Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-03-31
DEATH OF LOUIS XVII.

IL
DEATH OF LOUIS XVII.
The fable of the existence of Louis XVII,
of France under the disguise of Rev Eleazer
Williams of Green Bay, has created, (says
the Newark Advertiser,) a general sensation.
Mr.. Hanson, the author of it, 81 ice the
story has acquired commercial value,
promises, like Mrs. Stowe, to follow up the
original narrative, with documents and
illustrations. They will come unquestion-
able to buoyant market In the mean
time, if it can be proved that the unhappy
Dauphin, died in Franch prison, in the
arms Of one of his guardians, Lasne, at
half-past two O'Clock in the afternoon, on
the ninth day of June, 1895, it would seem
to be material fact in an inquiry after
truth, Notwithstanding the testimony of
doctors, that Mr. Williams has scrofulous
marks upon bis limbs. This evidence seems
to be furnished by the work of NJ. de Beau
chesue, just published in Paris, an account
of which We find in that entertaining as we'll
as instructive journal, the Literary World.
The death of the Dauphin is thus des-
cribed by NJ. de Beauchesne, as reported to
him by Comm, one of the guardiens du
temple:
DEATH OF THE DAUPHIN.
Comm, observing the child calm, motion
less and silent, said to him, 81 hope you
are not suffering at present ?" "Oh, yes, l
am suffering, but much less; the music is
so sweet.'
There was no music either in the tower
or in the neighborhood; no noise from with
out at this moment reached the chamber
where the young martyr was dying. Comm,
surprised, asked him, 'swhere do you hear
the music?" ''From on high !" Chow long
since!" "Since you have been on your
knees Don't you hear it? Listen listen."
And the child raised his failing arm, and
opened his large eyes lighted up with costa
cy. His poor guardian, not wishing to de-
stroy this sweet and heavenly illusion, set
himself to listen also, with the pious desire
of hearing what could not be heard
After some moments of attention, the
child started again, his eyes glistened, and
he exclaimed in an inexpressible transport :;
''In the midst of all the voices I heard my
mothers" X X
'Lasne came up from below to relieve
Comm; the latter went out, his heart op-
pressed, but not more anxious than on the
evening before, for he did not expect an
immediate termination Lasne took his
seat near the bed; the Prince regarded him
for q long time with fixed and dreamy
look. When he made slight movement,
Lasne asked him how he was, and if he
wanted anything? The child said, sDo
you think that my sister has heard the mu-
sic? How hapl y it ould have made her..
Lasne was unable to answer. The eager
and penetrating look, full of anguish, of the
dying child, darted towards the window
An exclamation of happiness escaped his
lips; then looking towards his guardian,
he said 81 have one thing to tell you
Lasne approached and took his hand the
little head of the prisoner fell upon his
guardians breast, who listened to him, but
in vain. His last words had been spoken.
God had spared the young martyr the ago.
ny OF the dying rattle; God had kept for
himself the last thought of the child. Lasne
put his hand on the heart of the child; the
heart of Louis XVII had ceased to beat. 1t
was half past two o'clock in the afternoon. !"
Nj. de Beauchcsne knew Comm and Lanse,
the two last guardians of the Dauphin, and
received from them each a certificate, con-
firming his account of the Princes death.
Fac SMILES of these original papers are
In the book, which We translate: