, was born at Hesdin, a small town in the province of Artois, in 1697.
, was born at
Hesdin, a small town in the province of Artois, in 1697.
He studied with the Jesuits, but soon relinquished that
society for the army, into which he entered as a volunteer,
but being disappointed in his views of promotion, he returned to the Jesuits. Still, however, his attachment to
the military service seems to have been predominant for
he soon left the college again, and a second time became a soldier. As an officer he acquired distinction, and
some years passed away in the bustle and dissipation of a
military life. At length, the unhappy consequence of an
amour induced him to return to France, and seek retirement among the Benedictines of St. Maur, in the monastery of St. Germain des Pres, where he continued a few
years. Study, and a monastic life, could not, however,
entirely subdue his passions. Recollection of former pleasures probably inspired a desire again to enjoy them in
the world. He took occasion, from a trifling disagreement,
to leave the monastery, to break his vows, and renounce
his habit. Having retired to Holland in 1729, he sought
resources in his talents, with success. In the monastery
at St. Germain, he had written the two first parts of his
“Memoires d'un Homme de Qualite.
” The work was soon
finished, and, when it was published, contributed no less
to his emolument than his reputation. A connexion which
he had formed at the Hague with an agreeable woman,
and which was thought to have exceeded the boundaries
of friendship, furnished a subject of pleasantry to the abbe
Lenglet, the Zoilus of his time. In his journal entitled
“Pour & Centre,
” Prevot thus obviates the censure
“This Medoro,
” says he, speaking of himself, “so favoured by the fair, is a man of thirty-seven or thirty-eight
years, who bears in his countenance and in his humour the
traces of his former chagrin who passes whole weeks
without going out of his closet, and who every day employs seven or eight hours in study; who seldom seeks occasions for enjoyment, who even rejects those that are
offered, and prefers an hour’s conversation with a sensible
friend, to all those amusements which are called pleasures
of the world, and agreeable recreation. He is, indeed,
civil, in consequence of a good education, but little addicted to gallantry of a mild but melancholy temper; in
fine, sober, and regular in his conduct.
”