The Portland daily press., 1868-08-21
Miscellany.


LOUIS XVII. AND ELEAZER WILLIAMS.
The question of the identity of the late
Rev. Eleazer Williams with the son of Louis
XVI. has been supposed to be settled in a
manner adverse to the claims of that gentle
man but the September of Putnam's Month
ly revives the subject, and furnishes some
new evidence to show that Mr.. Hanson, who
in 1853 SO ardently supported the claims OF
the supposed Dauphin, was right after all.
The writer of the present article is DR.. Fran
els Vinton, who has long been in possession
OF important facts, which until lately he has
not been at liberty to use. Some of them
are certainly of striking nature, but the ev
idence which they afford is mainly circum-
stantial. One incident, however, which DR..
Vinton relates, is certainly remarkable, and
II true, as there is no reason to doubt that it
is, can hardly be set down as a mere coin
cidence.
1 seems Mrs. Commodore Read, of New
Orleans, wrote to Mr.. Hanson that informa-
ton had been received from an old lady
there, Mrs. Margaret Debot, who was some
time in the household of the Count de Pro-
vence and the Duchess d'Angouleme. This
information agreed with letter from Mad
anne Rambaud to the Duchess, and its SUBJ
stance was that when Naundorfs claim to be
the Dauphin was rejected by the Duchesse,
she had said that "when her brother should
be discovered, if he were yet alive, there
would be found on the back of his shoulder
the mark of the lancet, in the shape of
crescent, which was made there by the sur
geon, at the time of the inocculation of the
Dauphin, for the purpose of Identification"
Accordingly DR.. Vinton asked Mr.. Williams
to allow him to inspect his back. The doc
tor says:
found myself in very delicate position
1t was to request an aged and venerable man
to strip his back, that might subject him to
scrutiny, while on the other hand might,
by declining, leave my friend alone to bear
the sarcasms tossed at him as a romancer |
and credulous person. l consented. A |
day or two alter Mr.. Hanson was TO have his
infant child baptized by the Rev. DIR. Hawks,
in Cavalry Church, New York. l promised
to be present on the occasion. if possible.
arrived just after the administration of the
sacrament, when the parties were dispensing,
and proceeded to the robng room, where
found Mr.. Williams (who had been sponsor
to the child) and Mr.. Hanson, waiting.
Shall not forgot this meeting, nor the dig
nified bearing of Mr., Williams. was reuc-
tant TO proceed; yet l ventured to say, 81
hear that you bear mark on your shoulder
such as is said to have been put on the Dau-
phIn tor his identification. Have you such
mark ?"
Williams replied with SMILE
seen it,"
Ioere was no citation, no symptom of tri-
umph, no suggestion that this.report of his
identification" had rufiied the serenity of
his soul as simple missionary to the In
diens.
inquired if he would Submit to nv ex-
animation, not from idle curiosity, but from
regard to the desire of the Rev. Mr. Hanson"
Certainly" he replied; II should be I'M
grateful to decline compliance with Mr.. Han
sons DESIRE"
Accordingly, Williams threw off his coat
and vest, and allowed me to scrutniZe the
mysterious mark. The light of the robing
room was very dim. 1 could see the deep pit
OF the incubation on the arm. l could not
discern on the back of the shoulder anything
peculiar. Nor could Mr.. Hanson. Williams
preserved the same calm composure while we
were discussing the matter.
will you step out into the church mo-
ment, there is no one there" suggested
III you wish it," said Mr.. Williams.
l opened the door and he followed me out
side, when, turning his shoulder to the light,
there was the cicatrix in the shape of a cres-
cent, three-fourths OF an inch across, nearly
obliterated, yet palpable and unmistakable.
hanson saw 1t again, and tears silently stole
down his cheeks. 1t was proof positive to
him now that he had found the lost Prince.
He grasped my hand. We said nothing, ex-
cept nv ejaculations-"Th The mark is there
see it with my eyes! What does it mean f? |
He must indeed be the Dauphin!n
Such was the final observation that fell to |
my lot, to test the truth of the question,
Were Louis XVII. and Eleazer Williams
the same persona"