Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-02-24
The Lost Dauphfn,

Rev s. X. Lathrop of this city, delivered re.
markedly interesting lecture. last evening, before
the Mercantile Library Association, upon the
Claims of Rev. Eleazer Williams, to be the true
heir and successor Of Louis XVI, who was guillo-
tined Jan. 81, 1898.
AT the breaking out of the first revolution the
royal family of France, were either beheaded or
dispersed. The young son and successor to the
throne, under the title of Louis XVII was placed
under the custody of rude and rough jailors, who
treated him with barbarous cruelty The unfor-
tunate boy is reported to have died in prison in
1l95. In a late number of Putnam's Monthly
Magazine, the claims aud evidence to substantiafe
those claims, of Rev. Eleazer Williams, half
breed indian preacher. as the son of Louis XVI
are put forth in strong and emphatic language.
The object of the lecturer was to examine those
CLAIMS and show their utter invalidity.
The lecturer has been acquainted with Mr. Will
hams upwards OF II years. The acquaintance
commenced at that time, when he, Williams,
came to this city in search of documents relative
to the Indians which it was supposed the lecturer
might furnish from the fact that his grandfather
was, for many years an Indian Missionary vii.
hams had title to several lots of land which
were mortgaged for $500 and could not be renew.
ed The money was raised for him to redeem the
lands by the late Amos Lawrence, Esq.
Mr.. Lathrop saw Williams again in 1916. at
winch Time he referred to Prince de Joinvilles
visit to him. He said that the visit was on account
oil ms wife, who was supposed to be related to the
royal family OF France, but no allusion was made
to his on relationship.
And then interviews took place between Mr..
Williams and the lecturer in l847, in this civ
He was very much excited, and the lecturer as ed
the cause of the excitement. He at that time
learned the story of Mr. Williams's pretensions TO
be the heir of the Bourbons The story from
Williams mouth to Mr. Lathrop, differs material
ly from that given in Putnams Magazine There
are many fatal discrepancies between the two
Mr. Lothrop could not reconcile the two stories
with strong mind and clear memory Stillless.
could he reconcile it with imposition If Mr.
Williams was an imposter in setting up this claim
he would make his published statement stronger,
II possible. than his private story But the story
as tod IL Putnam, is weak compared to the
story told by Williams to the lecturer
Inc idea OF monomania had occurred to him
more than once. Mr. Williams was either suffer
ing under that disease, or he was an imposter-
Inc pretenslons that he sets up are improbable
All the claims that he sets up, rest after al upon
ms own story. He is undoubtedly half-breed
Indian. There was always something about him
that made Mr. Lothrop doubt his simplicity
Inc origin of the singular pretension of Mr.
Williams, is, undoubtedly, traceable TO the fact
OF an undenlable physiognomical resemblance to
the Bourbon family This has been frequently
remarked to MIR Williams; he has brooded upon
IT, read everything concerning the history of
the family, and given his waking and sleepinp
hours to the fancy that the Bourbon blood courses
IN his veins, until his disordered imagination has
forced the conviction that he is in truth the son
OF Louis ANl, and the beautiful but unfortunate
Marie Antoinette.-B Boston Herald.