The lost prince: facts tending to prove the identity of Louis the Seventeenth, of France, and the Rev. Eleazar Williams, missionary among the Indians of North America

Front matter

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Preface

The public, I trust, is sensible by this time, that in this investigation there has been no attempt to impose on its credulity. If there be aught I hate, next to injustice, and against which I would stoutly contend, it is what Carlyle calls shams. The chief interest in this discussion is its intense reality. With Mr. Williams, as a clergyman, it has become a vital question of veracity ; and I would not have published one word on the subject, had I not been morally convinced of his truthfulness, since I would not, for the sake of any temporary, but worthless literary eclat^ trifle with the fortunes of a suffering brother in the ministry. He is no claimant for royal name, any more than he is an aspirant for political elevation. He stands in the position of one who asserts facts, the confirmation of which is derived, without his aid, from the most widely different sources. Even with respect to his journals and the events of his life, the use I have made of them in the argument, is as novel to him as it is to others. And for myself, I seek only to establish a historical fact, and let that fact take care of itself.

I received, this morning, a call from a gentleman, who represented himself to be a friend of M. de Beauchesne, whose curiosity, I find, is roused by the circumstances of Mr. Williams's life, though it would appear from the statements of this gentleman, M. de Beauchesne knew much of his history many years before I heard of his existence. Long before the conclusion of the reign of Louis Philippe, I learn that M. de Beauchesne had his name registered, among some thirty others, of whom it had been asserted that they were Louis XVH. This fact is of high importance, for, as M. de Beauchesne, if he did not write under the command of the French government, did bo with its knowledge, it affords evidence, that in France, the name

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of Mr. Williams was associated with the history of the Dauphin, and, therefore, renders more equivocal the conduct of the Prince de Joinville, in professing ignorance of the name of Mr. Williams. Where so much deception has been practised, it is difficult to distinguish between the innocent and the guilty, and, although the motives which animated the composition of the work of M. de Beauchesne remain yet a mystery, it will afford me great pleasure to find he is no partizan, bent on the falsification of history, but is honestly devoted to the discovery of truth. By chronicling facts which came under his knowledge, he has rendered great service. A fact, however trivial, is inestimable — even a fact concerning falsehood — and, in due time, finds its place in a chain of evidence. M. de Beauchesne is seeking to obtain from the imperial government permission to examine the cemetery of St. Marguerite, and will, I hope, succeed ; for, though the result would throw no light on the question of identity, it might aid in developing some details of the history.

I would take this opportunity of acknowledging many favors received, during this investigation, from the Hon. Hamilton Fish, the Hon. J. C. Spencer, the Provisional Bishop of New York, the Bishop of California, the Rev. Dr. Vinton, of Brooklyn, Dr. J. W. Francis, Mr. John Jay, Mr. Beach, of the Sun, the Chevalier Fagnani, Mr. Bogle, Mr. G. Genet, Mr. E. Genet, the Rev. Dr. Leacock, and the Clergy generally of New Orleans, Mr. Bradford, of that city, the Rev. Mr. Wells, of Boston, the Rev. Mr. Denroche, of Brockville, C. W., the Hon. Pliineas Attwater, and many others. But more especially would I return thanks to the Rev. Dr. Hawks, and Mr. A. Fleming, in whom I have always found firm and judicious friends. With the one, long known, long loved, and long honored, this investigation has only served as a cement of friendship, and with the other, it will be, I trust, a bond of affection, lasting as life, since I can never forget the generous spirit he has manifested throughout.

Hoboient N. X, November 22, 1853,

Chapter I. Principles

Outline of the work — Probability — Bishop Butler — Newspaper Critics — Question to be discussed — Cui bono ? 13

Chapter II. Revolution

Louis XIV. — Louis XV. — Louis XVL — Marie Antoinette — The Count de Provence — the Count D'Artois — the Letter of Death — French and American Revolutions contrasted — Ambition of the Count de Provence — Conspiracy against the Queen and her Children — the States General — Flight of the Emigi-ants — Conspiracy of the Marquis de Favras — Flight to Varennes — the Countess de Balbi — Monsieur and Robespierre — Trying situation of the King and Queen — Attempts to create Monsieur Regent — Coblentz — the Legislative Assembly — The Marseillais — 10th August — the Swiss . . .20

Chapter VI. Intrigue

The Fall of Robespierre— M. de Beauchesne— Testimony of thieves in their own favor— Intrigues of the Agents of the Regent— Laurent

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PAOB the Marqiiis de Fenouil — Gomin — Doisy — Debierne — Lifenard —

Treaty with Charette—Harmand—Lasne— Prospects of the Royalists m 1795

Chapter VII. Disappearance

Sickness of the Dauphin — Desault — No Scrofula — Bell anger— Death of Desault — Five Days at the most Critical Period left unaccounted for — Ireland — the National Guard — the Death of Somebody — Police Kecords — Escape of the Prince — Proces Verbal — Authentic Demonstration of a Physical Impossibility — Testimony of M. MuUer — Desault — Vendeean Treaty — Circumstances versus Words . . 95

Chapter VIII

FUNERAL. SOLEMNITIES AND DRIED HEART.

Got rid of— Proclamation of Louis XVIII. — ^Yearnings of France for a Father — Liberation of Madame Uoyale — Matrimony without Courtship — Suppression of the War in La Vendee — the Empire — the Royal Monomaniac — Fall of Napoleon — Cemetery of the Madeleine — Omission of respect for the memory of Louis XVII. — An Epitaph in Limbo — Cemetery of St. Marguerite — the Heart — Critics and Historians . . . • . • • • .122

CHAPTERIX.

NAUNDORFF AND RICHEMONT.

Hervagault — ^Marturin Bruneau — Percival — Early History of Naundortf — Agents in the Escape of the Dauphin — Martin — St. Didier — the Duchess D'Angouleme — Interview with the King of Prussia — Letter of Naundorff— Mystery— M. Lamprade— M. de Rochow— M. de Gaeriviere — Labreli de Fontaine — Pezold — M. Abeille — Charette — Summary — Puichenaont — Madame de Chateaubriand . . 145

Chapter X. Adoption And Education

The Old and New World — Madame de Jardin — Monsieur Louis — Skenondogh — Lake George — Rev. John Williams — Deerfield — M. de Vaudreuil — De Rouville — Death of Mrs. Williams — Eunice — Thomas Williams — Revolutionary War — Head of Lake George — Fir.st Recollections — Wigwam — the Visit — Deacon Ely — Mrs. Jewett — Urania Stebbins — Acquaintance of Ely with the Secret of Mr. Williams's birth — Miss Grosvenor — Mrs. Jenkins — Mrs. Dickenson — Mrs. Jewett — Mrs. Temple — Ely's Journal — Eleazar Williams's Journal — PLBvival — Puev. Thomas Williams — 111 health — Travelling — First visit to Montreal — Portrait — Bishop Chevreu.K — President Dwight — Mental Phenomena — Hanover — Mr. Ely's death — Mansfield 175

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pioa

Chapter XI. The Secret Corps

Missionary Tour to Canada — Prayer for the Indians — ^American Eoard — War of 1812 — Gen. Dearborn — Gov. Tompkins — Superintendent General of the Northern Indian Department — Gen. Mooers — Travelling in the Woods — Gen. Bloomfield — St. Regis taken — Council of War— End of the Campaign of 1812 218

Chapter XII. The War Journal

The Rangers — Sir Geo. Provost — Danger of Surprise — Divinity and War — Death of Col. Pike at Toronto — Commodore McDonough — Sacketts Harbor — Capture of Lieut. Smith — Gen. Hampton — Proposed Plan of Campaign — Rev. Mr. Clowes — Gen. Wilkinson — Isla Aux Noix — Stone Mill — Gen. Izard — Gen. Maoombe — Strength of British force — Battle of Plattsburg — ^Victory — Confinement from wound ... 230

Chapter XIII. The Lay Missionary

Qualifications for an Indian Missionary — Treaty of Peace — The Episcopal Church — The Rev. Dr. Butler — Dr. Hossack — First acquaintance with Dr. J. W. Francis — Bishop Hobart — Rev. Mr. Onderdonk — Rev. E. C. Stewart — St. Regis — Oneida — Conversion of Six Hundred Pagans — the Menomenies and the Winnebagoes — Honi soit qui mal y pense — Procrusteanism in accidents — Poverty — Self-sacrifice — Interview with Rev. Mr. Richards, at Montreal — Confirmation — Indian Council — Debate with Red Jacket — Proposed Removal of New York Indians — Dr. Morse — Lieut.-Gov. Woodbridge — De Witt Clinton — Monroe and Calhoun — Purchase of Land by N. Y. Indians in the West — Dissatisfaction at Oneida — Mr. Solomon Davis — Rev. Mr. Lacy — Mrs. Sigourney — Emigration to the West . . . 270

Chapter XIV. Marriage And Ordination

Indian Affairs — Project of Mr. Williams for the Regeneration of the Indians — Green Bay — Chapel in the Garrison — Marriage — Estate of Mrs. Williams — Charge of Romanism — ^Duck Creek — Ordination — Bishop Hobart's Address 295

Chapter XV. Reverses

Difficulties between the Menomenies and the New York Indians — Sanction of the Purchase by the United States Government — Gen. Cass — Hon. D. A. Ogden — Mr. Trowbridge — Butte des Morts — Oiscoss — Hell Creek — Manslaughter and Murder — Missionary Duty and Compensation — Poverty — Rev. Mr. Colton — Commission of 1830 — Gen. Cass — Bishop Onderdonk — Washington — Immorality among the Indians — Farewell Sermon — School at St. Regis — ^Lord Aylmer

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PJlOB — ^Treaty of 1836 — Schermerhom and Gillet — A Letter — Mr. Eldridge — Btev. Dr. Lothrop — Loss of Property — Affliction . . 305

Chapter XVI. Our First Interview

Adventure on Lake Champlain — Marie Antoinette — Description of Mr. WiUiams 336

chapter xvii. Putnam's magazine

Hon J. C. Spencer — Dr. Hawks — Dr. J. W. Francis — Le Ray de Chaumont — Biliaud Varennes, and Genet — De Ferriere — Letter from Mr. Williams — Hogansburg — Professor Day — Caughnawaga — Interview with the Prince de Joinville — Journal for 1841 — Mr. Ogden — Mr. Bowker — K/ecord of Interview with the Prince — Journal for 1848 — Rev. Joshua Leavitt — Question of Veracity between Mr. Willianaa and the Prince de Joinville — Putnam's Magazine . . 347

chapter XVIII. TOKENS OF personal IDENTITY

Resemblance to the Bourbons — the Chevalier Fagnani — M. Muller — French Officer — Count de Balbi — Indian Characteristics — Marks on the Body of Louis XVII. — Medical Certificates — Arithmetical Problem 387

Chapter XIX

THE PRINGE DE JOINVILLE AND M. A. DE BEAUCHESNE.

The Prince de Joinville— the " Phare de New York" and Mr. H. De Courcey — Letter of the Prince de Joinville — Examined and reexamined — Capt. Shook — Mr. Brayman — Mr. Raymond — M. Trognon — Correspondence between Mr. Williams and the Prince de Joinville — Mr. George Sumner — ^Appeal to Beauchesne — Motives of Louis Philippe . . 400

chapter XX

the battle OF the affidavits.

New Orleans — Adventures of the Wife of the Secretary of the Count D'Artois — Conversation with the Duchess D'Angouleme — Bellangei — Affidavit composed by the Rev. Mr. Marcoux — Affidavit of Mrs. Williams 424

THE PALACE AND THE PRISON.

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Chapter I. Peinoiple

My object, in the following pages, is simply to group together for historic reference, the circumstances which tend to prove that in the person of a venerable clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church, there is still living, in America, the representative of the ancient glories of the French Monarchy.

The interest which this subject has excited, and the deep conviction entertained by those who have had the best opportunity of judging of the truth of many of the facts upon which this .opinion is based, together with the inherent importance of the question, in a historic point of view, must form my apology for again appearing before the public in connexion with it.

I have hesitated as to the precise form into which I should throw this little work. At first, my design did not extend beyond a reprint, with notes, of the original articles in which a portion of the evidence is contained, together with an Appendix furnishing the testimony which has since come to light. I was inclined to pursue this course because the easiest for a person whose

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time is already fully occupied with professional duties, and also because anxious to exhibit in this way the gradual manner in which facts have been developed, as the investigation has proceeded. But, apart from the dislike of mere verbal repetition, there are many points of importance to the general understanding of the subject, and a correct estimate of the evidence, which I have either not alluded to, or but slightly touched upon, and which it is necessary to include, when throwing the matter into a permanent form. I have, therefore, determined to rewrite the whole, adopting the simplest and most natural plan, viz. to give a narrative of the main circumstances in what seem to be two lives spent in different hemispheres, and in forms of society the most widely different, but which, if there be truth in circumstantial evidence, blend harmoniously into one, conducting the same individual from the palace and the prison to the wigwam, the camp, and the church.

I shall begin by a cursory review of the events which led to the subvet'sion of the French Monarchy, towards the conclusion of the last century; of the imprisonment of the royal family ; of the tragical death of several of its members; and of the mysterious disappearance of the child whose strange after history forms, it is my belief, the principal portion of the following pages. As it is necessary to keep distinctly in view the thread of events on both sides of the Atlantic, as far as they have any bearing on the historic problem at issue, I shall next consider some of the subsequent changes in France, with especial reference to the history and movements of the members of the Bourbon family, and also give a summary account of the pretensions and life of Herr Naundorf, all of which are deserving close attention.

From Europe we shall next be carried by the necessities of the case to this country, and, after briefly tracing the romantic history of the family, in one of whose supposed members the lost Prince appears to be discovered, I will furnish from the most authentic sources all that is worthy of note, or has a bearing on the subject of our investigation, in the life of the Kev. Eleazar Williams, up

PRINCIPLES. 15

to the period of his interview with the Prince de Joinville. Here we enter on the great debateable ground, and must introduce, in substance, the matter which lias ah-eady appeared, bringing up the testimony to the time of publication.

The introduction of many of the circumstances of Mr. Williams's private life, which would otherwise have been omitted, has been forced upon me by others, and is necessary to clear away the obscurity which hangs over a chequered and sorrowful career. His journals and papers might never have seen the light but for the present discussion ; and it is with reluctance that he has permitted what was intended merely for his own eye, and which fi-om early boyhood has been kept in secrecy, to be made public. But everything which I shall produce weaves itself into the chain of "evidence, or is necessary for his vindication.

That discussion of a somewhat exciting nature has been caused by what I have already written, is not surprising; for the question at issue is likely to awaken the most different feelings, according to the natural disposition of men, their power of weighing evidence, and estimating character, the social influences by which they are affected, and the direction from which they contemplate the subject. Society is pretty equally divided between two classes of men, the generous and enthusiastic, and the cold and sceptical. The first are, perhaps, too ready to adopt, without sufficient examination, whatever appeals to their sympathies, and addresses itself to their imagination — and the other are equally prone to form hasty conclusions against everything which seems strange and marvellous. It requires time to adjust these states of mind to each other, and to attain among masses of men to the true critical temper, which I conceive to be as far from precipitate incredulity, as it is- from precipitate belief — a happy compound of what is noble in sentiment and cool in judgment, and which as little mistakes ridicule for argument, as it does feeling for proof. It was to this temper that I have sought — it is to this that I still seek to address myself; and however those who have neither understood my motives nor weighed my words, may have accused me of special pleading, or of jumping at conclusions, I can honestly say, that I have never knowingly strained a point of evidence beyond its just extent, or indicated a conclusion which facts did not seem fairly to warrant. Had the opposition I have met been merely the result of natural incredulity respecting the marvellous, the imperfection of the testimony adduced, or my own inability in handling the subject according to its merits, to v/hich no one would more wilHngly subscribe than myself, I should have had neither room nor desire to complain. But in many quarters, and from various motives, there have been attempts to put down discussion. Such attempts will never succeed in cases like this, where people have to deal with a man of ordinary firmness, convinced alike of the rectitude of his intentions and the power of his position. I have no desire, however, to perpetuate strife, and shall be silent concerning much which deserves animadversion.

Before I plunge into the stream of rapidly shifting events, let me say a few words as to the nature of the evidence which it is reasonable to expect can be produced in a case like this, granting the sui)posed identity actually to exist. This is the natural point from which any candid mind will approach the subject. He will not ask impossibilities or improbabilities, and sneer because his demands are not complied with ; but being satisfied that a position is taken by its advocate in good faith, will expect him to produce only such evidence as under given circumstances it is rational to look for ; neither will he say that evidence is no evidence, because not of one particular kind, viz. demonstrative.

There are comparatively only a few things — and those not afiecting our highest interests or appealing to our noblest faculties — which admit of demonstration. In all that is most important, morally, intellectually, historically, " probability is the very guide of life." Kot, however, such probability or improbability as Bunsen refers to in the passage placed on the title page — the mere coinage of the fancy, apart from or in defect of evidence — the familiar " it is

PRINCIPLES. lY

likel}^ or unlikely " of conversation — but probability based on tbe critical survey of varied fact and extensive data — such as Lamartine refers to when he says, " On applying after a number of years to the evidence of facts, it will always be found in the end that probability is in all things the best symptom of truth." In ascertaining a disputed historic fact, the probabilities of every kind must be reckoned in as parts of the evidence determining its value; but the conclusion finally arrived at, if investigation be rightly conducted on sufficient data, is something more than mere probability, something upon which we can rest as fact.

" Probable evidence," says Bishop Butler, " is essentially distinguished from demonstrative by this, that it admits of degrees, and of all variety of them, from the highest moral certainty to the very lowest presumption. "We cannot, indeed, say a thing is probably true upon one very slight presumption of it ; because, as there may be probabihties on both sides of a question, there may be some against it, and though there be not, yet a slight presumption does not beget that degree of conviction which is implied in saying a thing is probably true, but that the slightest possible, presumption is of the nature of a probability appears from hence, that such low presumption often repeated will amount even to moral certainty." " In questions of difficulty, or such as are thought so, where more satisfactory evidence cannot be had, or is not seen, if the result of examination be that there appears upon the whole, any the lowest presumption on one side, and none on the other, or a greater presumption on one side, though in the lowest degree greater, this determines the question even in matters of speculation." The question under consideration is one of probabilities, and I shall neither insult the understanding of the reader by denying, nor do I weaken my cause by confessing, that the probabilities prior to examination against the conclusion to which 1 arrive are very strong ; only I contend that the probabilities in its fevor are far stronger, and that to an extent which can leave little doubt to an impartial and reasoning mind of its truth, or, in other

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words, which carries moral conviction very nearly to its fullest height.

Now, granting that the supposed personal identity is actual, what kind of probable evidence is it likely can at this time and place be adduced in proof of it ? There is a great state secret affecting vitally the interests and the honor of some of the most distinguished persons in Europe, and which has done so for more than half a century. The parties interested in keeping it will, it is probable, both use every effort to suppress whatever evidence exists, and hold in their own hands all correspondence between themselves on the subject, and all communications proceeding from agents who from time to time they may have found it necessary to employ. In the absence, therefore, of original evidence of this description, the only conceivable means by which the secret can come to hght is the want of prudence in some of the parties concerned, or of fidelity in some of their agents? affording a clue or indication of its existence, and leading thoughtful minds to review carefully the whole field of the past, and gather into one focus all those tokens which an extraordinary event can scarcely fail to leave behind in its progress, and which, like foot prints and down-trodden grass and broken branches to the Indian in the forest, imperceptible or disregarded by the careless observer, conduct the diligent investigator directly and inevitably, with a precision like fate, to the very root and heart of the mystery.

I should like to have seen one of a certain class of our modern newspaper critics and philosophers with eyes that never lock beyond the police intelligence and party politics of the day, and who has grown mole-sighted in falsifying the appearance of everything to suit the passions and prejudices to which he professionally panders, standing beside a quick-witted savage on the trail, wliose only aim was to find his way by aid of the faculties which God gave him. How acute would be his sagacity of denial! How potent his sceptical profundity ! What pointed paragraphs would he enter on his note book concerning the folly which saw a signpost in a broken twig — a pathway in a bent reed, and Pillowed

REVOLUTION.

the guiding of these in preference to verbal reports which he has no discernment to see are incongruous or false. There are manyways of arriving at truth, and we live in times when History is written backward, and the wisely doubting Niebuhr of to-day is more to be trusted than the annalist who was two thousand years nearer the facts which they relate in common.

The simple historic question under discussion is, whether, a person known in this country as the. Rev. Eleazar Wilhams be the son of Louis XYL of France, who it has been asserted died in the Temple in the year 1795. The negative of this can be shown clearly in either of three ways. 1. By proving that the son of Louis XVL in question died at the time and place mentioned. 2. By proving that the Rev. Eleazar Williams is an Indian. 3. By establishing as a tact, that although the Dauphin may not have died as reported, and Eleazar Williams is not an Indian as reported— there is nothing to prove a personal identity between them, or that the evidence adduced for this purpose is not rehable. The affirmative of the question on the contrary requires me to show that there is no reliance to be placed on the accounts given of the death of the royal child— that Eleazar Wilhams is not an Indian, and that the circumstantial identifying testimony is multifarious, strong, reliable and to the point. Here is the issue, and I meet it with no purpose or design, but to argue it on its merits. The audience in the presence of which I speak is in itself a guarantee that I shall deal fairly with the subject. Besides which, belonging to a profession happily standing aloof from secular strife, and constitutionally inclined in all things to seek for truth, I have neither the art of the special X)leader nor the disposition of the sophist. If there be strengtli in my argument it is simply because facts clearly stated and logically reasoned from make it strong.

It is beyond the wit of man to coin a chain of circumstantial evidence upon a great historic question like this which will bear examination. Various attempts have been made to do so, in all quarters by those to whom I stand opposed, but I regard them all as signal failures. By some loophole or other the true state of the case will leak out. Whoever examines with candid and unprejudiced mind the facts I have to present, instead of ridiculing any lack of evidence will, I think, express surprise that Providence has preserved, and rendered available here, so much testimony bearing on a remote point of European history. To those who meet the investigation with the query, cui bono? I have only to say,. it will be very unfortunate for mankind, morally and intellectually, when they find themselves in the majority — and where there is nothing in historic truth to awaken tlie curiosity, or in great reverses to excite the sympathy, of men. To me it seems a moral lesson, not unimportant for the world's welfare, if it can be shown in so striking an instance, that wrong, however carefully concealed, can scarcely hope to escape ultimate detection even on earth — and that, though it be through chinks and crevices, truth buried, like a plant immured in darkness, will grope its way by strange avenues to the light.

Chapter II. Eeyolution

A PASSENGER, miraculously rescued from a late terrible railroad accident, describes the scene of unexpected and irremediable ruin by saying, that while the train was dashing on in apparent safet}", the car in which he was sitting, broke, without visible cause, into a thousand fragments, and disappeared, while a motley group of legs and arms and heads came flying in the air towards him. He witnessed on a small scale what Avas seen in a large one in the disastrous era of the Revolution. When all is over we can philosophize upon it, trace its causes, remote and immediate, and show how it might have bean avoided. But to the majority of its spectators it was as sudden and inexplicable, as the death crash of the flying train against the abutment of the open drawbridge. "A frightful gulf," says a French writer, " opens on a sudden beneath the feet of Louis XYI. He is irresistibly swallowed up— he, his throne, his power, and his family. The effects of the lightning are not more terrible or more swift. In an instant all has disappeared, and the affrighted spirit seeks in vain some vestige of so many grandeurs." In moments and scenes like these, all ordinary calculations are at fault, and facts can alone determine what is possible or probable, who shall rise and who shall fall, where and in what condition they shall alight. Whatever can happen, may happen, and the same apparent freaks of destiny which elevated persons from the lowest ranks of society to be generals, princes, and monarchs, may as easily cast the descendant of a hundred kings like sea weed to the remotest shores.

In reviewing the history of France from the beginning of the reign of Louis XVL to the present time, I shall not enter further into details than is necessary for the clear presentation of the evidence I have to lay before the reader. I aim at no originality either of thought or statement, but simply desire to recall, in connection and for a definite end, facts well known to every general reader.

Louis XIII. died in 1643, leaving two sons, Louis XIV. w^ho ascended the throne at the age of five years, and Philip Duke of Orleans, great-grandfather of Philip Egalite. Under the regency of Anne of Austria and the able ministry of Cardinal Mazarin, the power of the French Monarchy, and the subjection of the people of France, were carried to their greatest extent, and what was wanting was supplied under the sovereignty of Louis XIV. and the ministry of Colbert. Prerogative was at its height. But so were the glory, power, wealth and intellect of France, and in a social atmosphere, impregnated with the slavish maxims of a gorgeous superstition, and not yet disturbed, though voluptuously illuminated with the nascent brightness of an epicurean, philosophy, the gilded yoke of despotism was borne proudly by boih nobles and people.