The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-02-03
STRANGE TALE, TRUE OR UN-
TRUE

! = Lt-AASNii- = ~ - OAS - ~
TRUE.
OR readers are, perhaps, not ignorant that
u,,-p lives in the State of New York person
nre!essng 10 be the son OF Louis NV. His
T,..r.s have frequently been asserted in the
gssseapers. but theretotcre in so vague way
5... fes. individuals of sense have paid much
regard 10 Item. The February number of
P.taam's Magazine, however, contains an
elaborate article upon the subject, from which
It soul0 appear that the case really presents
some curious features, proving the whole al
tar to Ue ether one OF the most remarkable
!HrosTurea IN history, or one Of the most anna
z.gg instances on record of romance in real
.e."
Th.s alleged heir to the Bourbons is now a
y-l5sab!e ,iergyman, Verging upon seventy
years Of age, with an irrep:oachable charac-
iey, VINO has been long a missionary among
the Indians. He bears the name OF the Rev.
EleaEer Williams, and popularly passes tor
a Laii-bIeed, having a reputed Indian moth
e. living. But, strange TO say, though the
bsDIsms OF all his pretended brothers and Sis
t=-s are duly recorded in the Roman Catholic
T 5stcr of their native parish, for his alleged
parents, it seems, were members of that de-
nomination, vet of his own birth no such no.
tee is taken. Strange to say his nominal
mother refuses TO say whether he is her child
or not her lips being sealed by some former
promise or vow. Strangest of all, he himself
bears no resemblance TO an Indian, but has
the fall Austrian lip and other characteristics
OF q Bourbon; indeed to the late Louis
A.ill he IS said TO bear striking likeness.
1t Is moi, however, on slight things like these
that his claims rests; for ii it did, it would de-
asrye 10 be laughed at for absurdity. The case
IN his favor rests on infinitely stronger grounds.
A Mr.. Be- ringer, Who died lately in Louisiana,
declared on his death bed that the son OF Louis
the AVI did not die in Paris, as has been ge-
aerally supposed, but was broug hit TO Ameri-
ca, he himself having been an agent in the
ttaHsactIon 1t appears further, that various
influential Frenchmen, likely to know such a
State secret, have already declared, at various
t:1ea during the past fifty years, that the dau
pam lived, and was somewhere in America. 1t
seems, likewise, that all the indications point
t9t.e locality where Mr.. Williams was brought
Up as that IN which the lost heir u the French
Gown VI as concealed. Moreover, on the per
sul OF this gentleman are marks of the scrou-
a. which it is known afflicted the dauphn, and
tie marks in the exact place where they
would have been on the dauphin's person, sup.
posing he had survived. More extraordinary
a;lll. the face Of MIR. Williams has two scars
similar 10 i've received by the dauphin from a
Low given by his jaiior Simon
These condolences ale fortified by others
less striking. The case in his favor is strength
ened by still other circumstances, the truth of
"aIch appears probable, though requiring yet
to be fully established. The most important
o. these is that MIR. Williams has received, on
E-9re than one occasion, oyertures Ut an extra
ordinary character, all emanating from abroad,
d-d ell pJinling TO him as some parsonage OF
-igh Image, whose claims it was desirous TO
nly of, or eztinguish in some other way. The
weak part Of the case as regards these over
T.. hat sra ,f hos EfS
cA'edy in Mr. VS. own asser ion, the papers
aaosGanIaung them having, with out one or
t"o exceptions, been destroyed, as he says, by
me cont9graIiOn of his dwelling.
b1t though IN one sense this is the weak
eat aapec. Of his case, in another it is one of
Auch strength, at least temporarily. Gentle
'3eA, known TO us, for example, and who knew
Inn vel! say that they would take his word
dS soon es any other mans oath. Nor Is It
hAety that any man would begin, at seventy
EeaEs, career o. lies and fraud. Moreover,
'sStsstriIon OF these 0vertures has been made,
ia sucn particularly and directness, that
..JthIng "ill be easier than refutation, II Mr..
w. has violated truth ; and as he is an or
a9iEed minister, in the Protestant Episcopal
>1ufch, rIs degradation will inevitably follow
l'rexposure. Either, therefore he is the most
H.oiish OF lmpOs.orS, because detection is now
-7staIn, as he has stated only truth, when as
setting theiact ofthese overtures.
r or example, he declares that when Prince
Ar josnViIe came 10 meriea, in l84l, one Of
'@e hrsl things the Prince did was TO inquire
-'" ont A, that time Mr w. Processes to
ave had no knowledge Of his real parentage.
- an interview, however, sought by the
0,nce, aud held IN the Priuce's apartment, d.
'1tPFiiie revealed The secret Of the M Iesi1na-
bifth, Produced document intended foi
i" abaica,on IA favor Of the House of Orleans,
aud 1ade magnificent promises of an almost
f@gal establssbmeu, y hereyer Mr. w. might
i:slfe u, proshiTd the parchment was signed.
LHDsafd AZ all this NAV srem at first, yet the
teSe' place, and rxact time vi the alleged III.
2i'te" are given. Nov here is u complete
7ste on = h'ch de JJiagilie c an meet NJ. VIII
ahss- HE iattrr ha- stHked every thiag, ii
~Hi hr seen. by fnisins the question of yeraci-
~ ii 'ss Ff'uee draies II, Mr. w. il a ruined
&c. Ia nsoalhs iigs the bold assertion