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No. 119.

LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS.

Fontainebleau, August 23d, 1681.

I have received your letter of the 13th of this month, which requires no answer, except to say that I have given orders for a French clerk to be sent, to have the direction of the Post-office at Pignerol; by means of whom we shall be assured that no further abuses can be committed with regard to the letters.

DE LOUVOIS.*

No. 120.

LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS.

Fontainebleau, Sept. 20th, 1681.

This word is only for the purpose of acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 16th of last month. The King will not disapprove of

*From the Archives of France.

your visiting, from time to time, the last prisoner who has been placed in your charge, after he shall have been established in his new prison, and shall have left that where he is at present confined. His Majesty desires that you will execute the order he has sent you for your establishment at Exiles. I beg you to deliver the packet hereunto joined into M. de Richemont's own hands.

DE LOUVOIS.*

No. 121.

SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS.

Exiles, Dec. 4th, 1681.

As there is always one of my two prisoners ill, they give me as much occupation as I have ever had with any of those I have hitherto guarded.

Although, Sir, you have the kindness to give me permission to go, from time to time, to Casale,

*From the Archives of France. To the name of Richemont is appended in the original the following note, in the hand-writing of Saint-Mars; "This name means M. de Catinat, whom I had then shut up with me at Pignerol.”

I dare not do it, lest during my absence, you should address any packets to me for M. de Pia

nesse.

DE SAINT-MARS.*

No. 122.

SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS.

Description of the Apartment and manner of Confinement of the Prisoners at Exiles.

SIR,

Exiles, March 11th, 1682.

I have received the letter which you were pleased to do me the honour to write to me on the 27th of last month, in which you acquaint me, Sir, that it is important my two prisoners should have no communication with any one. Since the first time that you, Sir, gave me this order, I have guarded these two prisoners, who are under my care, as severely and exactly as I formerly did Messieurs Fouquet and Lauzun, who could not

* Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).

boast that they had either sent or received any news, while they were in confinement. These prisoners can hear the people speak as they pass along the road which is at the bottom of the tower; but they, if they wished it, could not make themselves heard; they can see the persons on the hill which is before their windows, but cannot themselves be seen on account of the bars

which are placed across their room. There are two sentinels of my company always night and day, on each side of the tower, at a reasonable distance, who can see the window of the prisoners obliquely. They are ordered to take care that no one speaks to them, and that they do not cry out from their windows; and to make the passengers walk on, if they wish to stop in the path, or on the side of the hill. My own room being joined to the tower, and having no other look-out except towards this path, I hear and see every thing, even my two sentinels, who are by this means always kept alert.

As for the inside of the tower, I have divided it in such a manner, that the priest who says mass to them cannot see them, on account of a curtain I have made, which covers their double doors.

The servants, who bring their food, put whatever is necessary for the prisoners upon a table on the outside, and my lieutenant takes it and carries it in to them. No one speaks to them except myself, my officer, M. Vigneron (the confessor), and a physician from Fragelas, which is six leagues from hence, who only sees them in my presence. With regard to their linen and other necessaries, I take the same precautions which I did with my former prisoners.

I am, &c.

DE SAINT-MARS.*

No. 123.

SAINT-MARS TO LOUVOIS.

Exiles, Dec. 23d, 1685.

My prisoners are still ill and in a course of medicine; they are, however, perfectly tranquil.

DE SAINT-MARS.+

* Extracted from the work of M. Roux (Fazillac). + Ibid.

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