Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-11-04
THE CAREER OF CoLLET.

There are few persons in France who
have not heard of the celebrated forcat,
Collet, and even beyond the boundaries
of his naive land he is frequently point
ed at as an Individual in whose career
the romance or the emotions Of life
are broadly depicted!
Born at Belley, in the department OF
the Ain, of honorable and upright pa
rents, Colet was confided to a respecta-
Bile ecclesiastic, who made vain efforts
to inspire in his pupil taste for study.
Al length he entered the college of Fon.
tainbIeu; but his stay there was marked
by some traits Of unhappy omen for the
future. Appointed sub-lieutenant at the
eooch of 1876, he was sent to the siege
Of Brescia, in Italy. Soon disgusted
with a military life, he deserted, found
resources in some swindIing tronsac-
iioEs skillfully combined, and took re-
fuge in Rome, where he arrived some
DAYS alter the destruction of merchant
vessel, wrecked near Ciyiia Vecchia.-
ColIet learned that the whole crew per-
ished, with the exception of the captain,
a young man from Lyons, named Tolo-
SAINT, returning TO his home.
Here was an honorable name ready
found for Collet. He engraved coat
of-arms and false papers identifying the
crew, and then wandered about Rome,
visiting, as a shipwrecked philosopher,
the monuments, and showing, whenever
opportunity presented itself, the papers
and statement of the loss he had expert
enced. II was thus he conirived to gain
the benevolence of venerable priest
whom he met in the basilic Of St. Peter
This priest was intendant of the house
of Cardinal Fesch, and Lyonees, in
timately allied with the family of Tolo
SAINT. The good priest constrained Col
let to take up his residence in the very
palace Of the cardinal. He became his
cicerone, got him admitted to the heads
of the church, and obtained for him the
benediction of the Pope.
The deserter. or rather the swindler,
took advantage of these moments He
received the bankers and merchants,
who all regarded MIN as the guest oi the
cardinal, and consequently his friend.
He proposed speculations, unfolded
plans Of colossal enterprise, assembled
the most talented men for the benefit of
their advice; ond from each in particu-
lar he took loan--that is, a robbery,
which he disguised under the form of a
discount Of useless paper covered with
imaginary names. From these ne real
lied in few days sixty thousand francs,
which ne converted into gold.
The able who thus protected Coliet,
charged him with an ecclesiastical mis-
sion, and he departed from Rome in
company with three nuns and CARMEL
ite-monk Scarcely was he on his road,
when it was discovered at Rome what
sort Of a man II was in whom they had
placed confidence. Letters were sent
to the monk with orders to have the for
ger arrested; but ColIei had foreseen
all, and took from the post the letters
addressed to'the chief Of the caravan.
The secret, however, transPired, but ne
boldly faced the storm, and SO far i'm
posed on the Carmelite as TO make him
believe he was the victim of fatal mis-
take. Still, ne thought it prudent to act
for himself, and saw that the moment
bad arrived when he must bring TO his
aid all the Inspirations of his intelli-
gence. His plan was as follows: He
repaired 70 Mondovi, loaded with the
imposis he had levied on the credulous
otthe Roman States, wherehe displayed
great luxury and love Of pleasure
Sought afier by the young men of the
town, he awakened in them a desire to