Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-03-11
A MOST SINGULAR CHARACTER

we eitfaci from Mcm.Ifs Of the Life of Eo,eo, tho
following very cufials accom-, of human phenome-
np', ~" living. which has no equal 30 the records Of
pathology
Nearly at She sstue ume the Illustration. Of the
hfs Of laionyn de Mcdc. TIC I'lc memoir Of an cr.
uzoftIrsfv tsf.su appeared under tite title pf Ne
Hoi' Of Richard Roberts Jones Of Ahcfaaruu 100 the
county Of tesruhNon, ia North Wales exhibiting
remarkable instance u partial power ard cultivation
Of ihieAcci' Ihis most singular person. who Is still
living aud Who continues 90 display love Of learning
and rrirut az rfalition seldom exhibited within
The walls Of schools or universities, united with want
Of eofnnlon sense amounting almost 10 idioey, and
sqsalof and Indebtedness Of appearance Of which
common meuctfar would Pee ashamed first in
niuced 10 the of M Roscoe bon tie early part
Of the year SOC. The impression which his extraor-
dinary appearance and requirements made upon Mr
Roscoe at ibis time is described la tive following letter
70 Dt Pan. who bad unfortunately left Alleron Just
before The appearance lhere u tie Welsh scholar
Your letter found me ~ conversation with one Of
The most extraordinary beings that ever occurred to nv
notee-a poor Welsh fisherman, as ragged as a colt
ard - uucouih - any beng that has Semhlance Of
humanity. Bot beneath such an exterior is a mind
cultivated only bcyond al reasonable expectation
but te.ord all probable conception. in his fishing
boat ON the coast OF Wales aqc hitlc more than
twenty, he has scquifei TIE Greek the Hebrew. and
tho Laun language has read tho liIad, lcsiod The
ocrtu., &c. studied the rcGuemcu's of Greek pronun
eiaoh, and examined the connection Of that language
With the Hebrew. lie reads Lain with the utmost ia
.ihv, aud translates i, ether into Welsh or English
s.kcd him II lie knew Italian Yes, lie could read II
| spoke 10 him 20 French lie answered mo and we
earned on our conversation IN that language
lie ~ well disposed, modest truly rious and intel
hseni, but IN his exterior motions is certainly like no
Other creature on earth lie has Just entered the room
With wallet Of books Of all languages and on my
speaking TO him, he .alu,ed me with sor, Of cour,esy
ihsead oi bow Yet the expression OF his features
speaks his mind and, II shaved and locked he might
not appear so frghilu present He has now ieu
the country, where be he prosecuted and throw
himself upon our boucvolcnoc of which he thinks he
q vts b,, t,l,tt, H.
What shall do With him know not; bot have prom
sed him help and protection, which he shall have -
snu u ma can assist IN rendering the very e1tranr-
oinary talents with which God has been pleased to en-
dow this humble child Of indigencc useful to himself
~ others, shall have small pleasure in dong it,
u, on further experience, find him as deserving as he
seems TO he At present, shall probably take ad
vantage Of your friendship and ntrude upon YOU for
your advice respecting him. At present assure YOU
mink IT one Of The most extraordinary crcumsl.nces
That ever tell 10 my way bot FIRST Impressions are
often incorrect, aud have We, seen but little ofbim
WIZ uoube you no longer respecting him al present,
than TO request your KIND permission to mention him 10
you again, should ! find him entitled 10 your advice
END favor
This extraordinary beng Immediately taken by
hr Roscoe under hi. protection. His rags were re.
pisoed by decent clothing, and comfortable bed WAS
prepared Tor him At night 50 hite, however was he
accustomed to the us1ccs Of civilized hf that instead
Of eetiug into the bed he crept under IT, Such also
was his attachment 10 the squali habits in which he
had lived, that II was with the utmost difficulty he
could be persuaded submit 10 those abluiions ncrc.
eafy To render a near CouyerSaton with b,,n ,r,o.,
tle, or indeed safe.
Al Alerton many persons of distinguished learning
bad an opportunity of witnessing tho ertraorljnary AZ
tainmcns Of Richard Roberts, VIII, never failed Ia
leave an impression Of the singular Mowers Of hs in
telieoi upon their minds |, VS. during the visit OF
MI Cook and DR. Pdfr al Ailcron 10 the wear 1915
that the following incident related in the memoir oc-
CURED
One Of his friends happened to have A party tn din.
~, olr
enfy disuncuon, when, by the Observation-Disclosures of a
message amer dinnor, tho door opened and 10 the
equal surprise Of both the hos, and ms guests Richard
entered Tie room, bis whole dress and appcarapce be-
,ng groiesque 10 the highest degree The curiosity of
The company was excited and, after the mistake IA
~hieh MS introduction was owing hal been explained
ne Was asked several question, 30 French, which lie
gave readV and correct aHswers The conversation
VAS 'hen changed 20 Italian 10 which he ACQUITTED
himself With equal readiness. To this succeeded an
inquiry into has know ledge of LAIN and Greek IN
which languages be road and translated some rass,.
fes TO The satisfaction Of TIC persons present One OF
the party Then proceeded 10 examine him more partic.
olnly, when the following dialogue occurred
y A. YOU seem 20 have made no little proficiency
quinug language
a 1t is according to wha, The nature Of the Ian
Gusge -
% How would ,oa set about ,cogi,;,, ,,,4.,.
language
IN va. Spanish. for instance would take =, w
eahuiary Of the language and eramue VIVA, word. cor
respond "''h er resemble tie words IN any other Ian
susge WITH which was acquainted a. for instance
me Lam, French, OF Italian ana those words would
slfke oct oi Tie vocabulary. ieatoinr only such q.
were the Original words 81 the Spanish tongue an,
thea, by the assistance 81 grammar should soon b.
abe 10 attain knowledge OF that language
III the parry admluea that this was most rgf i-iou,
and excellent method and Richard Withdrew. viii. t
rr.aions Of appreciation from al present,
IL VA, on previous day, dunpg the same visit tha
Richard had an interview wfh Dr.. Parr who lr1resi
ssy plunged INTO lie darkest rccesses ofano eat learn
ing Tie fshnomenls Of the Greek language and M,
~e'ts 81 he or1ucs who had illustrated b. were eDie,
60 INTO and Gradually use conversation changed 10 a.,
Hebrew, - peculiar ooGsifurilon std anslogog,
tongue' Here hchafd hal evidently TIE Advantage
,ne' AFTER AZ attempted iaToad into TIC Chaliee. ~
doctof rather ptecpitae.y Trreatej leaving token "a
his heeFalny 10 he hands q the poor scholar Vrb
ard, beng afterwards asked what Ne t,oagtt OF ~.
isArned efson With whom he had Teen converting re
Fhsa. lie q iess isnorali taaa uloai uea'
hsn' tts ma singular and tmg,.ng snecdots, 70
sNsoel ~ hshsra u Us EasE.aif. shisk sousl *.