The good Prelate does all he can, to bring back his[42]stray’d Sheep; but it seems as if most of the Parisians know not what they would be at; and indeed the greatest Number dispute about Matters, which they don’t understand. I find the Talk of all Paris engross’d by two grand Subjects; I mean grand for the Parisians, and, if I may venture to say it, for the French in general: For, to be plain, ’tis owing to the Want of something else to talk of during a long Peace, that they busy themselves very seriously about Things, which at other Times they would think unworthy of their Attention. The one is the Affair of Father Girard and la Cadiere; the other, the pretended Miracles of the Abbé Paris. There is nothing so base, with which Knavery and a furious Zeal can inspire a Party, but what has been said and written on these Subjects. The Enemies of the Jesuits have[43]invented, that

Father John Baptist Girard, a Native of Dole in Franche Comté, debauch’d one la Cadiere, who came to him for Confession; they prevail’d on the young Woman to accuse him of Crimes, the very Idea of which is shocking, and which the most resolute Villain would not dare perhaps to be guilty of, much less Father Girard; who, till accus’d of this Wickedness, had always pass’d for an honest Man, whose Conduct and Morals had been edifying in Places where he had been, and particularly at Toulon, where nevertheless he is said to have committed the most horrid Enormities. But la Cadiere has recanted; and the Parlement of Aix, before whom the Cause was pleaded, has declar’d Father Girard innocent. Yet the Jansenists exclaim, and wish that the King would cause the Members of that Parlement to be hang’d up, because they could not in Conscience bring in Father Girard guilty.

The following Epigram is lately publish’d upon that Parlement:

Pour avoir immolé le Fils du Tout-Puissant
Pilate moins que vous nous parut detestable;
Il ne reçût point d’or pour punir l’Innocent,
Mais vous en recevez pour sauver le coupable.

i. e.

Pilate, tho’ he sacrific’d the Son of the Almighty, is even less detestable in our Eyes than you; for he receiv’d no Gold to punish the Innocent, but you take it to save the Guilty.

Or thus:

Of Judges that in Judgment sit,
Whether incurs most Banns,
He that for Gold doth Vice acquit,
Or Virtue gratis damns?

Pilate, who sacrific’d the Son
Of the Almighty Lord,
Because no Golden Bribe he won,
Is less than you abhorr’d.