Gaultier, John Baptist

, was born about 1685, of a noble family, at Louviers. His refusing to sign the Formulary having put a stop to his degrees in the Sorbonne, he retired to the seminary of St. Magloir, and devoted himself to the study of theology. On his return home, he was appointed subdeacon of Evreux, but opposing the bull Unigenitus, was obliged to quit that diocese, upon which de Langle, bishop of Boulogne, gladly received him into his house, and ordained him priest; from that time Gaultier was the prelate’s counsellor, proctor, grand vicar, friend, and secretary. De Langle dying in 1724, Colbert bishop of Montpellier, took Gaultier to be his librarian, as was supposed, but in fact to be his adviser, confessor, and secretary; while he was looked upon at Montpellier merely as a quiet inoffensive man, with just abilities sufficient to take down the bishop’s books and put them in order again. Colbert died in 1738, and Gaultier went the same year to Paris, where he lived as retired as at Montpellier, only visiting his native place once a year for relaxation. In the last of these journies, returning to Paris with a friend, their post-chaise was overset, and Gaultier being dangerously hurt by his fall, was carried to Gaillon as the nearest place, where he died five days after, October 30, 1755. Besides what he wrote for messrs. Langle and Colbert, he left various works on the affairs of his time, all anonymous except the largest, which has been published since his death, and is entitled

"Lettres Theologiques contre le systeme impie et

Socinien des Peres Berruyer et Hardouin,“1756, 3 vols. 12mo. This book is the most forcible, and the most esteemed of all that have been written against P. Berruyer. Among his other works are, 1.” Relation de ce qui s’est passe“durant la Maladie et la Mort de M. de Langle, Eveque de Boulogne,” 1724, 4to. 2. “The Preface to M. Colbert’s works,1739, 4to. 3. “Lettre a M. Berger de Charancy, Eveque de Montpellier,1740, 4to; it is known by the title of “Verges d’Heliodore.” 4. “Relation de la Captivite” de la Sceur Marie Desforges,“1741, 12mo. 5.” Les Jesuites convaincus d‘Obstination a perinettre l’Idolatrie dans la Chine,“1743, 12mo. 6.” Lettre | au sujet de la Bulle de N. S. P. le pape, concernant les Kits Malabares,“1745, 12mo. 7.Pope’s Essay on Man proved to be impious,“1746, 12mo. 8.” The Refutation of a Libel entitled La voix du Sage et du Peuple,“1750, 12mo. 9.” Vie de M. Soanen, Eveque de Schez,“175O, 4to and 12mo. 10.” Les Lettres Persannes convaincues d‘lmpieteV’ 1751, 12mo. II. “Hist, abreg^e du Parlement de Paris, durant les Troubles du Commencement du Regnede Louis XIV.” 1754, 12mo. 1

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Moreri. L’Avocat’s —Dict. Hist.