New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-02-25
THE paUPHIN ROMANCE.

rars's Monthly. What the exact nature OF
/ this reply is, the curious may expect to ascer
tain BY resorting to the April issue Of that ex-
cellent Magazine Our information in regard
10 the matter is discreetly limited to the fact
that the Prince meets every point ofshe Rev.
Eleszer's narrative with which he was con-
cerued, and gives bis own account Of what
passed between them. Whether he confirm or
deny the extraordinary statements Of the
Rev missionary to the Oneidss, We make no
doubt that his evidence will be received BY the
public as quite conclusive. for the Prince has
ever borne high character, and his word in
such case may be taken as altogether unim-
peachable.
Meanwhile, We may be permitted to avow
our conviction that if Mr.. Williams is 8 born
prince, be is great deal more Of Tuscarora, or
Csughnavaga,o or any other aboriginal aud gut
tural dynasty than one of the legitimate Bour-
bOns Certainly no claim Of such magnitude
asever built uponmore fimsy foundations than
that be is the veritsble Louis XVII. Why,
the whole story has no other evidence than his
own word, with mass OF heterogeneous cir
cumstances cunningly pettifcgged together into
show Of corroborative testimony. Volumes OF
such would hardly suffice to prove him to be the
son of any particular clouted savage, much less
to convince sensible people that he is the son
/ of Maria Antoinette. We do not attempt here
to take up one by enc the tissue of fancy and
fact on which bis case depends. Nor is il nee.
essary to 90 into that matter. The previous
question settles il. II the Dauphin can be
proved to have died in prison, We may reasona-
bly, conclude that Mr. Williams is not and never
was the Dauphn. And on that head the evil
dence is clear If anybody can be historically
proved to have departed this life, it is that un-
fortunate boy; and If he is not deal, We can
have nothing TO say should the next rerenast
declare himself to DO Julius Caesar, Zoe Smith,
or one Of the Babes in the Wood. The fact
has never been really uncertain, nor has salts
factory proof been wanting. But in addition
10 what has always been known on the sub
iect, new evidence has lately been brought to
light which renders doubt utterly impossible
10 sane mind.
Avork has been published at Paris by NJ. A.
dc Beauchesne. 4 sincere adherent OF the
Bourbon monarchy, who for twenty years has
devoted himself TO the task Of investigating
the facts in the life of the Dauphin, and espe-
cially whatever was connected with his con-
fnement and that of his family in the prison
Of the Temple. In the course of his nyestigs-
tions he made the acquaintance of the two
last keepers Of the royal children, named Go
min and Lasne, and obtained from their lips
variety Of most interesting facts in relation to
the last illness and death OF the young Prince.
Both these men sincerely pitied him. and as they
came into Office after the overthrow Of Robes
pierre, they were allowed TO treat their prisoner
with something Of the kindness their feelings
prompted In return he loved them, and when
alone with them often Quilted the silence, in
difference and apathy which, after the cruel
ties of Simon and the still more cruel solitary
confinement in filth and darkness which fol-
lowed it, he obstnately exhibited toward stran-
gers Lasne had often seen him before his i'm
prisoDment, and recognized him perfectly in
prison his person had changed, but his hair
and features retained their original beauty;
and he himself never lost the consciousness of
bis identity the recollection of bis father,
mother and sister, or Of the calamites of his
family. He was never an idiot; aud even
as disease grew upon him and his strength
failed, the occasional words he said TO his
two guardians were never senseless.--
He was also visited by Commissaries from
the sections Of Paris, and the Committee of
Public Safety, who daily succeeded each other
in the duty OF inspection and oversight, and
many Of these recognized him. At last he
was visited By physicians who knew him for the
young Capet. And finally he died in the arms
of Lasne on the Sth Of June, 1895. Next day
the body was seen by above twenty persons, of
whom the majority had seen the prince before
his Imprisonment, ard who certified to the
identity Of the corpse. Then it was examined
by four physicians, who had not known him,
but who found on the remains all the signs Of
the malady he had been known to have, and
which Mr. Williams now claims to show upon
bis person. After tbs the body was buried
The evidence Of Comm and Lasne being
thus confirmed BY the authority Of these off.
cial certificates. aswel as by the narrative of
the Princess Maria Theresa, the sister of the
Dauphin, imprisoned at the same time in the
Temple, though secluded from him, and by
other testimony, We may rely upon il without
hesitation. We have here given the merest
outline Off but We can assure our readers that
il irdubitably establishes he fact that the Dau-
l min " "a rnrar rernnrad f.orn IL l.. Al