152 CHIN A. 



the corps, undertook his converfion, not through principle, but 

 the hopes of promotion on his arrival in England. Innes had dif- 

 covered him to be an impoftor, but for their joint intereft they 

 united in the deceit. Pfalmanazar formed z.Formofan alphabet ; 

 he pretended to be converted in form, was baptized by Innes by 

 the name of George^ and the credulous governor of Sluys flood 

 godfather. Innes had, by his correfpondence with the good 

 Compton^ the bifhop of London, been encouraged to bring him 

 to our capital. The prelate was made moft completely the dupe 

 of thcfc villains. Pfalmanazar had many patrons and many op- 

 ponents, but his abilities and impudence baffled all detection. 

 He undertook a hiftory of Formofa (which he pretended was 

 fubjed to Japan), a moft fabulous compofition ; yet, as the 

 Engli/h are always delighted with the marvellous, it was fo gree- 

 dily bought up as to induce him to prepare a fecond edition. 

 Innes attained his end, got preferment, and then bafely deferted 

 the caufe of his promotion. Pfalmanazar lived fome time by 

 various tricks and impoftures. At length, at the age of thirty- 

 eight, he began to feel compunftion at the infamy of his life, 

 and was ftruck with moft fincere remorfe. He became a moft 

 lively penitent, and applied his great abilities to ufeful learning. 

 He wrote his own life, which was not to be publiflied till after 

 his death. I believe it to be a true narrative, and that he con- 

 cealed nothing but his real name and the place of his birth, 

 fearing to leave reproach upon his family. The lift of his works, 

 many of which are on important fubjeds, may be found in the 

 Gentleman's Magazine^'. He lived till Augufl 1763, when he died 



* Vol. XXXV. p. 13. 



at 



