Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-23
LUCK AND ILL LUCK.

LUCK AND Ill LUCK.
About the end Of the year lT49 two vehicles
were rolling rapidly close after the other the
road from Paris to Versailles. The former was the
eoehe public, which contained only one passenger,
NJ Pigsfst, man Of much merit; the other, bril-
liant cqdpage, drawn by two superb and vigorous
horccs drove towards the dwelling of power convey
ing thither Comte dc MA nobleIuan renowned
throughout Europe for his talents, his opulence and
his singular adventures. The noble coursers were
on the point OF passing, and leaving far behind them
the poor hacks ofthe public coacl,Nwhen the wheels
knocked together and the shock was So violent that
the public vehicle, IT'S coducteu its horses and It's
solitary passenger, were rolled pel-mcll into the
middle of the road NJ. Piyafct in his fall disloca-
ted his right hand. Ccmte de NJ, who was
naturally good and feeling man. made him all the
apologies possible, expressed his sincere regret
and offered him place III his carriage to finish his
Tourney. The driver was rccompensed for his mis-
adventure; and as soon as they arrived at Vcrsail-
les, the Comte sent for surgeon, who dressed NJ ri.
gaiets hand Pigafct, touched by the constant ut
tcntions of his new host, aud with the charrrn
which be seemed to feel for being the cause of
this triflng accident, thought it incumbent Oh him
to relieve his conscience and assured the Comte that
the clash of the two vehicles not to be attrbu-
ted either to the rcsveness of the horseso the mai
odresse OF the dryer-but to the pcrtinucity of his
own evil destiny, which had always placed n ditch
between him and the object at which he aimcd-u
rocA ahsad at the mouth ofcycry iarbor he tried to
enter. "My journey to Versailles WAS 10 ,esi rov
or realize great hope, said he. "Ihad Just arr-
we'd at the object, and am rolled in the ditch
ought to have expected as mucI-all is as it should
DC; and 1t really is more honor than am accustomed
to, ia noble Comte in the number of the causes
OF my thonsan-i-apd-one catastrcphes. Once "a cur
sed lap dog made me lose the object of my afTcc-
tions-a bon-mot closed the doors Of the Academy
upon me, perhaps, for overland acontemptibe insect
L may say hurled Inc from Il throne.
Cemte &c M, astonisled ut his speech looked
steadily at NJ. Pigafet he, nevertheless appeared to
speak with callnncss and sincerity His look was
Tranquil aud undsturbed; in fact, he showed no svm.
toms of being out of his mind. His host, whose
curiosity had been strongly excited, again express
cd all the interest he took in his fate sought to dis
suade HIM from drawing such sinister presares from
his late accident, and concluded by requesting to be
informed the subject OF those SURPRISING adyen-
lures, OF which he appeared to be the victim.
nj. Pigafet, as may be conectured' FROM his pre-
, amole was as much disposed to speak as the Comte
TO hear, and did not wait to be askedtwce. ''I was
born IN Paris lsaid he.) myfather, honest bu.
theorizlng man, had discovered in me some aptitude
Tor intellectual laboys, and thought he was providing
for my future welfare in setting me TO acquire ali
at once superficial information in great number of
arts and scicnces-being persuaded that an acquain-
lance with these different branches of knowledge
would qualify to choose path suited 10 nv reI
/ us and my abilities.
The progress of civilization arnonr na,ions--.thc
gradual consolidation ofsocieies III the midst Of bar
6arsIH and dsturbance-this voluntary curb which
force imposes on itself in word all the benefits of
| legislation strongly affected my mind. Iaccordnrlv
oetook myself to the study OF law, and became an
'o'cdt. had acquired some reputation at the bar
when was called on TO plead at the Chatect in a
cause OF the justice of which was perfectly convin
lced. My antagonist, man Of the name Of Bernard
| rs mere biunderer as ever existed, but who con-
trFed TO conceal his ignorance and fatuity under
iaIsc air OF modesiy--pronounced, in O starnn,crnp
! way, very bad pleading which, nevertheless vos
the production ofsone else. His voice lowered
SO much during the course OF reading, that not
word was heard at the end; and n buz of private
/ nOt I'M no liz
and even on the bench | spoke in nv turn. and
was heard with the greatest attention. but in tho
neat OF delivery, vehement gesture which made
derahged my wy, and gave me so grotesque an ap-
pearance that On universal laugh hurst from all quar-
ters, winch was augmented by the un!ucky efforts
winch | made to repair the disorder in NV Legal
head.drcss not only lost my cause but every time
tha' aPpearcu nj the rlr the same laugh awaited
me on my occupying tho tribune. ! lost nv cour-
age, and quilted career in which equivocaI rcs
ture is sufficient to compromise the rights ofthe wild
Ow and the orphan.
physical aud moral inquiries into the nature or
man bad always great attractions for me; was ae
quaIped with some branches Of natural science and
The medical system then in fashion seemed TO me
susceptible Of important aIneliorations I devoted
myscfto medicine with ardor: I compared IIippocra-
les, 0alen, AvIcenna with the moderns, and Einced
| perceived that the sublime sciencc had depenera-
ted by losing in simplicity in the hands of doctors of
the bolus and elixir. had the courage 10 corbat
infammatory diseases By water and repimcn and
which then was in the height of its popularity /
obtained numbcrlcsS enemies among apothecaries
wine merchants, and my brother physicians; but
proud OF the unexpected success which every day a
waited my exertons, boldly persued my conrse-
Being called ono day 10 consult with a physician
newly admitted, recognised in him Bernard INV old
antagonist at the bar lie aro lad become a doctor;
and differing with me rs 10 the of treating orr
patient. he declared him deal man mana ed him
according to my system. The patient however CON
hded in me, in which rs didrgt for he was speedi
y growing convalesccn when, having taken some
grapes by my direction cursed grape stoue stuck in
ms 1sop1agus md occIsIoncd such violent efforts IN
MS attempt to get rid Of it, that it induced apoplexv
and nc died suddenly, 10 the Great lev aG Marls7fl
ted about what he called tho fatal effects of nv svs
TEN. My reputation suffered, and his incrcasea-I
In The wine rooms and tic apoihccaries slIops the
clamors against me redouhicd II WINS in vain flot
proved that the unlucky grape stone alone had des
iroyed the beneGcent effects Of my CHRONOLOGY
would listen to INC. To add 10 my msfortunes Gil