A LITERARY IMPOSTER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 150, 26 June 1915, Page 16

A LITERARY IMPOSTER.

That collector of strange facts, the " Office Window," writer of the Daily Chronicle, dug up the following bit of history on 4th May : One hundred and fifty-two years ago to-day died the most famous literary impostor in history. George Psalmanazar appeared successively in the guiso of Frenchman, Irishman, a Japanese con* vert to Christianity, then an unconverted Jap living on raw flesh, roots and herbs, and finally, as a Formopan, until he acknowledged his many deceptions. He was a clover man, with a remarkable aptitude for la-nguages, and was the concocter of an imaginary religion, which he produced as tho religion of the Formosans. He deceived the Archbishops and the Bishops of England, as well as the Fellows of Iho Koyal Society. When his forgeries and impostures were discovered he earned his living as a hack writer, and assisted in compiling the "Universal History," to which ho contributed several important items. During the latter years of his life ho was the friend of Dr. Johnson. He died on 3rd May, 1763, at the ago of 84, in Iron monger- row, St. Luke's.