The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-02-16 00:00:00

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',I'M of the witnesses herr present, he married the
daughter of a wealthy Lord. who died in the United
State*, after bearing him several children. In the
prison of the Bicetre, at Rouen, he hoaxed his fel.'
low-prisoners and the keepers, by asserting that be
had been robbed of a ring containing two valuable
diamonds, which diamonds came, he said, from a
Rsgent—Yee, Gentlemen, that was his expression,a
Regent—end that they were a present to him from
the Princess Charlotte of Brazil.
In one of these interrogatories I noted down the
following remarkable words:—
s• I look like a resent, bet I was a Coronet
In Spanish America—and before that, Captain of
Engineers, under Coronet Williams, In the United
States."

In September, 1815, he landed et St. Malo, pro.
aided with a passport, mowing to be American,
in which he was designated as Charks de Navarre,
citizen of the United States. From St. Melo he
' proceeded to Nantes, and then along the Loire to
Varesnes, in the arrondissement of Siemer. Here
the son-in-law of a Lord, a Captain of Engineers,
way more, a Coronet, to use his own espression, en-
tered as an humble pedestrian a small public-house,
'keeled on the road from Nantes to Paris. He was
dressed in a nankeen jacket, breeches of sail-cloth,
and without stockings.
Matherin Bruneau.—How can you say so? I al-
ways had stockings.
The )(pm's ATTOBISSY.—After wandering about
some time in the department of Maine and Loire,
and committing various acts of swindling on the fa-
mily of Plielipeau, the whole of which will appear
at one of the neat sittings, Brunette was appre-
heeded at St. Malo. He soon made an attempt to
escape from prison, and wrote to the Governor of
the Island of Guernsey, requesting him to inform
Ids Britannic Majesty that the son of Louis XV[.
was in confinement. This letter, signed Dauphin
Bourbon, was intercepted, end Bruneau was sent to
Rouen. In the prison.of that city he found convicts
who assisted him with their advice, and endeavoured
to procure him adherents abroad. He arrived in
January, 1816, in the meanest apparel, and a five
franc piece las all tbet the pretended Louis XVII.
'possessed in the world. He did not suffer himself to
be cast down by distress ; but soon found in the
prison an employment that perfectly suited him. Tie
:fell to work to make wooden shoes, and thus be-
trayed the secret of his birth.
• The soi-disant Charles de Navarre met with a dope.
A man, named Vignerot, came with truly comic re-
spect to visit this intriguer, kissed his band, took
him for Louis XVII. and thought himself highly Ito-
floored in being permitted to leave him several pieces
'tit gold. This money was employed by Bruneau to
hire one Larcher, a prisoner like himself, to draw up
neclemstions. This wretch was burned to death, a
victim of his own imprudence, or perhaps of a new crime
which he meditated, in setting fire to the straw of his
cell. For the rest, he wits • complete adept in the
art of imposture, end exercised the sacred functions
without any right—a false Priest was worthy of be-
ing in the pay of a false King. Total'', une of the ac-
cused, made abundance of copies of all these papers,
and thus did this living press propagate scandal and
Imposture.

Let us now come to Madame Dumont. She goes
to see the Prisoner ; he is well ciothe,i, well fed,
gingles money in his pockets, is called Monsieur.—
Neither his drunkenness nor his swearing prevents this
woman from manifesting en interest for him ; Madame
Dumont defrays his expeoces. The keeper of the
Bicetre, who has been removed, acknowledges to
have received from 1,200 to 1,500 francs of Madame
Dumont. It is certain that she spa red "nothing to increase
She number of his adherents. A sea! was found nith
the pompous inscription—Louis XVII. King of the
French. The civil list was abundantly supplied.—
Branson becomes an accomplice in the plans of Bru-
weau ; they shut themselves up to concert measures
for their execution. libois, the Keeper, was pre-
sent at these conferences, which %ere enlivened by
good cheer. The plate of peas which it is customary
to serve up at the King's table on Good Friday was
also provided for Breutiau, and Branson shared his
good fortune. It its true that it was not all pleasure
for him, as Broneau struck,him more than once, and
qe confidant's face often exhibited bloody marks
or the power of his master.
You see, said the King's Attorney, as he concluded
his statement,. what kind of a man it is that has given
himself out for so august a personage. Every
thing betrays the lowness of his mind as well as the
meanness of his origin. To see, to hear him, must
be sufficient to open the eyes of the most credulous,
end the evidence will overwhelm the impostor with
confusion.
The witnesses were called. The first swas M. Ar-
deux, formerly a Vendean officer, wearing the Cross
Of St. Louis. He deposed as follows:-
1n 1795, 1 found Broneau begging at Augry.—
Be said that he was of the fatuity of Vesting. Ma-
dame tie Turpin, a very benevolent lady, gave him
hospitality. He then assumed the name of Baron de
Vezins. For about a year he dined at the table of
his benefactress. M. de Vezins, the uncle, having
come to Angry, unmasked the young adventurer.—
lie staled that his nephew, was io London. Ma.
(lame de Turpin sent Brunette to his native vil-
lage, where he was soon recognised by the children,
who said to him, What is it you, Bruneau ?
Your fine clothes make you look like a gentleman. I
Some time afterwards Madame de Turpin had the
kindness to take Bruneau back again, but made him
dine with the servants and look after her dogs.—(A
general laugh.)
PRECIDENT.—Do you admit that you had to look
after the dogs ?
Bruneath—.Ye, indeed ; I admit nothing of the
sort.
The second witness, Rene Montauban, called Si-
mon, who, in 1795, was keeper of the chateau of
Augry, made nearly the same deposition ; but added
one very important circumstance. Having taken
Bruneau to his village by order of the Countess de
Turpin, he led him to his sister's, whom he called
by her name and kissed; she refused to keep him,
and sent him to one of his uncles, who would not
have t•im either.

PR CSIDENT.—When it was discovered that he was
not tfie Baron de Vezina, 'what was he called ?
•Witness.—Sometimes Broom, at others Gredia.