LOUIS XVII. AND ELEAZER WILLIAMS. LOUIS XVII. AND ELEAZAR WILLIAM S. WERE THEY THE SAME PERSON? BY FRANCIS VINTON, S.T.D. Reprinted from PUTNAM'S MAGAZINE FOR THE LONG ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. i868. 1868.] Louis XVII. AND) ELEXZEP WILLIAMS. 331 LOUIS XVII. AND ELEAZER WILLIAMIS. WERE THEY REALLY TUE SIAME PERSON? * By the request of the Long Island French Revolutionary History, containHistorical Society, I am induced to re- ing biographical sketches of notable cord the reasons of my belief that the persons, and illustrated by engravings late Rev. Eleazer Williams was "the of their portraits, in fine wood-cuts. Lost Prince," "the Dauphin," "the These volumes were the gifts of Admiral Louis XVII." of French history. I do Casey to MIrs. Perry, sent to her from not persuade myself that the following Paris, after his return to France, in acnarrative will prove to be convincing knowledglnent of her courtesy to him to all readers; for, the problem, "' Have and to the officers of his squadron while we had a Bourbon among us? " is com- lying in Newport Harbor. Admiral plex and recondite, admitting of no Casey, it will be remembered, commandpositive demonstration short of authen- ed the ships which brought over the tic records; which it may have been for Prince de Joinville and his suite to the interest of various parties in France America, about 1840, and remained at to suppress. Nevertheless, the facts Newport while the Prince was engaged which have constrained my judgment in his Western tour; during which he are too singular to be rejected as evi- visited Williams with the surgeon of the deuce, and may serve to confirm, in fleet and his private secretary. The some measure, what has been written account of this interview is detailed by by the late Rev. Mr. Hanson, in the old both parties, in Mr. Hanson's book on Putnacm's Monthly and in his two books, "The Lost Prince." and by other writers less familiar to us, Candles had just been brought into who have taken the same side of the the parlor of MIrs. Perry, when Wilquestion. liams and I drew nigh to the table to amuse ourselves for the hour. Not a I. In the month of August, 1844, the word had been said of these books, nor Rev. Eleazer Williams, on his way to of the conjecture (which was then a Boston, visited Newport, R. I., where mere rumor) of the identity of Williams I was some time rector, to ask aid for with the Dauphin; neither did I, at that his missionary work among the Indians. time, entertain the slightest idea of any He was the guest of Mrs. Com. O. H. relationship between them. Williams Perry. Amid the books that covered had not spoken on the question, nor in the centre-table in the parlor of this hos- any way alluded to it; neither did hie pitable mansion, were some volumes of know that the books on the centretable were of the character described. * This paper, received after our number for July But we drew near to the lights, by a was published, is a refutation-as unexpected as it natural impulse, to our occupation is interesting-of the editorial note in that number, assuming that the theory of Mr. Williams' royal in a sort of " kill-time" way, and (I will origin was finally disposed of and disproved by the confess it) to relieve myself from the article from his literary executor. It is proper for task of entertaining a visitor who was us to say here, plainly, that the present paper is a written by the Rev. FRANCIS VINTON, S. T. D., commonly reserved and silent, and assistant-minister of Trinity Church, N. Y.,-a whose conversation at no time was pargentleman whose high character as a clergyman ticularly interestin and never instrucand as a learned and logical investigator will command at once the most entire confidence in the tive. impartial accuracy of his statements, and great Thus we were engaged for a half-zolr respect for his conclusions-which so strongly lean toward the belief that Eleazer Williams was really or so. I was readlng some autIl Louis XVII. of France. —Ed. Putlamn's Mog. while Williams was turning over the 332 PUTNAM'S MAGAZINE. [Sept. leaves of the volumes of the " French schools, and who had done service to Revolutionary Annals." All at once I his country in the War of 1812; and, was startled by a sudden movement, finally, had been called into the holy and on looking up, I saw Williams sit- ministry of the Protestant Episcopal ting upright and stiff in his chair, his Church, and was now devoting himself eyes fixed and wide open, his hands to the welfare of those sons of the forest clenched on the table, his whole frame with whom his lot had been cast in shaken and trembling, as if a paralysis early life, in the hope of promoting their had seized him. I thought it had. I civilization and their spiritual salvation, exclaimed, "What is the matter?" and as their humble and contented misI rose quickly to rouse him; for no an- sionary. swer came. It was a minute or more Williams assumed no other character before he could speak. But with great than this, and rather seemed disturbed effort he raised his hand, and, pointing at the conjecture of his inheritance of to one of the wood-cut portraits, at the any other name. There was no air of bottom of the page, said, in a hollow pretension-no attempt at speculation voice and with great difficulty of utter- -no seeming personal interest in the ance, matter suggested to him of his royal "That image has haunted me, day birth. and night, as long as I can remember. He could not account for his agitation'Tis the horrid vision of my dreams. at the sight of the portrait of " Simon;" What is it? Who is it?" and when I reopened the book at the I looked. There was no name on page, he gazed at the picture without the page. On turning the leaf, I read emotion, as if the spectre had been laid, that this number was the "Portrait of and the associations with it had been Simon," to whose care the Dauphin of buried and covered up in the mysterious France, son of Louis XVI. and 3Ianie tomb of the soul. Those wonderful Antoinette, was committed in the pris- memories, which the sudden apparition on of the Temple. of Simon's portrait had revived, seemed I shut the book; for while it was to be mercifully remanded to their sepopen Williams gazed at the picture rs ulchre. Williams retired to his chainif fascinated, while overwhelmed with ber, and slept well. Mleanwhile, we of unutteralble horror. the family, who had been conversing Some time elapsed before he recovered with him, puzzled ourselves with the his equanimity. And then, for the first explanation of the phenomenon of the time, I talked with him on the rumor evening, with as much satisfaction as of his birth and parentage. He told me puzzles generally afford. that the Prince de Joinville had visited But the conclusion to which my him at Green Bay (as lMr. Hanson after- thoughts have arrived, after due conward related), and also that the surgeon sideration, is simply this, that it was the (to whom, at his request, he had shown Soul, through Memory, bearing witness to certain scars of scrofula upon the leg), Itself, cglrm'iag the identity of Williiams said to him, and the Dauphin. " Mon Dieu! you have rights which II. 3Ry next personal connection with you know not of," and then suddenly the question of THE DAUPHIIN happened checked himself. in this wise: Our conversation turned on the story The publication of 3Ir. Hanson's arof the Dauphin and on Williams' recol- tide in Putnam's Moenthly, in Februar-, lections of his own life. There was no 1853, occasioned many inquiries " when'assuming, on his part, of any other posi- the Rev. IMr. Williams would again tion than that of a gentleman (which officiate in Grace Church, Brooklyn he eminently was) who had been cast Heights." He had more than once done among Indians in early youth, and who so, without remark; but now he was a had been educated above them in good celebrity. It was contrary to my prin 1868.] Louis XVII. AND ELEAZER WILLIAMS. 333 ciples and my taste to encourage the points, viz., that Charles X. was very implied motive for attending divine like Louis XVI.;-that Prince Talley. worship, and I determined to gratify rand knew all about the abduction of no prurient curiosity to see Mr. Wil- the Dauphin, which was connived at by liams while engaged in his ministerial the authorities of France; and when office. On the first Sunday inFebruary, his Memoirs should be published (if 1853, I expected him to assist me in the there were no suppression of facts), the Holy Communion; but I scrupulously world would know of it too;-that the withheld, even from every member of Jesuits knew all about it; and if Wilmy family, any hint of my expectation. liams had been a Roman Catholic (supIndeed, Mr. Williams had failed me once posing him to be the Dauphin), he before, and his promise at this time was would have been in France long ago;conditional; so that I myself was not that Robespierre and Count de Provence certain of his coming. (afterward Louis XVIII.) were mutually The organ had commenced, and the interested in procuring the abduction time was fully up, when Mr. Williams of the Dauphin (inasmuch as he would appeared, just as I was about to proceed not die a natural death under extreme from the vestry-room. He robed him- cruelty): Robespierre, because he wished self hastily in his surplice, and was that the Revolution should maintain directed to one of the stalls on the op- the reputation of a political revolution, posite side, which required him to walk and not be damaged by the imputation across the choir, or chancel, of the of being a war against children; the church. Count de Provence, because the DauOn the following Monday morning an phin, as Louis XVII., would stand in esteemed parishioner, a German gentle- the way of his succession to the crown; man of high standing, called on me in -that Chateaubriand would not take my study to ask, " who he was that offi- the oath of allegiance to Louis XVIII., ciated with me on yesterday imorning." on the ground that Louis XVII. was I replied that "it was the Rev. Ele- yet alive and in America; and that azer Williams." Chateaubriand's journey to America He then said that there happened to had for its object, among others, to disbe in his pew, as his guest, His Royal cover the lost Dauphin; —that Count Ilighlness, Prince Paul WVilliam, Duke D'Artois (afterward Charles X.) would of Wurtemberg, cousin to the present not swear allegiance to his brother until King of Wurtemberg and to the Czar very late (when his own succession was Nicholas, travelling in this country un- in prospect), because of his scruples as der the title of Gen. Count Heidenheim; a Legitimist, and his allegiance to his who, when Mr. Williams walked across nephew. the chancel, asked my parishioner, MIr. These circumstances, and others quite PI, " Who is that? Who is that as remarkable, were the disclosures of man? It is so! If there is any thing my friend Mr. R-, as having been the in family likeness, he is a Bourbon! " staple of the conversation of the Duke Mr. R - replied that he did not on that Sunday afternoon, after he had know -who it was. But the Duke could had a vision of Eleazer Williams. not be quiet, but said, " It is so! Hie is The peculiar reason why this report a Bourbon! He is a Bourbon, no doubt! was made to me, was this: A few days IIe is the image of Charles X." before this eventful Sunday, while I was Mr. R- went on to relate the ex- engaged in reading Mr. Hanson's first citement of the Duke during the whole article on the question of the Dauphin, of the divine service; and how, at din- 3Mr. R - happened to call on me in ner that day, he resumed the theme, my library. Our conversation turning with many particulars in the story of to the subject, he denounced the article, the Dauphin. and the credulity of those who enterAmong these I recollect a few striking tained a belief in the " identity of Ele 334 PUTNAM'S MAGAZINE. [Sept. azer Williams and the Dauphin of what he had said in the presence of Mr. France!" And his'call on Monday Holbrook and myself; for which relucmorning was (as he states in a note now tance he gave the following very excelbefore me, dated March 3, 1853) " prin- lent reasons, in a letter to me, dated cipally as a reason for retracting my previous unbelief, which I considered "-Street, New York, March 3, 1853. " Reverend and Dear Sir: With respect to too rashly and too strongly expressed." the opinion of the Duke of Wurtemberg, in Mr. RT wrote, in pencil, the title reference to the Rev. E. Williams, his explicit of the Duke on a slip of paper, and I request to have his name kept out of any pubmade a note of some points of the con- lication on the subject forbids me from complyXversation on the other side; where, also, ing with your request for a written statement of i t othe ie Edwrd H, such opinion, further than simply to say, that I find it written, that "Mr. Edward R. the Duke, when seeing the Rev. E. Williams Holbrook) of Boston, was present in assist you in the services of your church, on my study, and heard Mr. RT- say the the first Sunday in February, was very much above." struck with the marked Bourbon features and The following is an exact copy of this the general appearance of the reverend gentleman. maemorandum ~ mAemorandum "And for the above-mentioned reason, I shall Copy of memorandum made on a slip ofpaper much prefer that, even to this simple fact, no immediately after. r.,-'scommunication.* allusion should be made in any publication. "MONKDAY, Feb. 7, 1853. What I stated verbally to you, and to Mr. W" MSIr. R — gave me the address opposite"d (his particular friend), was meant for a confi(side of the paper, in pencil,) "and said: The dential communication, and principally for the Duke testified yesterday to Mr. R- at his ta- reason for retracting my previous unbelief ble at dinner,'that the rumor was current' which I considered too rashly and too strongly (interlined)' Chateaubriand has said to him (the expressed. Duke) that the Dauphin was taken to America, 1 cannot omit, however, to rectify a misapand was now alive there.' When the Duke saw prehension which seems to have been created EL~. WMilliarms in Glrace Church, Brooklyn, yes- }by that confidential communication, viz., that the Duke had heard from the late Mr. Chateauterday, he said to Mr. R- (sitting in his pew), brite Duimse that the D uphin had been sent that Williams was a Bourbon, no doubt, if briand ttmserf that the Duphin had been sent family features are evidence. The Duke has to this country, &c. This, as far as I know, seen Louis f VIII. arend Charles X., &The Du was not the case. In short, the Duke spoke seen Louis XVIII. and Charles X., &c. "Mr. Edward H. Holbrook, of Boston, was more of reports and rumors, than offfacts. present in my study, and heard Mr. R- say " With great respect and esteem, the above, &c. F. V." " Yours, R-." The address on the opposite side of:On further consultation I learned that the paper, given in pencil, is, the contemporaneous publication of this testimony (such as it is) " would very "His Royal Highness Prince Paul William, much compromise the Duke on his reDuke of Wurtemberg, Gen. Count HIeidenheim, turn to Europe among the Legitimist cousin to Emperor Nicholas." cousin to Emperor Nicholas." circles of royalty." I reported to M3r. At this time there was no pledge of Hanson that the information with which secrecy, as to this important communi- I had thought to furnish him could not cation; nor the apprehension of any properly be included in his new article. harm to result from its contemporaneous But, forasmuch as I had revealed the publication. Accordingly, I took an particulars of the Duke's impulsive tesearly opportunity to acquaint Mr. Han- timony, and my informant was reluctant son with the general scope of it, and to stand by me (for very good present referred him to Mr. R — for the par- reasons), I thought it just that at least ticulars, to be printed in his forthcom- the substance of what he had said should ing second article in Putnam's Mionthly. be confirmed by my informant, in WritTo my surprise, Mr. Hanson informed jing; both for my own satisfaction and me that Mr. TR - declined to confirm justification and for the truth of history, whenever the time should come to I have carefully compared this with the original ublish it memorandum, and it agrees exactly, except in one thing, the full name of Mr. R.-G. P. P. My informant conceded the justice of lb6S.i LouIS XVII. AND ELEAZEPR WILLIAMS. 335 this dtejmand with characteristic cour- "R- declines to permit the statement.requirgthat the document above to be printed, while the parties concerned tesy, onty requiring that the document are living, on the sufficient ground of the reshould not be used publicly, nor printed luctance of His Royal Highness, and on the conwhile the parties concerned are living, sideration that much of it was made in the but kept among my private documents, freedom and confidence of his domestic fireside. as among my curiosities of history. But as the statement is valuable and worth The following is an exact copy of the preserving, I have submitted it to Mr. Rfor his confirmation, to be kept by me among memorrandum: my curiosities of history. (CoPY.) (Signed,)': F. V. "Memorandum for Preservation. " Brooklyn, March 5, 1853." "In -Putnam's Monthly Peview for February, lr. R —'s Conirmation is asfollows. 1853, is an article by the Rev. J. H. Hanson, " Street, Brooklyn, entitled, Is there a Bourbon amongst us?' "L arch, 1S3. in which the writer attempts to identify the "At the ev. Dr. V-'s request, I hereRev. Eleazer Williams, Deacon in the Prot... r Rev. CElezer williams, Deacon in, the Prot. with cotifirm the preceding statement, on the pis. Church, with the Dauphin, Luis XVII. first two pages of this sheet (of which this is "This article is causing much speculation, the third), as substantially correct. The uke and has created no little interest among intel- of Wurtemberg was in the pew, No. 00, when ligent people, both here and in Europe. Mr. o. ligent people, both here and in Europe. mr. he saw the Rev. E. Williams in the chancel, Hanson is to continue the inquiry in Putnam at the distance of about sixty feet. ofApril.1 at the distance of about sixty feet. of pril. "I cannot forbear, however, to add, that the " On the first Sunday in February (Feb. 6,. the Duke, being of rather an impulsive and sanguine 1853), the Rev. E. Williams assisted me in the temper, may have used, in the conversation Holy Communion. His Uoy Highness, Princetemper, may have used, in the conversation aoly CWommunion. Hiso oyalHighness, urince alluded to, much stronger language than he Paul William, Duke of Wurtemberg, cousin to would have been willing to subscribe to in the present ing f Wurteberg and to [this riting: for it is obvious that, under the cirwas interlined by Mr. R.] Czar Nicholas (now th cumstances, the conclusion of the Rev. E. Wiltravelling in this country under the title of Gen. cams being no dout the Dauphin, or even a liams being no doubt the Dauphin, or even a Count Heidenheim), chanced to be in Grace i Bourbon, would have been extremely rash. Church, Brooklyn Heights, that morning, (Signed,) nR-." the pew of his friend R-, Esq. my parishioner, who, on the following day, informed me " P. S.-It is distinctly understood that no of the following particulars: On seeing Rev. otle use is to be made of this paper, than that Mrt. Williams, His Royal Highness said to his it is to be kept by Dr. V-among his private friend with emphasis,' It is so-that's a Bour- documents; as only on that condition I was inbon, no doubt.' And afterwards, in conversa- duced to confirm, in writing, statements that tion, at the house of Mr. R-, the Duke were made under the injunction, if not of strLic added, that Mr. Williams' resemblance to and privacy, but certainly of avoiding a general general appearance with Charles X. is more publicity. A- R-." striking than his likeness to Louis XVIII., who I have preserved this documentary was less like Louis XVI. "his Royal Highness had been acquainted evidence for fifteen years, as " a curiosiwith both Sovereigns. Furthermore, His Roy- ty of history." But the time is come to al Highness on the same occasion stated that publish it. In that short period of time in the legitimist circles in France, he had heard Or. Williams has died, the Duke of it currently reported, that the Dauphin, Louis Wurtemberg has died, the kingdom of XVII., had been taken to America, and might be now alive there, and that Mr. Chateaubriand Wurtemberg is abolished, and public was conversant with the fact" [here follows a faith in legitimate kings is dead and clause interpolated by Mr. R- in his own hand- buried. And, even while I am writing writing] and taking all in all, he himseyf this article (intended, originally, for the had no doubt, that the Rev. E. Williams was Long Island Historical Society), the Mr. Hanson, having heard the rumor of this July number of Putnam's (revived) Mag"1 Mr. Hanson, having heard the rumor of this circumstantial evidence, has requested me by azine contains a paper of Mr. Williams' letter to communicate the above statement to literary executor, entitled, " The Last him for publication in the April number of of the Bourbon Story;" while the editPutnam's Monthly, now in press. "But as Mr. R — had informed me that His * I have carefully verified the above by the origiRoyal Highness earnestly deprecated being in nal paper, in the handwriting of Dr. Vinton and of print on this subject, I could not gratify Mr. Mr. R-. The only difference is the omission, in Hanson without conferring with Mr. R-. the copy, of the full name of Mr. R —.-G. P.P. 336 PUTNAM'S MAGAZINE. [Sept. or, in his "Monthly Chronicle," begs myself from a credulity which I felt pardon of the public for having yielded predisposing me to believe what the to " the enthusiastic faith and trust of circumstance at Newport, some years the Rev. John H. Hanson, whose belief previously, and the late testimony of in the rightfulness of Mr. Williams' the Duke of Wurtemberg, had fixed in claim, and whose zeal in pushing it, my mind. amounted almost to a monomania." The answer to these inquiries was this Alas! dear brother! the world thinks simple explanation: Skenondough was thee dead, and bemoans thy credulity, a principal man of the Oneidas, who while it is forced to honor thy " enthu- was accustomed to go to the city of siastic faith and trust." Washington to receive the bountyBut thou art not dead, but sleepest; money, or on other business, of the Inand I, in venturing to indite more "last dians. On this year he left Syracuse words of the Bourbon story," may be with the usual contribution of Indian likened to that loving sister of whom traps of bead-work, by the sale of which it was said, " She goeth unto the grave he paid his expenses. But there was to weep there." But that grave was the such an unusual delay at Washington theatre of a resurrection. It was " THE in the payment of the Indian annuity, TRUTH " who said, "Our friend Lazarus that Skenondougtl's resources were exsleepeth; but I go, that I may awake hausted. He was obliged to return him out of sleep." without money, reaching Philadelphia penniless. III. In the summer of 1853, Mr. Han- In this strait, he called on Mr. Peter son called on me in Brooklyn, where I Sken Smith, of Philadelphia, a wellwas then settled, to acquaint me with known, wealthy, and highly-respected what promised to be a singular con- citizen; whose middle name was derivfirmation of his theory, as published in ed, I was told, from that of the chiefs the Mlarch and April numbers of the of the Oneidas — Skenondough," —with 3fagazine, through the testimony, he whom the ancestors of Mr. Smith were said, of Skenondough, a very old In- familiar in their early settlements dian chief of the Oneida tribe, who had around Syracuse. Mr. Gerrit Smith, known Williams when he was a boy of brother of Peter Sken, is, I believe, still ten or twelve years of age, having been the possessor of the immense patripresent when two Frenchmen gave him mony derived from an Indian title. into the custody of the elder Williams, Old Skenondough was hospitably inl 1795, at Ticonderoga; and who entertained by Mr. Peter Sken Smithl would testify that Eleazer Williams was in Philadelphia. It was just at this of French birth, for the reason that he time that Mr. Hanson's discussion of had talkced with him in the French lan- the question of Eleazer Williams' idenguage at that time." Moreover, the old tity with the Dauphin of France was Indian affirmed that " Williams was re- engaging the public mind. MIr. Smith, corded in the census of the Six Nations therefore, seized the opportunity of as a Frenchman adopted by the St. questioning old Skenondough on the Regis tribe, and transferred to the Oneci- subject. Skenondough had not heard das; " with many other particulars of of the theme, nor had he ever suspected great interest. that Williams was of royal blood; but All this seemed, indeed, to be impor- he said that he knew he was a Frenchtant testimony, if true. Who is this old man, because he was present at Lake Indian? How came he to turn up just George in 1795, when he was brought at that time? What credentials does over and committed into the custody he- show? What proof of his great age of Thomas Williams; and further words and sound memory exists? to like effect, as above narrated, and as These were among the queries that I afterward embodied in an affidavit. thought proper to suggest, to guard Mr. Smith thought it worth while to 1868.] LoUIs XVII. AND ELEAZER WILLIAMS. 337 acquaint the Rev. 3Mr. HIanson with this his reason; thence he narrated Wilstartling and unexpected confirmation liams' career through the War of 1812, of his theory, and suggested that Sken- and spoke of the Indian spy-system, in ondough be asked to take New York which the old chief was engaged-and in his route home to Syracuse, so that especially referred to an occasion when his testimony might be taken before a they went together to obtain a subsidy notary. from the United States Government; Mr. Hanson invited Skenondough to at which point, Williams, who had been visit New York, where, by a happy con- listening attentively, as to a revelation juncture, Williams was also sojourning, of by-gone times, interrupted Skenonwhile engaged in the printing of his dough, saying, " No; it was the State "Indian Prayer-Book." of New York who gave the subsidy;" Mr. Hanson desired me to be present and after some discussion whether it with him when Skenoadough's affidavit was the State of New York or the Genwould be made. I consented. Where- eral Government, or jointly, Skenonupon, on the day of Skenondough's dough, as if tired of this question, exarrival, I was summoned to meet the claimed to us, "Let that go. He is not parties in the office of Richard Bus- an Indian! lie was never reckoned as teed, Esq., in William-street. There sat an Indian. Look here! Look at his old Skenondough, his long white hair hand! " (taking it). "This is not an streaming on his shoulders, the deep Indian's hand! Look at mine! It is wrinkles furrowing his swarthy face, double-jointed;" and so he threw his but his form hardly yielding to the fingers "' out of joint," backward and pressure of years. Mr. Hanson was by forward. his side. In a few minutes Eleazer I mention these incidents, not as NWilliarms entered; and it was impres- proving much on the main question, sive to observe the greeting of these old but because they happened; throlwing, men. They spoke together in the In- I thought, an aspect of simple sincerity dian dialect for some tine, then in Eng- on the intercourse of these simple but lish, then again in Indian, just as the dissimilar old men. subject of their discourse seemed to I recollect asking Skenondouglh of prompt. They had not seen one an- his age. He replied, jocosely, other for a long period; and remli- " I am old enough to be in my second niscences seemed to start up in rapid childhood, as they say; for, look here succession, while various emotions were -I am getting a second set of doubleevinced to the observer by their vary- teeth;" and he opened his mouth, and ing expressions of countenance-now showed us, sure enough, a fresh set of sad, now merry, and now dubious, as if molars, which, also, he made us touch the recollections of one perplexed the with our fingers. other. The substance of Skenondough's tesI watched thiis converse of mingled timony was, finally, put to paper, sublanguages and pantomime, till I feared scribed and sworn to, as follows: that the long summer afternoon would i"John O'Brien, a half-breed Indian, otherwear away, unless we went to business. wise known as Skenondough, deposes and says, Whereupon Skenondough settled him- that he resides in the town of Salina, Onondaga self, and related his story, beginning at County, State of New York; that he is known the year 1795, when he first saw Wil- to the Hon. P. Sken Smith, of Philadelphia, and to Gerrit Smith, Squire Johnson, Mayor liams and talked French with him-a Baldwin, and Lawyer Wood, of Syracuse; that'" fou boy," as he said; thence he pur- he is now directly from Philadelphia, where he sued the story to the time when this boy was taken sick on his way from Washington, dove into Lsake G~eorfge, and was taken and is returning to Salina; that he is now very aged, lveing been born in Stockbridge, akass., out of the water half-drowned, and car- aged, having been born in Stockbridge, ass. in 1752; that his father was an Irishman, of ried into Williams' wigwam on the the name of Wm. O'Brien, and his mother an shore-after which event he recovered Indian woman of the Oneida tribe, named Mary VO;, I. —22 338 PUTNAM'S MAGAZINE. [Sept. Skenondough; that, at the age of twelve years, ferred to the Oneidas." This deponent was, at he was sent from America to France, for his the time, a member of the General Council of education, and remained there until during the the Nation, serving in the capacity of Marshal, War of the Revolution, when he returned, in and gave, himself, the returns to Captain Parthe same ship with La Fayette, to America. ish; and this deponent has seen the record of After his return, this deponent went among the census; which record may probably be the Oneida Indians, in the State of New York; found at Canandaigua, by writing to Mr. Edand, in the year 1795, was at Ticonderoga, on ward Parish aforesaid. Lake George.'" This deponent further says, that he re "At that time, two Frenchmen came to the members the spot at which the child, none Indians on Lake George, and this deponent known as Eleazer, fell into the water, and that conversed with them, in their own language. it was at the south end of Lake George, on the Their names deponent does not remember. west side, not far from the old Fort. They had with them a boy, which this depo- "JOHN O'B3aIEN." nent supposed to be between ten and twelve years of age. This boy, the deponent talked with 1853 b in the French language. The two Frenchmen Z RICHARD BUSTEED, told this deponent that the boy was French, by Commissioner o', Commissioner of Deeds, birth. inhe boy seemed weak and sickly, and43 William Stree Ne ork " 43 William Street, New York." his mind was wandering, so that he seemed rather silly. The review of this remarkable testi" This child, after the Frenchmen had de. mony revives the impression of its truth, parted, this deponent saw in the family of which it made at the time. Williams Thomas Williams, an Indian, where the child lived. This deponent further recollects that sat as one who was hearing tidings that he was at Lake George some time after this, were new and strange. While old Skenwhen this boy, playing with other children, fell, ondoug'h was relating his early history, or threw himself, from a rock into the Lake, his jaw drooped, and his eyes were and was taken out with a wound, he thinks up- fixed on the relator with intense earneston the head, and was carried into the hut of Thomas Williams. After this he from time to ness; but when the story reached his time saw the boy, and that boy is the person middle life, his attitude and expression now known as the Rev. Eleazer Williams. were changed, and he uttered ejacula"Deponent further declares, that, in 1815, tions, now and then, such as, "Yes!." when Mr. Williams first came to Oneida Castle I remember." Especially when Skento preach to the Indians, deponent was there, and asked Mr. Williams if he remembered his ondough testifed that Captain Parlsh fall into the Lake; which he did not. Depo- was appointed by the General Governnent further declares, that one of the two ment as agent of the Six Nations, WilFrenchmen who brought the child to Lake liams interrupted, and said, that " CapGeorge seemed to have the appearance of a tain Parish was appointed by the State priest of the Church of Rome. Deponent recollects Colonel Lewis, Captain Peters, Captain of New York;" whereupon there was a Jacob Francis, chiefs of the St. Regis tribe, slight discussion, and Skenondough's who always believed Mr. Williams to be a testimony was amended, as above, by Frenchman. the dubious alternate. While rendering " This deponent also declares, that lie was his testimony the picturesque old Inacquainted with Thomas Williams, and Mary, holding it beAnn his wife, and that there is no resemblance between the Rev. Eleazer Williams and the said tween his legs, and gazing, as it were, Thomas Williams, or his wife, or any of the into the deep past. But during the inchildren of the said Thomas Williams and his tervals, when Mr. Busteed was recording wife Mary Ann, who was also known to this the important facts, the conversation deponent. This deponent also further declares, that turned on the most commonplace topics; "This deponent also firther declares, that Captain Jasper Parish, of Canandaigua,was ap- such as "the weather," and' what Wilpointed, by the General or State Government, liams was in the city for," and'" when agent for the Six Nations, some time before the Skenondough was to leave;" as if the War of 1812; and after the war was over, in mind demanded relief from its musings 1815, he took the census of each family, for the and its memories. purpose of distributing the presents from the Government. Eleazer Williams was set down The Rev. Mr. Hanson's fine face by Captain Parish, on the record, as "a French- brightened as the narrator proceeded man, adopted by the St. Regis tribe, and trans- like one whose disputed conjectures 1868.] Louis XVII. AND ELEAZER WILLIAMS. 339 were verified as truth. I was in the in- of New Orleans, acquainting him with tellectual attitude of a critic, hardly a a fact which he deemed decisive on the skeptic, yet requiring further confirma- question of the identity of Eleazer Wiltion of the credibility of the witness. liams and the Dauphin Louis Charles. I resolved on the spot, therefore, to ask The letter stated that further informafor this confirmation. It occurred to tion had been derived from the old perme, also, to provide a lasting memorial son (Mrs. Margaret Deboit, whose affidaof this interview, by requesting that vit, on another point, is published in both Skenondough and Williams would "The Lost Prince," p. 430; Append., consent to the daguerreotyping of their 475), who was some time in the houselikenesses so that other eyes than mine hold of Count de Provence and the might picture these old men, and see Duchesse d'Angoulkme. This informathe difference in their type of physiog- tion, he said, accorded with a letter from nomy. Madame Rambaud to the Duchesse Williams and Skenondough consent- D'Angouleme, lately brought to his noed; and, by appointment, we proceeded tice. The substance of this fresh evito Brady's Gallery, where their like- dence was this: that, when Naundorf's nesses were admirably taken. These claim to be the Dauphin was rejected by pictures are deposited with the Long the Duchesse d'Angoulhme, she had Island Historical Society.* said that " when her brother should be disIn pursuance of my desire to learn covered, if he were yet alive, there would the credibility of old Skenondough, I be found, on the back of his shoulder, the addressed a letter, on the 18th of June, mark of the lancet in the shape of a cres1853, to the Hon. Peter Sken Smith, of cent, which was made there by the surgeon, Philadelphia; from whom I received at the time of the inoculation of th7e Dauthe following reply: phin, Jbr the purpose of identification." " My dear Sir: I have been much indisposed, And the letter begged Mr. Hanson to and not able to answer your letter of the 1Sth see if such a mark was on the shoulder ult. till now, and I am still weak. I have of Eleazer Williams. known John O'Brien Skenondough, a half- I asked Mr. Hanson if he had exambreed Indian of the Oneida tribe, for thirty ined into the case. He replied that he years and upwards. I suspect the " important testimony " from him, which you refer to, re- had; and the mark was there, and he lates to the Rev. MIr. Williams. wished me to verify it. He said, be" I hesitate not to say, Skenondough can be sides, that if he had not found the scar relied on. I also know much of Mr. Williams. of identification, his opinion would "'In much haste, very truly and respectfully likely have been upset; for he might "Yours, " P. S MENSITH." not justly have disputed the evidence of this woman's testimony, since he IV. About this time Mr. Williams was himself had journeyed to New Orleans carrying through the press his revised to procure her affidavit. Time might edition of the "Book of Common Pray- indeed have obliterated the wound er," translated by him into the Mohawk and this fresh testimony might be reand Iroquois languages, by the request jected as hearsay; yet, nevertheless, he of the Domestic Committee of the Board had suffered trepidation in asking Mr. of Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Williams to allow him to put his theory Church. This work required his fre- to the test; and when he had seen, with quent, and sometimes prolonged, sojourn his own eyes, this remarkable confirmain New York. tion of his faith, he could not doubt of It was during this period when Mr. the truth, and wished, as I had served Hanson called on me, to say that he had him heretofore, that I would consent to received a letter from Mrs. Com. Read, bear witness to what I might also see. I found myself in a very delicate posi* We have not considered it necessary to engrave tion. It was to request an nged and them, but any one interested can see them at our office.-Editor. venerable man to strip his back, that 540 PUTNAM'S MAGAZINE. [Sept. I might subject him to a scrutiny; but from regard to the desire of the while, on the other hand, I might, by Rev. Mr. Hanson." declining, leave my friend alone to bear "Certainly," he replied; " I should the sarcasms tossed at him as a ro- be ungrateful to decline compliance mancer and a credulous person. I con- with Mr. Hanson's desire." sented. A day or two after,* Mr. Hanson Accordingly, Williams threw off his was to have his infant-child baptized coat and vest, and allowed me to scruby the Rev. Dr. Hawks, in Calvary tinize the mysterious mark. The li4ht Church, New York. I promised to be of the robing-room was very dim. I present on that occasion, if possible. could see the deep pit of the inoculation I arrived just after the administration on the arm. I could not discern on the of the Sacrament, when the parties back of the shoulder any thing peculiar. were dispersing, and proceeded to the Nor could Mr. Hanson. Williams prerobing-room, where I found Mr. Wil- served the same calm composure while liams (who had been sponsor to the we were discussing the matter. child), and Mr. Hanson, awaiting. " Will you step out into the church a I shall not forget this meeting, nor moment? there is no one there," I sugthe dignified bearing of Mr. Williams. gested. I was reluctant to proceed. Yet I ven-'" If you wish it," said Mr. Williams. tured to say, " I hear that you bear a I opened the door, and he followed mark on your shoulder, such as is said me outside; when, turning his shoulder to have been put on the Dauphin for his to the light, there was the cicatrix, in identification. Have you such a mark? " the shape of a crescent, three-fourths of Williams replied, with a smile, an inch across, nearly obliterated, yet "'They tell me I have; but I have palpable and unmistakable. Hanson never seen it." saw it again, and tears silently stole There was no elation, no symptom of down his cheeks. It was proof positive triumph, no suggestion that this report to him, now that he hadfound THE LOST of his " identification " had ruffled the PRINCE. He grasped my hand. We serenity of his soul as a simple mission- said nothing, except my ejaculations, ary to the Indians. "The mark is there! I see it with my I inquired if he would "' submit to my eyes! What does it mean? He must, examination, not from idle curiosity, indeed, be the Dauphin! " Such was the final personal observa* The record of the baptism above referred to is on that fell to my lot to test the truth certified by Rev. W. D. Walker, assistant-minister of Calvary Church, as being in the register of that Of the question, church, and as occurring June 14,1853, Eleazer Wil- " Were Louis XVII. and Eleazer TiTliams being one of the sponsors.-Editor Putnam's lams the sme person Magazine.