New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-29
TIE "MAN WITH THE IRON MASK"

The Paris Figaro of the 18th inst prints review OF
NJ TOpin's book, published on that day, concerning
the identity of the Man with the Iron Mask" 1t
will be seen that the statement of The AteR9um that
NJ Topin had discovered the prisoner to be no other
than De Lauzun-One of the difficulties in maintain
ing which theory we pointed out in THE TRIBUNE
when we copied the statements entirely false. Inc
article contains some highly interesting extracts
from the book, and we translate it in full:
The publishers Ddier & Dentu, who issue to-day tho
work Of NJ Marius Topn, which has been so mpatenty
expected have furnished with sufficient extracts from
the book to enable judge of the definite result of the
researches Of this writer Some Of these print In this
connecticut
upon the 18th September $685. at three o'clock In the
afternoon the seur Of Saint Mars arriving at the islands
or ST. Marguerite entered the chateau OF the Baste OF
winch he had just been appointed Governor In the car
With Of TSJ aed Mars
by many mounted soldiers had been the nseparable ana
5m al 81 PadS pace
Joigny and yllleneuve-e-RO, and which belonged 70
Veneuve long remembered having seen the mysterious
carriage pass the evening through the principal street
of their town. remembrance this appariton is
perpetuated in the country aud the story Of the singular
Incidents which then noticed passing from father
"The which Saint Mars took at the supper table to
keep the back Of his prisoner turned toward the WIN
dOws the pistols within reach OF the suspicious Jaer
their beds placed side by sde all these precautions and
the mystery attending them yyldy excited the curiosity
cOniectures At the Bastie the prisoner was put In the
third chamber south of the tower OF Bertandiere TINS
room being prepared before by Du0nca, the turnkey,
who had received written order from Saint Mars some
daysin advance of the arrival >,...-,..u
1903 at o'clock in the afternoon the drawbrdge OF TINS
renowned fortress lowered and over passed SAD
funeral cortege few men went silently out bearing
corpse which had for its escort two subaern ocers OF
the Baste and took their way toward the cemetery OF
the Church OF ST. Paul.
Nothing COULD be striking than the sight fths
group which seemed to steal furtycy along under cover
Of the approaching night Nothing could be more aOan'
doned or apparently more obscure than TINS unknown
corpse, which followed by two strangers IN haste 10
finish their task At the grave the deathbed there
sorrow, regret The prisoner CT Provence was
taken i'll upon Sunday. the disease was suddenly aggLa
waited Monday, and the priest OF the Bastlle was
called too late administer the sacrament, and had only
exhortations Upon the register Of the Church OF st.
Paul inscribed the Of Marchially At the Bas-
tile, however. the prisoner was always known as the
Prisoner OF Provence"
Before going on to establish the Identity of this mys
FERROUS prisoner NJ Topin has written the history Of the
principal personages who connected with the MAN
with the Iron Mask" In his preface, he says:
"Ihave penetrated the private life OF Louis Kill and
Anne Of Austria and in order to prove the falsty OF
certain accusations which have suied the memory OF
this Princess have not hestaed to touch upon certain
delicate points and meet the upon their own
ground. have followed others through career always
adventurous through existence continually agated-
some even through captivity passed sometimes In the
monotOnous nacton Of solitude, and sometimes with
wise resignation or even sometimes varied by audacons
attempts at escape which were always thwared by the
vigilance
this book are brief memoirs OF Louis Kill and Anne OF
Austria the seductive Buckingham; the impressive
Vermandos; the versatile Monmouth; the adventurous
Beaufort; the fearless Lauzun Fouque admirable Tor
his resignation and his Christian vrues the unfotun
ate Matthloy and Saint Mars whose memory, anu even
whose existence Is nseparabe from that OF PRISONERS
The history Of MatthiOy in particular related by NJ
Topn with much and with many details entirely
new. 1t is well known that the Count Matthioy, Minis
ter OF Charles w. Duke Of Manua negotiated in secret
with Louis XIV. with view Of yielding to the King
Cassal which at that time one of the keys OF Italy
But Maholy suddenly broke the compact, or at least
retarded It's execution by delivering the place to the ene
mics of Louis XIV. Topn demonstrates the reasons,
apparently well founded Of those who denied that Mat
thioy was the MAN with the Iron Mask" and which
led him for long time to think the 1t has been
generally believed. 10 tho present tne that MattmQy
PgnerO confed to the care of Saint Mars, Of
the prisoners conducted by the latter IN 1851 from
PgnerO TO the fortress OF the eXes ana aitefWard 10
the Islands OF ST. Marguerite But OF the prisoners
died the Exes in 1881 and for various reasons 1t has
been concluded that this was Matthloly. ,,., -
NJ. TOpln states that the reading OF dispatch, IN
known Til the present time, caused MN TO dOnDt tne
removal of Mattholy to the Exes' ana turned nus
researches into entirely different channel He has
established IN manner positive the iact tlat the Snls
ter Of Charles " was held at Pigner0, atelWalu con
ded 10 Saint Mars, was conducted 10 the Islands OF ot
Marguerite and was identical with the prisoner wnom
we have above conducted by SAINT Mars 10 the Bas
TILE where he entered Sept 49, $685. All these points are
established by multitude Of new documents drawn up
IN very interesting manner among WHEN - - an upu9
lshed dispatch Of Louis XIV containing these words
which NJ. TOpin has taken the epgraph or MS DOCK,
and which relate to Matthioy No one must khon chdt
shall become Of his man" 49,.
For the rest this work has been entirely founded
upon than hundred dispatches not before pup
lshed and which for the most part printed III the
I'm order not TO interfere with the story
which is told In very animated and dramatic style,
principally In the episodes OF the Arnlnan patrlnrch
and OF FOuquet NJ TOpn closes his book by the follow
ing curious account: by strange coincidence ut the
very moment OF the death Of the Man with the Iron
Mask the master Of Matthioly Charles ~ Duke OF
Mantua arrived at Paris. But he, who had more and
more nut himself the OF Louis XIV TO whom lie
had sold OF the keys Of Italy and recently delivered
Mantua itself and whom he had frequently permitted 10
pass through his States for the purpose OF lVaubB ne
peninsuar was received and feted he deserved The
luxembourg was magnitcehty fitted up for MN Win
the royal Seven tables were constantly serVeu
snite and brilliant fees were given In his honor az
MendOn and Versailles, where he receYeu from Louis
XIV a splendid sword covered with diamonds. IL Is
easy how imprudent would nave Deeh 10 nave
Inscribed upon the register OF St. Paul the name OF
MatthOly az the time when the Duke arriving at Pars
might have learned OF his DEATH We know that Chares
" took great interest IN ms FORMER % r., anu sS
have that he took much pains 10 learn the truth
concerning his final disposition instead OF hdlhg ~
from him. however IL is possible that ne was tou VI the
death order TO dssipate entirely ms iesrs ,,,o
and the reality often exceeds In interest the
most romantic fancies of the imagination or the two
tassa TO Louis XIV, the Prince who consented TO it,
contrary his duty for the purpose OF reponshng MS
treasury and satisfying his prodga desires was the re-
cpient OF the most magnificent fetes Az inc same te
created him Count and Senator alleu 10 the most
lustrious families OF his country, Formerly also mag
nihcently received at Versailles Dy Louis NY? put
who afterward for moment checked his Unsuitable am:
hilton and retarded the servitude OF Charles w. died
far from his friends In small chamber OF the Bastiie,
after captivity OF twentytour year. anu on S
ing churchyard followed only by Two suDalterh oeers
OF the fortress"