The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-03-17


boarded with q Mrs. Embree from whom
obtained many particulars respecting him.
He was in the habit of reading letters to her
which he received from England She had
particular recolections of a lady correspon-
dent in Scotland, This lady was relative
of distinguished nobleman, and Mrs. E.
strongly believed that there was matrimo-
nial engagement between them.
During his abode here many doubts were
entertained in regard to the truth of his
statements respecting his Indian captivity.
BE was believed to be native Englishman
with some secret object in view, such as the
occupation of Texas for his government
R. Crittcnden, Secretary of State, under
our territorial government, who had paid
moro attention TO his character than any
other l found, fully believed that he was a
natural son Of the Duke of Sussex. His
reasons l could not now detail. He stated
that he drew through house in New Or
leans, on the Bank of London, for any sum
he chose, and that his pecuniary resources
seemed without limit
Recently q number of persons whose
opinions l regard with esteem have solicited
me TO investigate the truth of the statements
made by this mysterious individual, and
snatch from oblivion whatever may be worth
preserving. For this purpose, during the
last year | wrote to q student in the Univer-
sity of Virginia, requesting him to make in
quiry Of such aged persons as might remem-
Der whether such an individual had been
known there. In reply he informed me that
he had found in the library of that nstitu-
ton work in two vols. by John Dunn
Hunter, published in London, giving sub.
stantially the same statements made by him
in Little Rock. In order that l might re-
ceive correct information on this point, this
student applied to Mr., Wertenbaker, the
venerable Librarian of the University, who
was appointed to that Office by Mr.. Jeffer-
son, from whom l received the following
letter:
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, Jan. 5, so.
"Rev. -, Dear Sir,-Your son has
requested me to furnish you with statement
of what I know of John Dunn Hunter.
All that I know personally of Mr.. Hunter
is, that in the autumn of 1921, when he left
the Western for the Atlantic States, he so.
jOurned for several days in Charlottesville.
The romantic circumstances of his life made
him an object of interest to the citizens of
the town and country. He was treated with
great kindness, and received into the first
circles of society. From Charlottesville he
went to the Northern cities, and afterwards
to England, where he remained for several
years. presume that while there, he was,
for the most part, engaged in writing and
preparing for publication his memoirs. His
book was published in London by Longman
& Co., and met with rapid sale-three
editions of it having been disposed of in a
very short time. The third edition, of which
there is copy in the University Library,
was published in 1924. The work was or
dered for the Library by Mr.. Jefferson, and
is entered in his handwriting on the original
manuscript catalogue, which he prepared.
Without knowing the fact, think it prOba-
Bile that Mr.. Hunter brought letters to Mr..
Jefferson, and that the latter had full faith
in the book-otherwise he would not have
selected it for the Library.
"In 1924 or 1926, Il do not distinctly
remember which year, Mr.. Hunter, having
returned to the United States, again visited
Charlottesville. l heard him say that he
had realized from his book about $4,000.
During the three or four years which in
tervened between his first and second visits,
intercourse with the first men in America
and Europe, combined with reading and
study, had greatly improved him. Some
traces of his Indian habits, which were still
adhering to him on his first visit, had on the
second, entirely disappeared. He was in
all points q well,dressed, intelligent, and
polished gentleman.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"WM. WERTENBAKER.
AS Mr.. Hunter, both in his conversations
and his book, had represented Cape Girar.
deau as the point at which he had been left
by the hunters who had brought him from
the Indians, l was anxious to know if any
persons still living could give any recOllec-
tions respecting so remarkable an occurrence.
I accordingly wrote to Mr.. c. yelling, an
intelligent gentleman living in the vicinity
Mr.. w. writes me that after the most dill
gent inquiry among the oldest citizens,
whose recollections extend back as far as
| 1911, he finds no one who has ver.heard Of
Hunter, or of one whose history would cor
respond with his.
There did live in that vicinity man
named John Dunn, who died some years
since, whose widow and Son-in-law still live
but none of his family ever heard of such q
boy as Hunter represented himself
Now this is remarkable. We can hardly
conceive it possible that child in such cir.
cumstances should remain in place for any
length of time, and the remembrance of il
to become obliterated in the period which
has elapsed since Hunter represents himself
i 1 Il j I