Hotel

des in vali des, Fr. a spacious building which was erected by Louis XIV. in Paris, at the extremity of the Fauxbourgh, St. Germain, upon the river Seine, as a public monument of his charity and magnificence. All disabled, infirm, and wounded officers and soldiers were received, lodged, and subsisted, during the remainder of their lives within its walls. The established number upon the foundation was 4000, including officers and soldiers. All exceeding that number, and who were le incapable of bearing arms, were distributed among the different garrison towns upon the frontiers of the kingdom, in detached and separate companies. During the old government of France, a particular staff was appointed to superintend the duty at the In vali des , and a guard was regularly mounted every morning. Officers and soldiers, entitled to this charity, were first received in 1670. M. de Louvois, minister and secretary at war, was the first director and administrator general, and M. Dormoy was the first governor commandant. The staff consisted of one director and administrator general, one governor commandant, one lieutenant du Roi , one major, two adjutants, one garcon major , one director and super intendant of the hospital, and one inspector and comptroller general, who did the duty of commi ary at the different inspections. No person could be admitted into the royal hospital of invalids unle he had served twenty years succe ively and without interruption, or had been dangerously wounded in the service of his country. The nece ary certificates were signed by the commanding officers and majors of regiments, which were afterwards examined by the directors or inspectors. No officer was received with the rank of officer, unle he had served two years in that capacity, and had been dangerously wounded, or was otherwise rendered incapable of doing duty. The persons belonging to the Hotel des-In vali des were divided into three cla es: The first cla was composed of officers belonging to the king’s troops, to the body-guards, gens d’armes, light-horsemen, musqueteers, serjeants of companies in the horse grenadiers, after having served five years in that capacity; of serjeants of the French and Swi guards, after ten years service in that capacity; of officers attached to the constable’s jurisdiction, exempts and maréchau és, after having been ten years with the rank of officers; and of gens d’armes and light horsemen belonging to established companies; of quarter-masters from cavalry and dragoon corps, and of infantry serjeants, who bore the brevet rank of lieutenant, after having served five years in the last capacity. The second cla was composed of gens d’armes, light horsemen belonging to established companies, quarter-masters belonging to cavalry and dragoon corps, and of serjeants from the infantry, after having served ten years in that capacity; of those likewise who, having left the cavalry to enter into the body-guards, had again returned to the cavalry. Within this cla were also comprehended the gardes magasins , the captains and conductors of artillery, after thirty years service, ten of which were to be in the last mentioned capacities. All belonging to this cla wore an uniform distinguished from the dre of the soldier, and were permitted to wear a sword. They received at the commencement of every month 15 sols, or 7¹⁄₂d. English, for ordinary expences; they were lodged in a particular quarter of the building, which was allotted to their use; they had a separate room to me in; and they were fed like the common soldier, with this only exception, that each of them was allowed every morning a dem i-septier , or an English pint, of wine. Those belonging to established garrisons in forts or citadels composed companies which were called compagnies de bas-officiers , companies of non-commi ioned officers. The third cla was composed of private soldiers, heavy horsemen, and dragoons archers attached to the constable’s jurisdiction and marèchau ées, or patroles belonging to the police, masters or common workmen and artillery drivers.