Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-15

Leopold Redpath, ESQ, whose enormous
frauds on the Great Northern Railway Com
psny have given bis name in the English jonr-
Gals as "bsd an eminencen as that OF the most
accomplished swindler of the day in the trans
sction Of every day life, was the very beau
ideal Of the modern fast man.
He was a constant guest Of fashionable par
ties, and great favorite there.
Boarded at the most fashionable hotel when
in Paris. Bill often amounting to 2l00 per.
week Paid punetually. ES
Managed to get presented at Court, often,
and generally contrived to be the most gor-
geously dressed man in the company.
Had the assurance once to compete with the
Emperor Napoleon for an antique model Of
'"I.eda and the Swan, all solid silver. The
Emperor could afford to offer only 9700 for it.
Our hero bid ESQ higher. and got it.
Wssan habitue of the Italian Opera, and the
Hsymsrket Theatre, always contriviog to get
into the most conspicuous box.
Was fond Of making presents to actors and
actresses. Just previous to his arrest he had
given check for ESQ to one of the knights Of
the buskn, to whom he bad taken fancy.
Redpath affected the charitable. On one
occasion gave widow e25 to help get her
children into St. AIMS Asylum.
Contributed not unfrequently from ESQ to
2l00 for the benefit of the various benevolent
institutions.
Was great on public dinners. Went to the
banque: to the Duke of Cambridge. on bis re-
turn from the Crimea. Sent in fl00 TO help
defrsyiBg the expenses. Dinner over, our hero
sent up to the Chairman another BOO
From a citizen who admires the character
of his Royal HighnesS the Duke of Cambridge,
and who wishes TO congratulate his Royal
Highness Oh bis return from the Crimea."
Was religious Went often to church. Put
bank bills or gold on the plate.
On sundry occasions distributed tracts, and
served as q vestryman.
Was one of the Governors of Christ Hos
pital. @ ...
In short, there would seem to be no end to
the amisble qualities of this worthy Christian
gentleman, assumed for the occasions, and in
running over the list, one cannot but regret
that the hard cash, which enabled him to play
at one and the same time, the fashionable man,
the religious man, the philanthrOpist, and the
humanitarian, belonged not to himself, but to
other people. Among his creditors were an
indefinite number of pianoforte manufacturers,
musical instrument makers, and dealers in ar
tcles of bJOuterie and vertu.
Redpath, we have said, lived fast. But O
year before his rascality enabled him to reach
the top wave of fashion and fame, he occupied
lodgings in some out of the way street, and
his finances at that time were Of such limited
character that, in order to meet their ordinary
expenses, bis wife was obliged to accept the
post of nurse to an invalid lady in the neigh
borhood.
Redpath, though old in sin, is comparatively
young in years. And, as his designations were
not of kind prejudicisl to his constitution,
there is a probability that he will live on ia
conscious igLominy through the long and drea.
~ years to which his sentence extends. Ban
ished from home and friends, Botany Bay will
afford him ample opportunity to reflect upon
and realize the saying of the wisest of men,
that Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
and hsppy it will be for him if that reflection
will work such change of heart and mind as
will enable him, at last, likewise to realize that
repentance and righteousness delivereth from
death"
The world is full of fast men, and we have
written this chapter for their admonition.-
Redpaths walk the streets every dsy-only
they are not yet found out. In New York,
nav, in all great cities, as in London and Paris
they live at the most aristOorstiO hotels, -four
ish in the most fashionable S0irees-here, q:
there, passing current as the sincerest of Christ
isns, the most liberal of phianthrOpists, and
the most honest and unsel6sh of men. The
biographies of all such "fast men" are to 6S
written-nOt now-but at some future day, By
the same gentlemen that are now busy witt
the biography Of Redpath and his associates
the police reporters for the daily newspapers
IN. Y. Express.