CHAPTER V.

EARLY POLICE: FRANCE.

Origin of Police--Definitions--First Police in France--Charles V.--Louis XIV.--The Lieutenant-General of Police: His Functions and Powers--La Reynie: His Energetic Measures against Crime: As a Censor of the Press: His Steps to Check Gambling and Cheating at Games of Chance--La Reynie's Successors: the D'Argensons, Hérault, D'Ombréval, Berryer--The Famous de Sartines--Two Instances of his Omniscience--Lenoir and Espionage--De Crosne, the last and most feeble Lieutenant-General of Police--The Story of the Bookseller Blaziot--Police under the Directory and the Empire--Fouché: His Beginnings and First Chances: A Born Police Officer: His Rise and Fall--General Savary: His Character: How he organised his Service of Spies: His humiliating Failure in the Conspiracy of General Malet--Fouché's return to Power: Some Views of his Character.....191