Le Journal de Paris de juillet 1624

Payment being taken

Ban on sale of offices?

Cardinal Richelieu has proposed to His Majesty's council that the appointment of office holders on payment of an appropriate fee be banned. The Cardinal claims that this will allow more competent office holders to be found and appointed but has not explained how the massive hole in the state finances this would be filled. In addition it is not clear not this would affect the regiments and their officers. The Cardinal has also been unable to explain how these more competent people would be found if they are unable to prove their suitability by the ability to locate and provide considerable funds to the state treasury. The measures are part of a broader set of reforms which have yet to be approved by the council.

Disappearance of Mlle. Transformée

Investigations have begun into the disappearance of Mlle. Transformée from the Bastille prison. She had been detained last year by the previous regime of M. Sillery, but had not been released by Cardinal Richelieu. She had recently been seen by her brother, Fourier Transformée, on his return from the his duties at the frontier in the support of recent assaults on Mariambourg and Phillipeville. Fourier has denied any involvement, citing, as an alibi, his visit to Victoria Gainsbourg. This alibi can be corroborated by Jean Huile who caught Fourier Transformée on the doorstep of Victoria's home and hence has cause to challenge Fourier to a duel¹.

"The consequence of not shifting the leg"

Marius Thibodeaux/Cochon de Lait duel spectacular

The early morning of the 22^nd of juillet, the appointed day for the duel between Marius Thibodeaux and Cochon de Lait, proved to be a dank and rainy morning. Despite this, Cochon de Lait was the first to the site (again the gardens of the Palais Royale) having arranged an early morning call from his regiment and an escort. Marius Thibodeaux arrived shortly afterwards and after the formal rejection of any withdrawal of either insult or challenge the two men prepared to fight. Both men were clearly determined to score on their opponent with Marius perhaps measuring his opoonent's skill to gauge his own attack. However when signal for the start of the duel was given, it appears that Cochon de Lait was unprepared for the immediate attack from Marius whose rapier lunge immediately went under Cochon de Lait's Cutlass blade and deep into the side of Cochon de Lait. With Cochon de Lait immediately offering his surrender and its acceptance honour was satisfied. Flora Pernet rushed to the side of Cochon de Lait to aide the local surgeon.²

de Gonde's Hunting Lodge affected by fire

The hunting grounds near the midsummer ball held last month have suffered from a small forest fire in the early hours of the 29^th of juillet. Luckily the heavy rain that day doused the incipient disaster and prevented the spread of the fire to the new hunting lodge of de Gonde. Witnesses claim the fire started shortly after the full moon has set while other suggest that a barbecue in the forest may have gotten out of trouble after the discovery of the remains of a small pig carcass in the ashes.

Unlucky Marius Thibodeaux

Despite discovering that Mlle. Émilie Beaufils fondness for the dishes and wines served at Lapérouse, he also discovered her allergic reaction to the day's fresh fish dish, freshly caught at Vigneux-sur-Seine. With the meal ruined, Marius was forced to escort Émilie back to her home and then had to travel alone back to his own home.

Le Perche du Coudray Updates

Le Perche du Coudray, the famous fencing master, offers his congratulations to Aline Yar, who has now completed a course of Coudray's rapier training and whose Rapier Expertise is now rated at 9.

Regimental News

Queen's Own Carabiniers

Albert Kestrel is promoted to Subaltern for his excellent military organisational skills.

Royal Marines

We welcome that hero of the Kingdom, Fourier Transformée, to D company as a private.

13^th Fusiliers

We note the late arrival of Captain Delors to lead A troop. His explanation that he was assisting the frontier regiment and the presentation of his mention in dispatch has gone some way to provide amelioration for his tardiness (the error in the janvier 1624 issue of Le Journal has also been noted!). Captain Delors' appearance before the board of inquiry is now scheduled for novembre.