The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-21
fHE ELEizER WILLIAMS HUIBUG.

fHE ELElZER WILLIAMS HU1BUG.
TAe Half-breed Bourbon and the Sen oR Loui
XvI-Caastac Exposition Of the Deception
~ Dassanxuishes Western StatesnAan-In
seresting Historical Details.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
SIE-I should be surprised at the excitement
which has prevailed the subject of the attempt 20
establish the identity Of the Rev. Eleazer Williams,
halfbreed OF the hoquos tribe Of Indians WIN the
hst Dauphin of France son Of Louis XVI, were ho'
history filed with similar efforts, and with accounts
e the Temporary success which attended them. 1t is
curious chapter in human nature, this pre-disposi
I'm 70 string together a few facts; with or without
sny necessary connection, and thence to draw the
boldest conclusions converting unknown individuals
into important historical personages.
There is prurency in the public appetite which
gives powerful relish to these Investigations and
which is prone to sacrifice the established principles
Of evidence to the wonder of the hour.
Ihsve known Mr.. Williams for almost thrty years.
and undeDvarious circumstances Of official and per
sonA intercourse. have known him as an Indian
Aafbreed of the st. Regis band, tolerably educated,
speaking and writing English weu-a worthy man,
have heretofore considered him, and clergyman
q the Episcopal Church. And it is not among the
hAst extraordinary Of the circumstances attending
this extraordinary pretension, that he is said to
bear decided resemblance to the Bourbons, and has
no appearance of being an Indian.
Now, sir, it appears to me- that no man acquainted
with our aboriginal race and who has seen Mr.. VIII
kams, can for moment doubt his descent from that
stock unless indeed, he has strangely changed since
IAw him, which is some few years since While
denying his Indian connection, the writer Of the
tcle devoted to his claims in Pptnam's Magazine
says: "Some persons who saw him several years ago
Del me that their impression is that he looked par
tally like onen Gan Indian.) Well may this be
sid for his color his features and the conformation
Of his face, testify to his origin. They present the
very appearance which everywhere marks the half
breed Indian. have seen persons partaking Of the
Bourbon blood, and I endeavor in vain to recall
any decisive traits Of resemblance between them and
Mr.. Williams.
do not design entering into minute analysis OF
The recent article which asserts his claims to be the
representative Of that ancient family; but circum
stances have given me some knowledge of the sub
ject, propose, through your columns, to present
few considerations showing that this attempt, where
i 10 not sheer mistake is a sheer imposition; but
exonerate from the latter charge the very respecta
Aance to an idle tale.
The life Of the Dauphin after the execution Of his
Ather, is perfectly well known, and his death is .
net well established any incident of that kind
can be. All the received French historians who treat
upon that period Of the Revolution speak Of his death
- An incontestable fact II I am not in err
yog, there was . process verbdt-a kind Of
French legal narrative-which recorded the circum-
sGances Of his illness and of his decease. He was
attended towards the close Of his life, by Dessault
physician Of the highest personal and professional
character and who could neither be guilty Of impos
on, suffer it in relation to the true condition OF
his interesting patient. Now, what evidence is
brought forward to establish the fasehood Of the
temporary account, and the disappearance Of the
Dauphin from Paris, and his temperance among
she st. Regis Indansl Is single important incl
dent reasonably proved which would satisfy jury
IN any court in Christendom? Are the circumstances
n the escape and Of the journey the names and posi-
6on Of the persons engaged in the enterprise and
Mo motives that led to such distant and useless
Dclusion instead of conveying the heir of long line
Of kings the French frontier to join his rea-
tves, who would have received him with open hearts
.nd arms3 Are any Of these circumstances spread
before the reader TO justify his rejection OF the hsto
neal evidence Of the death Of that unfortunate boy
and his belief in this improbable not to say impos
Eble, story Nothing like it, as shall attempt to
show by and by. At present will examine briefly
Mr.Wiliams' account of his interview with the Prince
de Joinville which is put prominently forward the
romantic incident of this great cisatlantc historical
romance. The writer of the narrative first refers to
his conversation with Mr.. Williams, during which,
Tor aught that appears, nothing was said OF diary.
That seems to have been an afterhought for at the
first int Wiama ned
stating all that passed between the Prince de Join
vile and HIMSELF Then he did not want crown"
But his reserve decreased and his story increased,
till his fortunes assumed their present magni-
hcent proportions We have now extracts
from q diurnal record which Mr.. Williams after
wards said he had kept for many years. 1t may
SAVIOR Of unreasonable incredulity to some, but
l have no belief that such diary as that which
parpors to recountthe interview between the French
prince and the French pretender was ever kept by
Williams. see no reason for it. His usually une-
such daily recurring labor. The even tenor of his
days passed peaceably and quietly in remote secu.
sion, and neither were his habits of thought his
powers of intellect Of nature to stimulate him to
such exertion to render it Il the least value by
supplying by internal reflection the paucty Of exter
nal circumstances he did record his daily thoughts
and words, the work must have been queer speci-
men Of autobiography. But | recommend to the
curious searcher after interesting manuscripts to be-
ware that he does not add another to the long list Of
victims of their credulty. Strange, indeed that
such contemporaneous record, which contained not
only account of his life and conversation, but is
stated an abstract OF his letters should be kept by
man who is said in this very narrative to have been
% unaccountably careless that he has lost all the
important documents from king, president, a
cardinal and bishops, which found their way to re-
mote individual at Green Bay-but how, or why, or
when as we are not told it idle TO conjecture.
What is the purport OF this account Of the interview
between these persons? That the Prince de Join
vile had sought Mr. Williams at Mackinaw, and ac-
companied him to Green Bay. That in the CONVEX
ation which took place the Prince revealed to him
the secret Of his birth, and told him he was autho
rixed by his father to procure from him 4" solemn
sbdcation of.the of France In favor Of Louis
Philippe by the Dsuphin, (Mr Williams) with all
accompanying names ard titles Of honor according
70 the customs OF the old monarchy (of which Mr..
Williams is an excellent judge,) and Offering to
either in this country or in F7nce,V together