The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1816-05-01
S-S-SS
SINGULAR CHARACTER.

In poiume third Of Memoirs " tbe Duke 0
SuAy, under me d0le Of me year 1908, 'S
The joLiorOing character, Gas grpen BY fhe
Dnke) of Serpin, the celebrated French
Comedian
The beginning Of June set out for Calais,
where l was to embark, having with me
relinue of upwards OF 200 gentlemen, or who
called themselves such OF whom considera'
BILE number were Of the first distinction
Just before my departure, old Servin came
and presented his son TO me, and begged l
would make him man of some worth and
honesty Int he confessed i, was what he
dare not hope--no, through any want OF an-
derstanding or capacity in the young man,
but from his inclination TO all kinds oil vice.
The old man was in the right.
What he told me having excited my curi-
osity 10 gain thorough knowledge OF The
young Servip ;--------I found him 10
be both a wonder and a monster--ior gave
no other idea OF that assemblage oil the most
excellent and pernicious qualities--Let the
reader represent to himself man OF geoios
SO lively, and an understanding SO extensive,
as to render him scarce iguoran, OF any hing
that could be known of so vast and ready
compr ehcnsion, that he Immediately made
himself master Of what no attempted, and Of
so prodigious q memory that he never forgot
what he had once learned HE possessed
all the parts Of philosophy, and the mHth'
ematicks, particularly fortifcation and d'aw.
ing Even IN theology he was on excellent
preacher whenever he had mind to exert
that talents and an able dis?utant tor and
against the reformed religion indifereatly'
He not only undc rstands Greek, Hebrew,
and all the languages which we call leaned,
but also all the different jargons or modern
dialects he accented and pronounced them
SO naturally, and so perfectly initiated the
gestures and manners both of the several IA
tions Of Europe and particular provinces in
France, that he nigh, have been taken Tor
native Of all or many Of these countries"-and
this quality he applied 10 counterfeit all sorIs
of persons, wherein he succeeded wonde' fully
He was, moreover, the best Comedian aud
greatest dfon that perhaps ever appeared /;
be had q genius for poetry, and wrote many
verses he played upon almost all instru.
ments, and was perfect master OF music, aud
sung most agreeably and justly he likewise
could say mass, for he was Of disposition to
do as well as to know al! things,
His body was perfectly well suited TO bis
miod no was light pimoie, dexterous, aud
fit for all exercises. He could ride well, and
in dancing, wrestling, and leaping, he was
admired there are not any recrcaIive games
that he did not know and he was skilled IN
almost all mechanic arts. But nav the re-
verse Of the medal here it appeared that he
was treacherous, cruel, eowardly, deeeitiul, a
liar, q cheat, drunkard, snd a gluttoo, a
sharper in play, immersed in every species
| Of vice, q blasphemer, an atheist, in word,
in him might be found all the vices contrary
TO nature, honor, religion and society; the
truth Of which no himself evineed with his
last breath, for he died In the flower of his
age, in a common bro,hei, perfectly eorrup-
ted BY hi. debsucherics, and expired with
glass in his hand, eursing md denying God !!