Taylor, he might desire some local information, which I could give him as readily as most men. Some time elapsed, and I heard nothing more on the subject, which was beginning to fade from my mind, when one day, while on board a steamer on Lake Michigan, I had an interview with the Prince, who shortly after, at Green Bay, revealed the secret of my birth."

Mr. Williams then proceeded to give me many of the incidents connected with this memorable interview; but, as I have within a few days past, drawn from him an account, in every way more circumstantial, of all that occurred, I will postpone further particulars until the subject recurs in the order of events.

To return again to our conversation. "Is your reputed mother," I inquired, "living, the Indian woman who brought you up? Is it not easy to ascertain from her, whether or not you are her child? What does she say upon the subject?"

"My reputed mother," he said, "is still living at a very advanced age. She is now at Caughnawaga. I ought, as soon as the Prince told me the secret of my birth, to have returned to the East and seen her. But I unfortunately neglected to do so for some time, and when I did come, I found that the Romish Priests had been tampering with her, and that her mouth was hermetically sealed. Since I have been at St. Regis, I have learned from the Indians, that the priests said to her 'Suppose that this man should prove to be heir to a throne on the other side of the Great Salt Lake, what injury may he not do to the church. He has been brought up a Protestant, and if he obtained sovereign power it would be the ruin of many souls. You must therefore say nothing one way or the other, but keep entirely silent.' And so all my efforts to extract any thing from her were unavailing. Her immovable Indian obstinacy has hitherto been proof against every effort I could make. But I have not given up hope yet, and will try her again. When asked the direct question, Is Eleazer Williams your son? she will neither answer yes nor no-but keeps her mouth shut, and seems indifferent to what is said. When hard pressed indeed on one occasion, she has been known to say, 'Do you think that Eleazer is a bastard?' but that was all. If however the question is put to her in an indirect form, she will begin in the monotonous manner in which ignorant people repeat a story in which they have been drilled by others, and have told for years in one way, to give a list of her children, and the dates of their birth, bringing in my name at a particular place. But we have had the Baptismal register

at Caughnawaga examined, and the priest was made to certify to it, and though the names of all the rest of her children are recorded there, together with the dates of their birth and baptism, mine does not occur there; and the births of the children follow so closely upon each other at regular intervals, of two years between each, that it does not seem naturally possible I could have been her child, unless I was twin to some other child whose birth and baptism are recorded while mine are nota thing which, when we take into consideration the exactness and fidelity with which such things are transacted in the church of Rome, does not seem probable, and scarcely possible. The silence of the Baptismal register may therefore be deemed conclusive proof that this Indian woman is not my mother.

"And then comes in," continued Williams, "evidence of a different description. A French gentleman died at New Orleans, in 1848, named Belanger, who confessed on his death-bed that he was the person who brought the Dauphin to this country, and placed him among the Indians, in the northern part of the State of New-York. It seems that Belanger had taken a solemn oath of secresy, alike for the preservation of the Dauphin, and the safety of those who were instrumental in effecting his escape, but the near approach of death, and the altered circumstances of the times, induced him to break silence before his departure from the world. He died in January 1848. Now the person who had charge of the Dauphin after the death of Simon, stabbed a man in a political quarrel in France, and fled for safety. He it was I suppose who, with the assistance and connivance of others, carried the youth with him to the Low Countries, and thence to England. He must have changed his own name for greater security, crossed the Atlantic, and after depositing him with the Indians, gone to Louisiana and there lived and died.

"The next link in the evidence is yet more singular. A French gentleman hearing my story, brought a printed account of the captivity of the Dauphin, and read me a note in which it was stated, that Simon the jailer having become incensed with the Prince for some childish offence, took a towel which was hanging on a nail, and in snatching it hastily drew out the nail with it, and inflicted two blows upon his face, one over the left eye, and the other on the right side of the nose. And now, said he, let me look at your face. When he did so, and saw the scars on the spots indicated in the memoirs he exclaimed, Mon Dieu-what proof do I want more?'

"But that is not all," he continued. "In the same memoirs it is said, that the Dauphin died of scrofula, and that the disease was on his knees. My knees are eaten up with scrofula, and there are no other scrofulous marks on my body. Such are the main points of evidence on which my claim rests, and you may judge of their strength—and further I can only refer you to the alleged resemblance between me and Louis XVIII. and the Bourbon family in general. I remember a gentleman put his hand over the name attached to a picture of Louis XVIII., and asked a friend whose portrait it was, 'That of Mr. Williams,' was the reply. I have somewhat of a curiosity in my valise, and will show it you if you would like to see it. It is a dress of Marie Antoinette. It was given me by a person who bought it in France, and who hearing my story, and considering me the rightful owner, made me a present of it."

He then went forward, opened his valise and returned with a small bundle under his arm, which he carried into the upper saloon for the sake of privacy. It is of course impossible to say whether the dress which he showed me is what it is asserted to be, but from its appearance it certainly may be so. It was a magni

ficent but somewhat faded brocade silk. It had been taken to pieces, and consisted of a skirt, back piece, stomacher, and train ten or twelve feet in length. The waist was very slender. There is pleasure in believing in the truth of memorials of the past, and I cannot envy the critical coldness of one who would ridicule me for surrendering myself, under the influence of the scene, to the belief, that the strange old gentleman before me, whose very aspect is a problem, was son to the fair being whose queenly form that faded dress had once contained, as she moved noblest and loveliest in the Halls of Versailles; and that in childish beauty and innocence, the heir of crowns, and the hope of kingdoms, the observed of all observers, he had rested fondly against its silken folds when the living loveliness of Marie Antoinette was within it. However I am not writing Romance, but a matter-of-fact account of an adventure on a steamboat.

I now proceeded to scrutinize more closely the form, features and general appearance of Mr. Williams, and to reexamine the scars on his face. He is an intelligent, noble-looking old man, with no trace, however slight, of the Indian about him except what may be fairly accounted for by his long residence among Indians. Being far more familiar with their language than with English, which latter he

speaks correctly and even eloquently as far as style is concerned, but pronounces imperfectly; his manner of talking reminds you of an Indian, and he has the habit of shrugging his shoulders and gesticulating like one; but he has the port and presence of an European gentleman of high rank; a nameless something which I never saw but in persons accustomed to command; a countenance bronzed by exposure below the eyebrows; a fair, high, ample, intellectual but receding forehead; a slightly aquiline but rather small nose; a long Austrian lip, the expression of which is of exceeding sweetness when in repose; full fleshy cheeks but not high cheek bones; dark, bright, merry eyes of hazel hue; graceful, well-formed neck; strong muscular limbs, indicating health and great activity; small hands and feet, and dark hair, sprinkled with gray, as fine in texture as silk. I should never have taken him for an Indian. Some persons who saw him several years ago tell me that their impression is that he looked partially like one, but admit that their opinion may have been influenced by their having been previously told that he was of Indian extraction. I will here insert a description of him by another hand, furnished me by Mr. Williams. "His complexion is rather dark, like that of one who had become bronzed by living much in the open air, and he passes for a half-breed. But his features are decidedly European, rather heavily moulded, and strongly characterized by the full, protuberant Austrian lips. This the experienced observer is well aware is never found in the aboriginal, and very rarely among the Americans themselves. His head is well formed, and sits proudly on his shoulders. His eyes are dark but not black. His hair may be called black, is rich and glossy and interspersed with gray. His eyebrows are full, and of the same color-upon the left is a scar. beard is heavy and nose aquiline. nostril is large and finely cut. His temperament is genial with a dash of vivacity in his manners, he is fond of good living, and inclines to embonpoint, which is the characteristic of his (the Bourbon) family."

His

The

While refolding the dress of the poor queen, I asked him if he could account for the conduct of the Prince de Joinville in disclosing so important a secret as that of his royal birth, and requesting him to give up rights previously unknown to him, and which without information derived from the Prince he would have had no means of ascertaining. He replied in substance that it might indeed seem strange. The only satisfactory explanation which he would suggest was that al

though he was personally ignorant of his origin, yet there were those both in Europe and this country who were acquainted with it, and that Louis Philippe being at that time anxious to fortify his family in power by every possible means, contracting alliances with other royal lines of Europe, yet knew that in him existed an obstacle which might possibly prevent the accomplishment of all his designs, and had therefore perhaps delegated his son to reveal the fact to him so as to escape the consequences of its coming to light some other way. However I may add that at this interview Mr. Williams positively declined stating all that passed between him and the Prince de Joinville.

"I do not trouble my mind," he contin

ued, "much about the matter, otherwise I might easily render myself unhappy by repining at the will of God. But I submit myself entirely to His will. My story is on the winds of Heaven, and will work its way without me. They have got it in France. Copies of my daguerreotype have been sent to eminent men there. God in His providence must have some mysterious ends to answer, or He never would have brought me so low from such a height. He has cast my lot among this poor Indian people, and I have ministered and will minister to them, if it please Him until death. I don't want a crown. I am convinced of my royal descent; so are my family. The idea of royalty is in our minds, and we will never

the shoulder as worn by European princes. In the daguerreotype the lights and shadows of his marked and expressive face are brought fully out, and the sun's pencil makes him look every inch a king. Strange indeed, if a St. Regis Indian could be the original of such a portrait drawn by so unfailing an artist. The steamboat by this time was drawing near to Burlington, and Williams employed the few moments that remained, in describing his situation at St. Regis. He said that having left his wife in the West he was living alone in a little hut, almost destitute of the necessaries of life, without books, without companions, except the Indians, and that he occupied his time in teaching a few children.

The boat stopped-he hurried down, and I parted with him.

On arriving in New-York I made inquiries concerning the ecclesiastical standing of Mr. Williams, and found that there was a difficulty of determining to what jurisdiction he belonged, resulting from his having been sent out as missionary to Green Bay previous to the formation of the Diocese of Wisconsin, and the consecration of Bishop Kemper, who found him on the field, but without dimissory letters from the Bishop of New-York. Distance and the lapse of time made the authorities of New-York unwilling to recognise him as one of the clergy of this Diocese, and thus one who perhaps has flowing in his veins the blood of Capet and St. Louis, Henri Quatre and Louis le Grand, Maria Theresa and Marie Antoinette, though a minister of Christ was a rejected wanderer. Bishop Kemper has, however, determined that he does not belong to his jurisdiction, and the standing committee of NewYork conceiving that he must have some belongings have acknowledged him as a clergyman of this diocese.

My interview with Mr. Williams soon had the effect of bringing unexpected evidence to light. I repeated to many persons our conversation, and among others to the Rev. Dr. Hawks, at whose request I embodied in a letter to him the substance of what Williams had said. On reading this, in the presence of some friends, among whom was Dr. J. W. Francis, this gentleman related the following circumstances known to himself.

In the year 1794, 5 or 6, a French gentleman, named Le Ray de Chaumont, came to this country from France, and settled at Rosse, in St. Lawrence county, where he bought lands, and lived in great opulence until about twenty years ago, when, in the year 1832, at the accession of Louis Philippe, he returned to France, and, as I have lately learned, went to his father's

chateau, at Chaumont. It is not known whether or not he be still living. His son married an American lady, but it is believed they have all removed. From inquiries recently made I find that Le Ray, as he was familiarly called in St. Lawrence county, had much to do with the Indians both at Ogdensburg and St. Regis; mixed himself up a great deal with politics, and was accused, justly or not I do not know. of plotting with the Indians against the government of the United States. He lived in the vicinity of the spot in which Williams was reared, from the time in which it is supposed that the Dauphin was brought to this country until his own return to France.

Now, in the year 1818, there was a social party at the house of Dr. Hosack, in New-York. There were present, Dr. Macneven. Counsellor Sampson, Thomas Cooper, of Carlisle, Count Jean D'Angeley, Dr. John W. Francis, and the French Minister, Genet. Of these Dr. Francis alone survives. In the course of conversation, the subject of the Dauphin was introduced, and the inquiry was started as to his fate. At length Genet distinctly said, "Gentlemen, the Dauphin of France is not dead, but was brought to America." The conversation on this interesting subject was continued for some time, and Genet informed the company, among other things, that he believed the Dauphin was in Western New-York, and that Le Ray de Chaumont knew all about it.

From every thing which I can ascertain of Le Ray, he was the very man to be mixed up in an affair of this kind, and there is every probability that on his return to France he communicated with Louis Philippe, and this may have led to the mission of the Prince de Joinville. But even before this time, it seems likely that communication was had with France on the subject. Dr. Francis states that in the year 1817, Count Real, Prefect of Paris, and Count Jean D'Angeley, were in this country together, and in conference with Le Ray de Chaumont, and there is reason to suspect, from the peculiarities of the case, that their visit to this country had some reference to the Dauphin.

By those who have hitherto paid attention to this mysterious subject, it has been supposed that the young Prince was smuggled into this country by his friends, and hidden away among the Indians to conceal him from the Jacobins. But the circumstances just stated throw great light on the whole affair, and render the story, to my mind, more probable. It does not seem likely that the friends of the Prince would be able to rescue him without the connivance of his enemies, and when we bear

in mind the decree of the Convention in 1794, and the desire of those then in power in France to get rid of him without bloodshed, it seems every way likely that individuals in both parties would have a hand in the transaction, and keep an eye upon the movements of the Dauphin. In after years other motives would come into operation, and the various claimants to the throne would use every effort to suppress the knowledge of the fact, or provide against the consequences of it when divulged.

Such was nearly the amount of my information on this subject until a few weeks ago, when I opened a correspondence with Mr. Williams, and received several letters from him. I afterwards went to St. Lawrence county, in order to see him -complete my knowledge of details, and make inquiries, which can only be successfully made on the spot. His temporary absence on missionary service deprived me of the pleasure of seeing him, but I obtained full insight into his position, estimation in the neighborhood, and other things necessary to the formation of a correct judgment. He is missionary at St. Regis and Hogansburg, both miserable lonely places, receiving no payment from the Indians among whom he labors, and but a small stipend from the Missionary Committee. The rigors of the climate are excessive; the thermometer being frequently 30° below zero, and one can scarcely conceive a situation for an intelligent mind more lonely, more unfriended, more destitute. He lives on the Indian reservation, a wild tract of woodland, partially cleared, here and there, at the edges. Dead evergreen swamps, decayed vegetation, rude fences, half prostrate, surround the rickety shed, admitting the cold at a thousand crevices, in which reside poor Williams and the old Indian woman, his reputed mother, whom he heroically treats as if she were his parent, though believing himself to be the son of the peerless Marie Antoinette.* I found him well spoken of without exception, by all whom I conversed with in the vicinity, a good neighbor, an active missionary, a brave, cheerful old man, having a kind word for all, and breasting fate with nothing outward to encourage him. He has no church building. He is trying to build a school-house on the Indian reservation,

but it stands roofless in the piercing cold, the picture of desolation.

The impression among all who know him, whether white persons or Indians, is, that he is not an Indian; and I conceive no fact in the world to be more certain than this. A respectable neighbor gave me a certificate, from which the following is an extract: "I was brought up at Hogansburg, and have served in the army, as a private, in Florida, under General Worth. I have known Indians of various tribes, especially the Seminoles and the Iroquois. I have known Indians as long as I have known white men. I am personally acquainted with the Rev. Eleazer Williams, and have known him since my childhood. I do not believe him to be an Indian. He is entirely unlike the rest of his family. I knew his supposed brothers. They bore no resemblance to Eleazer. He looks like a German or a Frenchman. They were evidently Indians. I know an Indian as well as a cow or a horse." An intelligent Indian, who spoke English, said, "He speaks very good Indian; but he is not like any Indian I ever saw. When I first met him, I took him for an American. He is as much like a Frenchman as any thing." His former landlady, at Hogansburg, said, "I don't know whether he is Indian or

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