuals to
the royal prison. The secret records
now divulged by M. sFunck-Brentano
reflect each successive undercurrent of
French history Every court scandal,
intrigue. crime or conspiracy had its
counterpart In the prison registers.
More than half the number Of prisoners
lowed their confinement to alleged inn
plication in such notable events as the
Fouquet lawsuits, the Montespan poison
plot, the revocation of the Edict of
Nantes, the Celamare conspiracy, the
wheat and bread monopoly scandal and
the diamond necklace affair. The Mar
auis de yardes and the Chevalier de-
Maupeou were put in the Bastile be-
cause they were charged with having
written anonymous letters to the Queen
defamatory of Mile de Is Valliere. Maui
peou remained in close confinement for
IS years, but was unexpectedly released
in 1914. when Mile de la Valliere volun-
tarily imprisoned herself by entering
the Carmelite Convent. Larmessin, one
of the most skilled engravers Of the
time, was imprisoned for life, together
with his apprentice, because a copper
plate was found in his shop bearing an
leffigy entitled "Decadence de la France,
which represented a man vomiting
forth lost battles while a woman sup
ported his head with her arms. The
man had the features Of the King and
the woman strikingly resembled Nine.
de Maintenon. The Kings mistresses,
Nine. de Prize and Nine. de Chateau
roux, managed to obtain rs royal sig
natures for the Imprisonment Of their
personal enemies. A score of literary
men were locked up in the Bastile for
life, because they were accused Of
WRITING libellous songs or pamphlets
about Nine. de Pompadour. The virtu-
Gus Louis XVI sent half a dozen street
poets to prison for insulting Marie AM
toinette Indeed, the records reflect
pretty accurately the physiognomy Of
each of the three reigns
The majority Of the prisoners con-
fined by Louis XIV were feudal mobiles
who claimed as their rights privileges
infringing upon the royal prerogative.
Hundreds Of prisoners were designated
by the initials "R. p. R,"-Religion
Pretendue Reformee-the avowal and
Faith being considered by Louis XIV,
land by Nine. de Maintenon, amply suf-
ficient to draw upon the offender the
dreaded lettre-de-cachet. Want of re-
spect for the Kings authority and for
1.-THE dignity of the church were punished
by imprisonment in the Bastile. The
atmosphere of the prison in the days of
the Grand Monarqque was austerely re-
Iligious and tyrannical. With the reign
lofhappy-go lucky Louis XIV it became
| lighter, more frivolous and more pictur-
esque. Many of the prisoners sent to the
Bastile b yhin were courtiers who had
| incurred the enmity of the Kings fav-
orites or had aroused the vengeance of
his mistresses The severity of the
prison rules were relaxed in favor of
high birth or of wealth. Existence in
the Bastile was in some instances not
only comfortable, but luxurious. The
case is cited of the young Viscomte de
Saint-Julien, imprisoned on account of
some court intrigue. His rooms were
fitted up by the finest upholsterers and
The was allowed to- have his own cook
lprepare his meals. His table was served
with truffied pheasants and choice
wines. He was allowed to have his
books and musical instruments. On
Sundays he was permitted to have a
friend dine with him, but all these
privileges were suddenly withheld be-
cause the joyful young prisoner sue
Iceeded in seducing the. comedy CHAM
bermaid of the wife Of the governor of
/ the prison.
Strange to say, it was Necker, the
Finance Minister, who, during the reign
of Louis XVI obtained more lettres-de-
cachet from the King than did anyone
Ielse. 'Necker flew into a terrible rage
whenever a pamphlet appeared de-
nouncing his financial schemes or oper-
cations. If the author was discovered
he was pretty sure. to be confined in the
Bastile. M, de Castries, Minister of