New-York tribune., 1882-02-19
STUDIES IN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
By CHARLES T. CONGDoN.
GEORGE PSALMANAZAR.

A pretty DuOh lutsht pc Nlitt'h HDV"' AA'NA"'J
impostors. in which George Psamauazar would
hold a distinguished place. for the story OF his
wrou gdoing and repentance is remarkably interest
ing ] cannot begin as usual with the statement oil
the time and place OF my subjects nativity. 10
this day nobody knows where or when George
Psalmanazar was born. Not even his reai name
has been discovered. Toward the close of his life
he began an autobiography. of which the title is,
ENemoirs of Commonly known by the name
of George Psalmanazar; Reputed Native OF For
mosa Written Dy Himself, in order to he published
after his death London 1868" This was printed
three years after his death. His editor thinks that
he was native of France, because he spoke the
French Language so well. As piece OF circum-
stantia evidence ii was noticed that his prouunca-
ton had spice of the GascOn accent. There have
been dissenters from the French theory, but the
matter is OF no consequence.
Psalmanazar begins his little book in a highly
pcnitential way, and declares that his former liie
has been vile and abomnable and blended with
q mixture of the most unaccountable pride foHy
and stupid yillany." But he asks to be excused
from giving an account either of his real country OF
family The reason which he assigns is that the
story of his mpos' might wound the feelings o1
surviving relatives; but fancy that with all his
piety he was little iond of mvstifcation to the
last He was born and educated ia Europe, ana
never travelled out of IL. He was tralned-So
much he tells us-in q free school taught by TWO
Franciscan monks. and aiterward IN college OF
Jesuts in an archepiscopal city. He says himself
that he displayed an uncommon genius Tor IAN
guages and when the school was visited he was
often singled out for exhibition as the Hover OF
the flock" All names of places are studlously
omitted bni Psalmanazar was soon studying with
the Domincans in n pOpulous place" From TINS
point he dates " the completion of his ruin" for he
minded lii tie else but his own pleasures Whether
through slip of he pen. or in a moment OF unusual
frankness he informs that he went to Avignon'
where he became the tutor of rich young gentle
man. Aferward he became the preceptor of an
oyergrown youth" who much older and taller
than himself Master and pupl spent their time
not in studying the classics, but in playing the
violin aud fute. The mother OF this pupil Tell ID
love with him, but as he did not reciprOcale her
passion he was dismissed. Being in great straits,
he pretended TO be q sufferer for the cause of the
Roman religion. He even took out certificate as
student of theology of IrsE extraction. having
left ireland for the sake Of his faith and being on
pilgrimage to Rome. He vet wanted pilgrims
gsrb. but not in a condition to purchase one
though it consisted onlv of long statf handsomely
turned and short leathern or oil cloth cloak. not
unlike what the women call pelerlne. But
youna George was shrewd and full of expedients
He observed that in a chapel some wandering pll-
6'"''N''N'N
cloak ani staff. Both these George proceeded to
steal and with the cloak over his shoulders and
walking with sanctifed gravity with the stan IN
his hand he got ont of the city, On he went. beg
gng his way in fluent Latin. Some gave HIM food
and some money. With the latter he regaled him
self in the tayerns.
1t was about this time that Psamanazar began TO
mediate the impoStnre which he afteTward carried
out in England. He was tired Of begging as a sol
der, a poor preceptor or mere vagrant HIS Old
tutors the Jesuits. had talked 10 hIm OF the East
Indies, China aud Japan. He had Cut little accu-
rate knowledge of these countries. but his was
pregnant invention. He began TO create ;he For
mosan people, manners. customs and language. For
the latter he used some of the figures and powers of
the Greek and Hebrew alphabcts. He invented
not only new language with regular grammar
but a new division Of the year into twenty months
and new religion. He practised writing his new
alphabet until he could use 1t with readiness lie
then resumed his old pilgrims habit and his Vaga-
bond wanderngs. lie still very young: and he
seems to have possessed something of the versatile
cleyerness of Chatterton. We find him visiting all
the principal cities both sides of the Rhine on
his way TO Cologne. Once at Landau he was sus-
pected of being a spy. and ANONYMOUSLY marched
ont of the city. Reaching Sluls. he became ac-
ouanted with Dr. James chaplain TO a Scotch regi-
ment garrsoned there He was already travelling
as Japanese, and he kindly permitted the Doctor
to convert him to Christianity. On he went
through Germany Brabant and Flanders in his
new character of japanese converted TO Chris
tiantv by some Jesuit missionaries. lie was so
shabby still in his appearance that when he applied
for shelter at the hospitals for pilgrims they
@herded lin among the meanest." Soon he was
covered with rags and vermin, while he contracted
q nameless cutaneous disorder At Liege he entered
the Dutch service as he thought, but the pre-
tended officer who merely enlisted men TO sell them
again, kept him as servant and took nm TO a
codee.house which he carried on at ix-laChlpelle.
After running away from this service. and again
serving as a soldier and after encounterlng varlouS
adventures too many to be here Tecounted, we
find George at SluyS, where was Brgadler Lander,
colonel of a regiment. who made much Of this mys-
terous and erudite young soldier. He was also
taken up by the Rev. Mr.. Iunes. who was or pre-
tended to be taken in by the FormoSan fable.
Inncs had conceived project OF carrying over this
wonderful FormOsan convert to London, to be pre-
sented to the Bishop Of Lon'lon, who had passion
1or curosties of that kind. In long letter to the
prelate he told Psananazar's story. As preliml-
nary the pseudo Fomosan was baptized" an
abOmnable piece of irrelglon," as he SAID alter
ward Inncs in Georges opinion, fully compre-
lended the cheat, but determined TO 90 on with 1t
for lbs own advantage. The name given the adyen-
turer at baptism George Lander. AT last a
letter from the Bishop of London arrived. The poor
,relate was entirely deceived. The missvc was
full Of Communications to Mr. lnnes for his zeal, and
he was requested TO come 10 England and
bring h., wonderful conver' with him. George
was discharged from the service and this precious
pair started for England. AT Rotterdam they
called upon the celebrated Blsnage and other
learned gentlemen, who cross-eXamIned the neo-
phyte. aud. rs he admits. suspected the cheat.
About tins time Psalmanazar tell upon the expert
,,o,n, nf livinr nnnn raw flesh. roots and herbs.