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| Mont Mouchet, France, late winter 2014 |
On January 27, 1765, a
startling announcement was made: His Majesty, King Louis XV, would pay 6,000 livres (pounds) as a reward for the Beast’s hide!
This was on top of 4,000 offered earlier. Here is how the
announcement appeared in English in the London media:
“By the King and
Intendant of the province of Languedoc. Notice is given to all persons, that
His Majesty, being justly affected by the situation of his subjects, now
exposed to the ravages of the wild beast which for four months past has
infested Vivarais and Gévaudan. And being desirous to stop the progress of such
a calamity, has determined to promise a reward of six thousand livres to any
person or persons who shall kill this animal. Such as are willing to undertake
the pursuit of him may previously apply to the Sieur de la Font, sub-deputy to the Intendant of Mende, who will
give them the necessary instructions agreeably to what has been presented by
the ministry on the part of his Majesty.”*
Pourcher tells us
that this same day, a “robust” man from Marvejols, hunting “with a well-loaded
gun,” suddenly realized La Bête was seven paces from him, believed he was going
to be its next meal, and “ran away crying for help.”
*Dickens, Charles, “A
Wonderful Wild Beast.” Household Words: A
Weekly Journal, Vol. 18 (November 20, 1858): 544–547.
