The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-03-02
Gbr Rrgister..
MIDDLEBURY, MARCH Q, 1853.
For County Commissioner,
Hon. DAVIS RICH, of shoreham.
Election, March 8, 1853.
The Dauphin Question.

The Dauphin Question.
Since the publication of the February
number of Pn,nam's Monthiy. the OK
citing question Of the day has been.
"IIave We Bourbon among us2" Whcth-
cr the Dauplino of France, Charles Louis
son of Louis XVI. and Marie Autoin-
cite, who, history positively informs us
died in 1906, after all did not die, but
is now alive and "among u.s." in the
person Of Rev. Elc azcr Williams,
missionary at St Regis of rcputcd In.
dian stock, has now first come to be Sc
riously considered and discussed by the
public at large The article of Rev. Mr..
Hanson on this subject, published i'll
in Putnam's magazine, makes out many
strong points on the affirmative side.
There are certain condolences, very
remarkable on any other supposition,
assuming the entire vcracity Of Mr..
Williams whose character in this respect
is fully endorsed by Rcv. DR. Hawks
and others and who, as everybody will
witness who has ever met him, appears
certainly to be a simple, disingenuous
man.
The statement Of Mr.. Williams that
he was visited by the Prince dc Joinville.
when the latter WAS on tour through
this country, and by him assured that
he (Mr. Wy was the veritablc Dauphiu.
and Bourbon heir to tho throne; a right
acknowledged by the Prince, and which
brilliant offers were made him to relin-
qush lis undoubtedly the strong point
in the case. If this turns out untrue,
the whole fabric must undoubtedly fall
with it. Prince dc Joinville's testimony
is likely to be believed, whatever that
may be. 1t is not to be expected that
he will prevaricatc And fortunately,
VIC are likely soon to be favored with an
explicit declaration from him.
We learn from tho Tribune that Mr..
Putnam has received reply to Mr..
Williamson statements from the Prince,
which will probably be published in the
April number of Putndm'S Monthly.
What the purport of this communication
is, remains a secret His testimony will
be looked for with much interest.
In the mean time, it is proper to state
that the evidence of history to the fact
of the Dauphins death seems so strong
as not to leave much reasonable ground
for doubt Without positive and direct
rebutting testimony, that point must be
considered settled. Without such testi-
mony, from Prince dc Joinville or some
one else, it is useless to follow through
the array of circumstantial evidence in
faTor of Mr.. Williams claim to the per-
sonality of Louis XVII.
A work by NJ. Beauchesne, an adher-
ent of the Bourbon monarchy, has late
ly been published in Paris, which fur
nishcs testimony to the death and burial
of the Dauphin very difficult to cvade.
For number of years, the author has
been engaged in investigating the facts
relative to the unfortunate family OF
Louis XVI. He obtained most inter
esting statements respecting the last i'll.
ness and death of the Dauphin from his
two last kccpers-Gomin and Lasue-
men who pitied him, and, after the over
throw of Robcspicrre, showed him tho
kindness their feelings prompted. II,
was never an idiot as has been stated
He died in the arms of Lasne on the etl
of June, 1875. Next day the body wa
seen by more than twenty persons, o
whom most had seen the prince befor,
his imprisonment, and who certified to it
identity. 1t was also examined b,
four physicians, who had not known lin
and who found on the remains all tn
, scrofulous signs which Mr.. Williams no,
= claims to show upon his person. Afte
r this the body was buried. The cvidenc
< of Comm and Lasne is thus con6rme
> by these official certifcates,as we'll as b
J the narrative of the Princess Mari
!, Theresa, the sister of the Dauphin, in
prisoned at the same time in the Tempt