The Mémoires de Trévoux, as the organ of the Company of Jesus, aimed at “providing the public with a faithful inventory of all noteworthy scientific publications of the day”. It also set out to combat the “philosophy” of that century. The two stances made choice necessary and the reviews reflect such choices. The Journal, which existed from 1701 until the Jesuits were expelled from France in 1762, contains 6758 reviews and references to books.These correspond to approximately one quarter of all requests for “public or tacit” printing authorisation, meaning that the reviews contained in the Mémoires de Trévoux can be studied as a sort of ideal library available to the public. In many respects it is obvious that the Jesuits wanted to present a faithful picture of their day. Firstly, reviews concern newly published works. Secondly, the subjects of History and “sciences et arts” are treated in proportion to their importance in general book production. Finally and most importantly, book publication and book review activities point to the increased appeal of books dealing with “sciences et arts” and a sharp fall in the number of books on theology, a sure indication that the Mémoires de Trévoux reflect “well-informed” public opinion. The subjects most frequently reviewed in the category of “sciences et arts” are scientific, with mathematics and physics coming foremost. Physics, it is expected, will contribute to man’s spiritual guidance by “satisfying the soul and the imagination with descriptions of visible phenomena and the invisible causes and motives that produce the spectacle of nature.” The entire period is marked by the confrontation of Cartesian and Newtonian physics. In theory, the Company of Jesus remains faithful to the teachings of Aristotle in schools, while in reality it has rallied Cartesianism and is increasingly receptive to the philosophy of Newton which has begun to reach the continent and to penetrate wellinformed circles.