JG_end

His former creditors show up... he prefers to go back to London where he joins company with others, also dissatisfied with the monarchy. But they are in a minority. With a lack of readers the "Ambigu", as always in opposition, ceases publication in 1818. This brings him to return to Paris and ask for a pension.

Contrary to legend, he does not die in a garret, but in an apartment where he lives with an English lady. His estate being in a disastrous state, his wife, childless, rejects her inheritance. A trunk full of old correspondence is taken to the Seine Prefecture, where it disappears. This would have suited many people as he was in the process of writing his "Private and anecdotal memories of the French Revolution".

One has the feeling that this was a wasted life, although full of clear thinking and reason. The man had great qualities, but also great defaults, remaining loyal to his friends and faithful to his own personal conception of the monarchy. A life so well filled and so out of the ordinary (we have to admit it) that, if it must not be forgotten, it must not overshadow the work of a great journalist.


	Jean-Gabriel PELTIER, French Journalist (1760 - 1825) - THE END

	THE KING OF HAITI'S AGENT
	Still in London Jean-Gabriel becomes the "Haiti Charge d'Affaires" from 1807 to 1816, a title more unofficial than formal. With his usual "kindness" Chateaubriand sums up his position in this way: "Ambassador representing Christophe the negro king ... Diplomatic Correspondent of the Count of Lemonade and drinking in champagne wine his fees paid in sugar". We can laugh at the titles of these newly ennobled people: Prince of Trou-Dondon, Duke of Marmelade and Baron of Syringe. We must not forget that we had our own Duke of Bouillon. These creole titles are nothing else than plantations names. The estates of the Peltier family in Saint Domingue, his knowledge of the place, the quality of his information make him the undisputed expert on the island.


			His struggle against Napoleon and the Leclerc campaign leads him to report on the events in his newspapers, so much so that the "Ambigu" is highly thought of in Haiti (in the North ruled by Christophe, in the South by Petion). Indeed Peltier does not shrink from drawing a parallel between King Henry and Napoleon. These acclaims fill king Henry, who does not perceive the ironical side, with delight. Approached by both sides it is eventually with King Christophe that Jean-Gabriel does business. Was he a better payer ? Napoléon BONAPARTE

	In the "Ambigu" Peltier will press the neutral countries to trade with Haiti during the Continental Blockade period and gets the English speaking press to publish articles favourable to Christophe. In spite of the trust of the English cabinet enjoyed by Peltier and the quality of his reports he never manages to bring his efforts to fruition, it is too early. Without any more success, he tries to negotiate with the French government a 10% indemnity payable to its former colonists. He thinks it is a fair agreement and advises the French to compensate the loss of Saint Domingue with developing its tourist industry ! Driven by the "creole" lobby Louis XVIII refuses, he intends to pursue his "dormant rights". Moultier, the minister, wants to entrust Peltier with an exploratory mission in Haiti, which he refuses. A wise decision as one of the envoys ends up in Christophe's gaols and dies murdered.
	Probably tired of his lack of success and annoyed at Peltier's sometimes equivocal writings: "My King treats me as a negro. But my negro treats me as a King" King Christophe suspends all payments in 1816.

	THE PROBLEMATICAL LATER YEARS

	As an attaché to the Swedish Embassy in London, he receives in 1816 the Polar Star Medal, a star which ends at the pawnbrokers when he becomes destitute. In 1812 his debts are such that all his personal belongings, including his library, are sold. He will be striving to clear his debts until 1823. In spite of all this, La Gardie tells us that at a dinner at Mrs. Crompton and her "good looking" cousins: "it was charming, dear Peltier was full of witticism and gaiety. He wrote in verse, made puns and recounted anecdotes. The dinner did not end until about 1 o'clock" and this was only a year after his assets had been seized ! He was in a period of "joyous distress" not too bothered about his debts, including the money he owed to his in-laws. The fall of Napoleon has him rushing back to Paris, but he cannot rely on Louis XVIII gratitude. In spite of Fontane's support, the King will not see him. He will say of the king: "Go to Paris, my children, and watch a self plucking turkey" His former creditors show up... he prefers to go back to London where he joins company with others, also dissatisfied with the monarchy. But they are in a minority. With a lack of readers the "Ambigu", as always in opposition, ceases publication in 1818. This brings him to return to Paris and ask for a pension. Contrary to legend, he does not die in a garret, but in an apartment where he lives with an English lady. His estate being in a disastrous state, his wife, childless, rejects her inheritance. A trunk full of old correspondence is taken to the Seine Prefecture, where it disappears. This would have suited many people as he was in the process of writing his "Private and anecdotal memories of the French Revolution". One has the feeling that this was a wasted life, although full of clear thinking and reason. The man had great qualities, but also great defaults, remaining loyal to his friends and faithful to his own personal conception of the monarchy. A life so well filled and so out of the ordinary (we have to admit it) that, if it must not be forgotten, it must not overshadow the work of a great journalist.


	Frontispiece of the Ambigu added on to the newspaper after the Napoleon's court case.

		Tugdual de LANGLAIS

	Translation: J.-F. CLENET