The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-03-01
FHE DAILY DISPATCH
Tae.day Nernirg, March I, 1853.
LOUIS XVII.

The Washington Republic has receivsd
from Pans couple Of volames written by
M. Beaucbesne, which put complete extin.
guisher upon the claim of the Reverend Flea
zer Williams to Dauphinhsod. The Repub-
lie says the author has been engaged upon
this work about twenty years, and that trans
lation of it is now in the press of D. Appleton
& Co., New York. We End in the Peters.
burg Intelligencer the subjoined extract taken
from the Literary World. 1t purports to be
a translation from the work in question. It is
the abstract of conversation held with Mr..
Gousis, one of the Gardens dx temple, and it
will be seen that it places the death of the
Dauphin in that prison beyond doubt.
Death OF THE DAUPHIN.
Comm observing the child calm, metionless,
and silent, said to him: Il hope you are not
suffering at present. 'Oh yes, am suffering,
but much less, the music is sweet
There was no music either in the tower or
in the neighborhood; no noise from without at
this moment reached the chamber where the
young martyr was dying. Comm. surprised /.
asked him: Where do you hear the music?'
From on high How long since? Since
It? Listen! Listepn And the chfd raised his
failing arm, and opened his large eyes, lighted
I'D with eestacy. His poor guardian, not
wishing to destroy this sweet and heavenly IL
lusion, set himself to listen also with the
D ous desire Of hearing what could not be
heard.
after some moments of attention, the child
started again, his eyes glistened and he ex.
claimed in an inexpressible transport: In the
midst of all the voices heard my mother's.'
This word seemed, as it fell from the or
phan's lips, to remove all his pain. His con-
tracted brows expanded, and his countenance
frightened up with that ray of serenity which
gives assurance of deliverance or victory
With his eye fixed upon vision, his ear lis
tening to the distant music of one Of those
concerts that human ear has never heard,
there appeared to spring in his child's soul
another existence.
'An instant afterwards the brilliancy of his
eye became extinguished, he crossed his arms
upon his breast, and an expression of sinking
showed itself upon his face.
Comm observed him closely and followed
with an anxious eye every movement. His
breathing was no longer painful; his eye alone
seemed slowly to wander, looking from time
to time towards the window. Go.
min asked him what il was he was looking at
in that direction. The child looked at his
guardian moment, and although the gues.
ton was repeated, he seemed not to under
stand il. and did not answer.
Lasne came up from below to relieve Comm:
the latter went out, his heart oppressed. but
not more anxious than on the evening before,
for he did not expect an immediate termina.
ton. Lasne took his seat near the bed; the
Prince regarded him for long time with fix.
ed and dreamy look. When he made slight
l,aI b<,., L.
if he wanted any thing? The child said: DO
you think that my sister has heard the music?
how happy it would have made her!' Lasne
was unable to answer. The eager and pene-
trating 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: 4 have one
thing to tell you' Lasne approach.
ed 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 agony of the dying rattle; God had
Lasne put his hand upon the heart of the
child; the heart of Louis XVII. had ceased
to beat. 1t was halfpast two o'clock in the
afternoon
nj. de Beauchesne knew Comm and Lasne,
the two last guardians of the dauphin, and re-
ceived from;them each certificate, confirming
his account of the Princes death. Fac.simi.
les of these original papers are given.
TESTIMONY OF COMM.
Monsieur de Beauchesne: Nothing can be
more true than what you have written in re-
gard to the last moments of the dauphiR, his
conversations, and his death. You have also
done Justice TO my sentiments, and thank
you for it NTH all my heart.
Receive, &C., COMM.
PARIS, April %, 1910.
TESTIMONY OF LAsEE.
Monsieur de Beauchesne: As have always
said, and always will say, declare here upon
my honor, and before God, that the son of
Louis XVII. died in my arms, in the tower
of the temple. They are nothing but impos.
tors who pretend the contrary. l had often
seen the unfortunate dauphin at the Tuile-
ries, and perfectly recognised him in his
prison. You have perfectly recalled all the
details gave you, the account of which that
you have drawn up and nave read to ne, is
most scrupuious exact. have told the truth
all my lifetime; it is, therefore, not when am
approaching the end of my days that would
falsify il. LAsNE.
October 81, 1887.