EX BIBLIOTHECA CAR. I. TABORI S. AUGUSTE D E BOURDON, nil. DU'IMIIV l.nriS \V!l KIXC OF !'i:\\<| <\ U G i : M EVf ' S "DIEU ET MON DROITr «^>^ THE DAUPHIN-LOUIS XVII., KING OF FRANCE. HIS DELIVERANCE FROM THE TOWER OF THE TEMPLE AT PARKS, ADOPTION, AND SUBSEQUENT CAREER IN ENGLAND. Drtiiratro to THK FRENCH NATION AND EUROPEAN POWERS. BY AUGUSTE DE BOURBON (SON OF LOUIS XVII. ( Ho, list! Astrjea, judge ! — Auguste dc Bourbon. lip LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON, NEW BURLINGTON STREET UufilijsDcrsS in Orbinarn to I?cr rttlajcpty tljc Oucni. i 8; 6. ISAAC FOOT LIBRARY > C . LIBRARY UMV ™Y OP CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA M4 PREFACE. Custom has established the necessity of introducing" a work to its readers, through the medium of a preface. Conforming- to the rule, the remarks offered will be of an historical character, as the present work refers to a period in history that has reverberated throughout the civilised world, revealing the dissimilar attributes of humanity, worthy the calm consideration of the philosopher, states- man, and private individual, as furnishing important lessons in political wisdom. The period is that of the Great French Revolution. The subject, the veritable fate of Louis Charles, Dauphin of France, son of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette. Imprimis, attention is directed to the illustrious list of meritorious names that ennoble the historical pages of all countries, who have experienced prejudice and bigotry iv PREFACE. in dispelling abuses and fallacies, yet; whose theories are now universally accepted. Legion might be named who have manfully and successfully rectified the hallucinations and prejudices of their predecessors and contemporaries. The cause of Louis XVII. is but the repetition of history. It is not the inconsistency of the pretensions that are opposed, but; the principles and special party interests, involved under its significance. What is the case in the France of the present day, and what has it been since 1792 ? Divided and subdivided into factions. The Legitimists, fostering the hope of re- suscitating the legitimate succession, in the person of the Count de Chambord — the Orleanists, the Count de Paris — the Napoleonists, the Prince Imperial — the Re- publicans, an elective presidency, and popular agitators the spoils of chance. These are distinct antagonistic parties, each struggling for precedence, who have a special political interest in assenting in the fallacy of Louis XVI I. 's demise in the Temple, for no other motive: than clique emolument. History emphatically confirms the interregnum from 1 789 till the accession of Bonaparte as one of most per- nicious and disastrous consequence. Tyranny usurped the executive power, whilst fear and lamentation were attributes with all, except : desperadoes. Under Bona- PREFACE. v parte Europe was convulsed. Needless warfare exacted the llower of France for the especial gratification and ambition of a military despot. Bonaparte's power ended, then the Restoration in the person of the long-exiled Count de Provence as Louis XVIII. At his decease the Count d'Artois succeeded as Charles X., who sub- sequently abdicated in favour of his grandson, the Duke de Bordeaux. Orleanism, however, supplanted him. Revolution nominated Louis Philippe, King of the French, not, "King of France" and ultimately ob- liged him to relinquish regality and make off with all possible speed. The fate of his sire, the regicide "Egalite Philippe," Due d'Orleans, was an unpleasant reminis- cence and prompted a precipitate retreat from the capital. Philosophy succeeded, but soon made way for the tradi- tionary name of Bonaparte, which brought Louis Napo- leon to the fore, as President of a Republic. Ambition converted the Republic into an Empire, which internal dissension overthrew. Dictators and Presidents have reigned since, and in 1876 a modern Republic essays its panacea. Should it prove itself moderate, ingenuous, prudent, and just, it will meet heart)- and sincere support. Time alone will record whether its system is advantageous or otherwise, and in what its practical superiority. Un- fortunately, its opening seances have acknowledged and vi PREFACE. ratified, that ere now ; should be obsolete party animosity. The unscrupulous invalidation of parliamentary elections resorted to by the majority, and wholesale relegating into private life men of eminence, regardless of equity, is not a reassuring sign. Systematic vengeance has been the political code. No generosity, no magnanimity, but ostracism where political tenets differed. The triumph of the Republican system, should it pursue a reign of in- tolerance, will be very questionable. If history errs not, its sagacity will be severely tried in moderating in its members the impetus to ambition, thence the jealousies, intrigues, and implacable divisions rife in society. In an hereditary monarchical succession it is otherwise, for that principle was established for the security, interest, prosperity, and peace of all classes of society, as a Nation's defence against powerful and ambitious aspirants, who, in the haphazard regality system, are continually vigilant in intriguing for supreme power. Whatever may be the demerits of an Hereditary Monarchy, it is superlatively preferable to parliamentary manoeuvring for state supre- macy, and that insuperable sighing and pandering for the vox-populi, so characteristic with the blatant-blarney orator, whose cajolery offers Utopia to the unwary, but who too often substitutes as a final legacy, deception and desolation. PREFACE. vii Living' celebrities in contemporaneous literati, who en- dorse the French revolutionary government of 1795' political expedient of Louis XVII. 's demise in the Temple, should reflect on what material proof it is guaranteed. The lineal descendant of Louis XVII. will never be obstinate against unimpeachable evidence, when the same is produced, " not inferred" but cannot accept inference " solely " as fact. However, error and bigotry must sooner or later give place to enlightenment, for fallacy is but a spectre, that fears the ordeal of com- mon sense. The voice of reason peremptorily demands the 1795 expedient of Louis XVI I. 's death at the Temple, should be unmasked, and with that special object in view, the present work is offered, for public consideration. AUGUSTE DE BOURBON. London*, November, 1S76. P.S. — It has seemed desirable to publish in the pre- sent volume a patriotic song, entitled " Vive li Liberie Frangaise" the words and music by Louis XVII., see page 125. CONTENTS. I. THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED - i II. LOUIS XVII.'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836 - 38 III. PROMINENT ATTEMPTS ENTERTAINED FOR RELEASING THE ROYAL FAMILY OF FRANCE FROM THE OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION TILL 1793 - - - - - - 87 IV. IDENTITY AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE - 10S V. LOUIS XVII.'S CAREER FROM 1S38 TILL HIS DEMISE 120 VI. INTERROGATION AND APPEAL - -121 VII. PATRIOTIC SONG— " VIVE LA LIBERTP: FRAN- CHAISE" - 123 THE TOWER OF THE TEMPLE AT PARIS, FROM 1792 TILL 1795. I. THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. The France of to-day, with its multitudinous aspi- Theheredi- tary succes- rants for supreme power and systematic chaotic l^nce. political combinations, has prompted the following concise history of Louis XVII., the proclaimed, but uncrowned ; Kino- of France.* Divergent opinions exist respecting his true history. The legitimate succession, by imprescriptible right, being involved under its significance, renders a " ; This note is given, to deter those ; who pretend to ignore (most inconsistently) the remembrance of a Louis XVII., King of France. However, there was a Louis XVIII. After the execution of Louis XVI., his son, then a prisoner in the Tower of the Temple, was proclaimed in the usual manner. Cer- tainly not by the Revolutionary Government of Paris of 1793, but ; by the Royalist army — the Emigres — the orderly portion of France, who dared have a free voice on the subject, (which was not permitted on French soil,) and recognised by the puissant Powers. — See Fckard's " M'emoircs Historiques stir Louis XVII." p. 131. I 2 THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. strict impartiality necessary, (irrespective of pre- conceived notions on the subject,) in pronouncing matK- judgment on the present historical details, the evidence offered ; being sufficient to demand the serious attention of France, and the diplomatic consideration of the European Powers. Diplomacy. Diplomacy, under certain contingencies, has a convenient method of overruling truth, if State efficfslouis policy desires it. Nevertheless ; loyalty succeeded escapefrom in effecting the liberation of Louis XVII. from the the Temple. Temple, and justice now imperatively demands, the political expedient of i 795, should be unmasked. Fam£°at al In August, 1792, the Royal Family of France e ' were incarcerated in the Temple, at Paris. Then followed that ever-memorable royal heroic resig- nation maintained against misdirected malice, which exacted, as a victim, the life of Louis XVI., who ascended the scaffold on the 21st January, 1793. Sorrow and care then laid their inexorable burdens on the royal captives, whilst sympathy and devo- tion whispered at times persuasive hopes to the unfortunate Marie Antoinette of deliverance ; for courage — yes ! indomitable courage and fidelity — found an echo in the heart of more than one ' Municipal/ whose loyalty and indefatigable per- severance in endeavouring to rescue the Royal Family from their foes, will be memorably re- corded to the remotest posterity. General In July, 1 70^, a rumour became current that Dillon. J . . General Dillon, intended, by a coup d'etat, to THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 3 rescue the Royal Family from the Temple, and proclaim the son of Louis XVI. ' King,' under the regency of Marie Antoinette, during his minority. This rumour occasioned the General's arrest, and the separation of the Dauphin from his mother. The young King was then consigned to the custody ^;;*Y n - of one, ' Simon,' " (a shoemaker,)" whose extreme cu civism had rendered him conspicuous, and strongly recommended him to the notice of Marat and Robespierre, whose influence procured him the guardianship of the young King at the Temple, with a salary of 500 francs a month. Thus writes Louis XVII. in his " Antobio- u XVI I. 's Autobiojrra- tory umour of Louis XVII.'s escape. graphy" (published at Ridgway's, Piccadilly, Lon- pjjj=J j don,) in the introductory paragraph: "It must ^ paragrai distinctly understood that all recollections, as much as possible, have been destroyed in me, regarding such a place as the Tower of the Temple" Fourdaysafterthe Dauphin had been placedunder f Simon's custody, a report was circulated in Paris, that, notwithstanding the arrest of General Dillon and his accomplices, the deliverance of Louis XVII. had been accomplished — as he had been seen on the boulevards and carried in triumph to St. Cloud. The guard at the Temple, on inquiry, declared it had not seen Louis XVII. since he had been Deputation from the under Simon's charge. The Committee of Public „ f ™," ce Safety, on account of this disquieting report, theiempie " 7th Jul}-," sent a deputation to the Temple to 4 THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. make an official inquiry respecting the Dauphin's safety. On its arrival the Dauphin was taken into the garden ; for the guard to verify his safe custody. Sporfw the The official statement made by ' Drouet' to the comxmion.; National Convention respecting the visit to the Temple was : — " Some evil-disposed or senseless persons have been pleased to spread a report that Capet's son had escaped and had been carried in triumph to Saint-Cloud. Although they were convinced of the impossibility of such an escape, your Committee of Public Safety directed us, Maure, Chabot, Dumont, and myself, to make an official report of the presence of the prisoner. We repaired to the Temple accordingly, and, in the first apartment, found Capet's son quietly playing at draughts with his mentor, &c, &c." — Le Monitcur, Paris, 9th July, 1793- The following narration, in the Meves " Louis XVII. Autobiography" will account for the above circumstance : " One afternoon I recollect being taken out by Simon and his wife to the house of some friends of theirs. Whilst there, the lady of the house took me into her petit cabinet, and gave me some delicious comfiture. Before her leaving the room, she placed the jar containing the comfiture on the upper shelf of the cupboard, and left me alone. After she had been gone some time, I got upon a chair to get some more of the comfiture but, being unable to reach it, I mounted a high A remi- niscence. THE DA UPHIN MYSTER Y EXPLAINED. 5 round box, and in attempting to reach the shelf, I overturned the box and fell on the floor. The noise brought the company into the room. Upon leaving the house I was mounted on Simon's shoulders, and began singing. This attracted a crowd, which followed, cheering us, across the Pont Neuf, till we came to the entrance of the Temple." Certain incidents are narrated in the " Autobio- A" incident at the graphy" as reminiscences of the Tower of the Iempc ' Temple ; amongst these, the following : " Simon used to take me up the winding stair- case, into which the door led from the parlour, to a large-sized room at the top of the building. The centre of this strangely-built room, was remarkably high, being of a conical shape. A swing was fastened to a beam in the cone, and in this room it was, that Simon used to make me swing and run as fast as I could. On one occasion another boy was present, who, after I had finished swinging, took my place ; but, upon his attempting to strike the side of the cone with his feet, as I had done, to gain greater velocity, he, by accident, struck the hooks which held the tube that conveyed the smoke from the iron stove, and down came a por- tion of the worm-eaten tube, and with it, the soot, the accumulation of years." Another incident is: — "Simon, whilst enter- f. !m " n and ' the JJau- taining some company at the Temple, having a v " napkin in his hand at the time, flirted it, and 6 THE DA UPHIX MYS TEE Y EX PL A I NED. struck the Dauphin on his left cheek, which occa- sioned a wound." Iccou"tof s Lamartine thus writes in his " History of the an incident ' _ . ; • >> with simon (jrironctists : — and the Dauphin. " Simon made the Dauphin wait upon him at table, himself seated, the former standing. One day in cruel sport he nearly tore an eye from the Dauphin's head, by striking him on the face with a knotted towel."* phinfre 11 -" The Dauphin, however, narrates in his "Autobio- collcction of 7 Mill 11 • r c^ • 1 Simon. graphy he had no recollection of Simon having "uefty to ever wilfully ill-treated him. Once in the Temple theDauphir. t . .. . . . he describes having incurred severe treatment from one Hebert, who endeavoured to ensnare him in a calumnious accusation against the noble and heroic Marie Antoinette, the purport of which, he could not then comprehend. Instinct, however, suggested it W as some stratagem to harm his mother. He refused to sign some papers as requested ; and upon Hebert finding himself foiled, in his rage he thrust the Dauphin against the door leading to the upper chambers, which occasioned a wound over his left eye.f SSfiSprei"' This uncalled for brutality, in the Dauphin's sion respect-' . . . . , . 1 ing Madame opinion, was the incentive that aroused the natural Simon. L woman's nature in Madame Simon, to save him ; whenever a fair opportunity occurred. On the ist August, 1793, the unfortunate * See "Autobiography of Louis XVL7." pp. 2 and 239. t For official Medical Certificates, see pp. 109, 1 12, 1 15 and 1 1 8. THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 7 Marie Antoinette was removed from the Temple H arieAn - 1 toinette at to the prison of the Conciergerie. This being- aS'SS^e? public prison, a greater chance existed to release" 1 r & Plans for her her than when she was confined in the Temple. Cbcape- Many Royalists penetrated to her cell, and several plans were contemplated. Amongst these was one undertaken by an English lady, a Mrs. Atkyns, of Kettringham Hall, Norfolk, (whose ancestors had been stanch adherents to the Stuarts,) and the Marquis of Bonneval. The Queen refused the proffered service, unless she could be accompanied by her children. This being impossible to accomplish, Mrs. Atkyns returned to England, and the Marquis of Bonneval to his mother's chateau in Normandy. About this time J^lt! nei Tom Paine, then a member of the French National Convention, had written a letter to a lady friend of his in London, to bring to Paris a deaf and dumb boy, for an express purpose. This lady and Mrs. Meves were confidential friends, and together they endeavoured to procure such a boy, but were unsuccessful. The purport of the request coming Mr. Meves 11 L & ami his son. to Mr. Meves' s ears, and. he having a son in very delicate health, who was born in France in 1785, he determined to take him to Paris, with the object of substituting him for the Dauphin, at the Temple. The likelihood of Mr. Meves parting with his Explanation, son for such a purpose, seems at first, very impro- bable. The following explanation, however, is 8 THE DA UPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. offered: "After the supposed marriage of Miss Crowley with Mr. Meves, a son was born in France, in 1785; and subsequently a daughter. Mrs. Meves's eldest sister had married a rich English gentleman, on whose decease she inherited the whole of his valuable property, consisting chiefly in mines. She subsequently married again. When Mrs. Meves's sister learnt the connection her younger sister had made, and, being the mother of two children, she was much displeased, and curtailed an annuity she had hitherto allowed her from /"200, to ^40. Apparently this reduction was made on account of her not being thoroughly convinced of her sister's marriage. Subsequently a disagreement arose between Mrs. Meves's sister and her husband respecting the management of the property, the result being, on her decease, she bequeathed her considerable property to an ap- pointed heir, and to her sister's children ^1000 each. The suggestion follows : " Was Augustus Meves the offspring of wedlock or no ?" If illegi- timate, would that account for Mr. Meves parting with his son ; likewise, of Airs. Meves's sister leaving her property to an appointed heir, in pre- Mevev'ar 1 - 15 ' ference to her sister's son ? Mr. and Mrs. Meves, previous to the year 1789, had lived separately, Mrs. Meves having the entire charge of her daughter, and Air. Meves that of his son. Mr. Meves it was Mr. Meves himself, totally unknown to takes his son ' J Mrs. Meves, who resolved to proceed to France, on THE DA UPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 9 the intimation received, with his son; and he there placed him in certain hands, who substituted him ^ 1 ;.;,!; l i ; for the captive King". After his arrival in Paris fn/i/n'u . . , XVI I. at the he gained admittance into the Oueen's cell at the 'f cmpI - c ' o -~~ Interview prison of the Conciergerie, where he made the a!!, 1 ,i"„ till in the ( '•>;<.- illustrious sufferer a vow of secrecy respecting her cicr S cri C . son, which he kept to the end of his existence. And that secret was : in the event of Mr. Meves's plan succeeding in gaining possession of the young King from the Temple, he should be subsequently brought up in utter ignorance, as to his true origin. Marie Antoinette, in the sorrow of her heart, pre- ferred rather to secure her son's happiness, than the burden of a crown.* Public curiosity being concentrated to the Con- ^»«j . cier^erie during the Oueen's mock-trial in October, froiTt™" 1793, relaxed the vigilance at the Temple; and it com P ii.-hed. was, then, the Dauphin's deliverance was suc- cessfully effected. The following is the Dauphin's Loms _ individual recollection of the circumstance: " It ^"capc. seems to my reflective powers that I was lying on the sofa in the parlour of the small Tower of the Temple, and was awakened by Madame Simon, saying : ' Votre pere est arrive, votre pere est arrive.' She then aroused me from the sofa, taking the pillow therefrom, and putting it into a kind of hamper-basket, and after placing me on it, she covered me with a light dress, and carried the basket across the ground. A coach was wait- '■'' See Mrs. Meves's statement, p. 44. 10 THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. ing at the gate, in which she placed the basket, when we were driven to where Mr. Meves resided. On our entering the room where Mr. Meves was, who at the time was partaking refreshment, Madame Simon retired ; and I remember seeing a well-dressed gentleman, but as he was not the person I had been led to expect to see, I burst into tears, when he consoled me by giving me some of the delicacies which he was partaking. After, I recollect being alone in an open boat, which was fastened to the shore. The motion of the boat alarmed and frightened me, and I cried out, when a stout woman gave notice to some men, who came and got into the boat. A sail was hoisted. I was then concealed in the folds of a large travelling- cloak, and we proceeded across an immense expanse of water, towards the hospitable coast of England." Principal Evidently the Marquis of Bonneval was impli- and coacl- J 1 1 catedinThe" cated in the escape of Louis XVII. from the escape. Temple, for he states in his recorded testimony (see p. 79), every effort was essayed to save the Dau- phin ; access was obtained to Simon and Hebert, who were bribed, and the escape of the heir was accomplished.* The Marquis also states, he " him- * Hebert was condemned to death on the 24th March, 1794. The ruling party in the Convention accused Madame la Com- tesse de Rochechouart and Hebert of a plot for the escape of the Royal Family ; that Hebert, as a reward, had already re- ceived one million, paid by the Allied Princes, and that another million would be bestowed on him after the successful issue of the enterprise. Couthon accused Hebert at the Tribunal of THE DA UP II I 1ST MYSTERY EXPLAINED. Y t self" guarded the carriage which contained the Dauphin and a guard of undoubted courage through a certain pass in Normandy, where he left the royal fugitive and his protector, and then returned to the family chateau, near Elbceuf. In the u Autobiography of Louis XVI I." p. 227, SSfsimon a singular circumstance is narrated of a visit of : icmpi c . Hebert to Simon, at the Temple, on the 21st Sep- tember, 1 793, when a long conversation ensued, which is construed as having reference to the Dauphin's anticipated liberation ; for on Hebert taking leave of Simon, he regarded the Dauphin and said, "Very soon" and then withdrew. Fare- well words common and simple enough, but, con- sidering the Dauphin's liberation was tin fait accompli within three weeks of their utterance, seem to imply (if there is really any significance attached to them), the carrying out the stipulations made by the Marquis of Bonneval. In connection with the Dauphin's deliverance Remusat's statement from the Temple, the following deposition of a Madame 3 medical ofentleman was criven at the trial of the " pseudo-Baron de Richemont, who called himself the son of Louis XVI. : " JIT. Rcmusat — One day on going my rounds at the hospital, at Parma, a woman called ' Semas/ who was in the hospital, complained of the regu- the Convention for attempting to send a letter and a packet of fifty gold Louis to the children of Capet, for the object of facili- tating the escape of the Dauphin. I 2 THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. lations, and said to me, ' If my children were acquainted with my position, they would take me from here soon/ On questioning her, she replied, ' My children are those of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette, whose governess I was. 5 I then ob- served, 'The Dauphin is dead.' 'No, she replied, ' he lives ; he was released from the Tower of the Temple in a bundle of linen/ Such was the dis- closure of this person to me. Having inquired who this woman was, I was informed she was for- merly the. wife of the notorious Simon, the keeper of the children of Louis XVI., at the Tower of the Temple. When I learnt her former actual capacity, I then fully understood her words. " M. le President — At what time did this cir- cumstance occur ? " M. Remusat — In i8ii, when I was a resident student at the hospital. " M. le President — Simon and his wife quitted the Temple in 1794, whilst the Prince died in 1795. "Baron de Richemont — He was exchanged whilst Simon was keeper of the Temple, and was subsequently confided to the care of the Duke of Bourbon. "M. le President — That assertion is unfortunate, for, in 18 14, the Duke of Bourbon was the first to greet the royalty of Louis XVI 1 1. (Then address- ing the witness.) At the time did you speak of this revelation to any one ? " M. Remusat — I have spoken of it to several persons, but I do not recollect their names." — See " French papers" of 2nd and 3rd November, 1834. Arrival of Louis XVII. in Lnyland. The Dauphin and his protector arrived safely in England, and eventually at Mr. Meves's residence a't°Mrs XVI1 ' m Lcrndon. Subsequently he was taken to Mrs. Meves's residence. On his entering the room residence. <^ THE DA UPH1N MYSTERY EXPLAINED. T 3 where Mrs. Meves was, she ran to embrace him. This, says the Dauphin, rather alarmed me, as Mrs. Meves was then an entire stranger to me. Shortly after he was placed at a day-school and Louis xvn. ' L J at scl taught the English alphabet, and, subsequently, at a boarding-school at Wandsworth. Soon after the Mrs-Meve/a determina- young King's arrival in London, Mrs. Meves be- tion- came cognisant her own son had been the means, through substitution, of effecting the young Prince's deliverance from the Temple. She then determined, if possible, to effect her son's release, through the expedient of introducing a deaf and dumb boy in his place. Having procured a deaf and she starts _ dumb boy, she then obtained passports for three, Holland - and proceeded in the month of January, 1794, to Holland, in company with the deaf and dumb boy and a German gentleman. From Holland, the Abbe Morlet took the place of the German, and the party then proceeded to Paris. The deaf and substitution 1 J L at the Tem- dumb boy was there given in certain hands to ple ' substitute him at the most convenient time in Augustus Meves's stead. At what precise date this was accomplished, is not definitely fixed ; but, is sucfCfested : after July, 1794. Mrs. Meves ?,'" air " nf did not stay in Paris till its accomplishment, but l ' 1:= " : ■ returned to England in the month of Ma}-. The Meves' interest in the Roval Family ofo.L-mnf France, arose thus : " Mrs. Meves, nee Crowley, was ; ;;;: %'\ v -\ educated at the Convent of St. Omer, Paris. On her 1 Z 1 4 THE DA UPHIN MY STEP Y EXPLAINED. return to England she studied music, under Linley, at Bath. In 1777 she came to London and be- came the favourite pupil of the celebrated Italian Maestro, ' Signor Sacchini.' Whilst under his tuition, her mother died, at Bath. Her father then came to London and took his daughter to Paris for the purpose of placing her in a convent.* Miss Crowley remained in Paris, and her father returned to England. In 1781 Mr. Crowley became in a critical state of health, and wrote to his daughter to return to England ; on her arrival, her father was no more. She then stayed in London, having received an invitation from the Dowager Countess Caroline of Harrington. During the time she was residing with Lady Harrington she became ac- quainted with Mr. Meves von Schroeder, and it was understood they were married. After the death of Lady Harrington, in 1784, Mrs. Meves left England and went to reside at Paris. Signor Sacchini being then held in high estimation at the Court of France, his influence procured Mrs. Meves an appointment in the private service of Queen Marie Antoinette, at the Petit Trianon." This explains the Moves' interest, in the concerns of the Royal Family of France. In January, 1794, a decree was declared law by the Municipal Council of Paris, prohibiting the duties of a member of the Council-General being * Sec "Autobiography of Louis AT//.," p. 41, for letter from Madame l'Abbesse de 1'Abbaye au.x Lois to Miss Crowley. Simon quit? the Temple THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. I5 performed by any person holding a paid office under Government. Simon became affected by this decree, and civism principles prevailing, en- forced his reluctant relinquishment of the paid office he held at the Temple. During his term of office he had almost cartc-blanchc power over the captive. In January, 1794, Simon took his fare- well, as guardian of the captive. Hubert and Chaumette then became the supreme , H , Aert ™& x Chaumette directors at the Temple. On the very evening of T e C mpie the . . . , authorities. the day Simon's functions ceased, the captive was n J ' * 1 he captive confined, so that he was unapproachable, and en- taJcoSie- tirely secluded from the life of the world. The door of his room was fastened up with nails and screws, and grated from top to bottom with bars of iron, in which, half-way up, was placed a shelf, on which the bars opened, forming a sort of wicket, closed by other movable bars, and fastened with an enormous padlock. Through this wicket the 1 794 Republican authorities passed the juvenile victim his insufficient food. Six months were spent in this vile kennel. In the meantime the revolu-Theguiiio- tine. tionary axe had fallen in all quarters, Hebert, Chaumette, Simon, and the terror of the Terror- ists, " Robespierre," among others, mounted the scaffold amid popular execration. Then, and only then, was the little victim of the Temple thought of by Barras, the newly-appointed Commander-in- Chief of the armed force of Paris. The question is very pertinently asked, in the irras and e captive. ! 6 THE DA UPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. Reflections " Autobiography" why, the boy was so immured ? m'nt C rou-' ie ' The answer given, is : " To pine and die, and thus cover the secret of the Dauphin's liberation trans- piring." It should be remembered the originators of the solitary confinement routine in the first in- stance, were those who had directly bartered the exchange, and who resorted to this expedient, as a personal security, thinking ; or rather calculating, nature would succumb under its baneful influence, and thus relieve them from the chance of being arraigned for subornation. Whatsoever propo- sition Hebert and coterie, whilst in power, had thought proper to have suggested respecting the captive, had he succttmbed, as regarded the obse- quies arrangements, on the part of the paramount authority, in the spirit of the times, would have been considered unexceptionable : and certainly every precaution would have been taken to have baffled the reality of the escape, publicly transpiring. i. a uiwit-s After Robespierre's fall, one ' Laurent' was ap- appoint- Tcmic the pointed by Barras to take charge of the captive. oner P ofthe ^ e repaired to the Temple on the evening of the 29th of July 1794, but it was not till two o'clock in the morning, through the wicket made in the doorway, by the light of a candle, turned upon a wretched pallet, that the unfortunate young innocent was given, (by the Municipal Council) into his care. Laurent sent a request to the Committee of General Safety, that the boy's Temple given int > Laurent's THE DA UPIIIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. i 7 condition should be at once ascertained, whereupon JJ^ lo several members repaired to the Temple. On" arriving at the door of the dungeon, they called to T he , ca ,p- o O ' J tivc s dun- the captive, but he answered them not ; they then ffiSSi ordered the door to be opened, when a workman attacked the bars of the wicket, which enabled him to put his head into the cell ; the fastenings of the door were then removed, and the deputation entered the deplorable pest-dungeon, when the innocent young" sufferer was found all but dead. In describing the harrowing appearance of the -identity at *-> o i i. variance. ( poor boy, he is recorded as possessing blue eyes and fair hair, whereas the son of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette, Louis Charles, Prince Royal, Duke of Normandy and Dauphin, really possessed brown eyes and brown hair. Here then discrepancy DUcrepancy and inter- ariseS. How could this unfortunate lad have been r °s ator - v - the Dauphin, if the identity did not correspond ? Indisputably the son of Louis XVI. and Marie colour of * the hair of Antoinette possessed luxuriant brown hair, which LouisXVI1 fell in abundant ringlets about his shoulders. As there was such a profusion, a defective eyesight, having seen the young Dauphin in his happy days in the garden of Versailles, could not have mis- taken it for fair hair. In \\\ii " Autobiography of V: \\,' : ~ ^> 1 y J 1:1 Aut Louis XVII." there is a special chapter devoted Y''-'i~ ' - 1 _ XVII." re- to the colour of the eyes and hair of the Dauphin- ; J i e ■•.' ur i/f the king, which, on due consideration, appears oi ■• hair. great importance, as the following interrogator}- 1 8 THE DA UPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. inter- bears proof. Would it be possible that a lad, rogatory. x J - eight years of age, who possessed brown hair, " presuming he was neglected and confined for six months," for the same to change its colour to Answer. fair hair ? The answer is obvious : If the hair changes at all at that age, by the law of nature it Affirmation, would take a darker and not a lighter hue. Had the question been asked even in the Royal Family-circle itself, what colour the Dauphin's eyes were, discrepancy doubtless would have Query. arisen. In proof of this theory, let the present reader, after consideration, answer what coloured Remark, eyes his most intimate friends have. Hesitation in many instances will precede the reply, and then its derivation, instead of being positive, will rest its authority on no other foundation, than conjecture. The colour of The discrepancy in the colour of the eyes and the eyes and L J J hair of the Captive of the Temple, of July, 1794, is of special importance, inasmuch, as it shows an exchange at the Temple, by some means or other, had been accomplished, and thus constitutes one of the many crucial tests, rebutting the supposed authenticity of Louis XVII. 's death at the Temple, cause of the I n page 270 of the Meves " Louis XVII. Aula- erroneous L <-> ' y rTspeains" biography" the following appears :— " The reason the colour of . . the eye, and Louis Charles, the Dauphin, has been in some hair. ' J- ' instances represented as having possessed blue eyes and fair hair, is this — he has been confounded with his elder brother, the first Dauphin, ' Louis hair con stitute a cru cial test. THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPIAINED. *9 sauchcsnc . description. Joseph Xavier Francois,' who had blue eyes and flaxen hair, or, with the Captive of the Temple, after October, 1793. Louis Charles, Prince Royal, Duke of Normandy, the second son of Louis XVI., possessed brown hair and brown eyes." Lamartine, in his "History of the Girondists''' {martin represents the Dauphin, the second son of Louis xvn! ls XVI., as possessing ehcsnut-colonrcd Iiair, descend- ing in thick curls on his shoulders, and blue eyes. Beauchesne, an indefatigable collector of Louis r XVII. particulars, who devoted much time and considerable effort in endeavouring to prove the bond-fide character of the Dauphin's death at the Temple, (as public opinion was not unanimous in ratifying the 1795 certificate of death,) chronicles : - — " At rather more than four years of age the Dauphin possessed dark chesnut hair, which fell in ringlets on his shoulders, and blue eyes, fringed with Ion Qf chesnut lashes '." The Roval Academi- cs j cian, E. M. Ward's, celebrated historical picture of e.m. \v a rd\< ' ' L R.A., histo- The Royal Family of France — " Louis XVI. and ( ri f -, Marie Antoinette in the Prison of the Temple in yuv.\-'"\-, toincitc in 1792,''' represents the Dauphin as possessing dark \^\°[^ brown hair, hanging in abundance on his shoulders, '' and the eyelashes and eyebrows of the same hue. The eyes are downcast — nevertheless, from the tint, they reflect a dark hue. The above picture was exhibited at the Great Exhibition of Industry and Arts, at Paris, in 1855. The Royal A aide- 20 THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. leries. the aoth June, 1792. Remarks. a. Eimorc-s mician, A. Elmore's, historical picture of "The K.A., histo- * of the P Auac e k Attack on the Tuileries, the 20th of June, 1792," which picture was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in i860, and at the International Exhi- bition of 1862, represents the Dauphin as possess- ing brown hair and brown eyes. Doubtless the two above-named renowned English artists have portrayed the features of the Royal Family and the colour of the eyes and hair from the most authentic sources ; if not, the pictures would be valueless as historical represen- tative portrait pictures. Accept the above authorities' several descrip- tions as correct, the inevitable conclusion follows, the July, 1794, Captive of the Temple was not Louis XVII., but a substitute, and investigation will assuredly prove he was Augustus Meves, who really commenced his Temple career under the tutelage of Simon, " the shoemaker." Madame Simon herself, up to the time of her death, in 1819, asserted and re-asserted that Louis XVII.'s deliverance had been effected from the Temple during her husband's term of office, and whatever different interpretation may be endeavoured by interested political parties to be placed on her revelation, the accuracy of the fact, is : never- theless, bond-fide. A curious letter appears in the pretender Naundorff's published life, and if genuine, throws A curious letter. 7 HE DA UPH1N MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 2 I considerable light on the deaf and dumb boy sub- stitution, it is as follows : — " General, — Your letter of the 6th inst., reached me too late, and the first plan has been executed because it was time. To-morrow his new guardian is to enter on his office, he is a republican, named Cosmier,* a worthy man according to what Barras says, but I have no confidence in persons of that sort. I am much embarrassed how to get food to our prisoner, but I shall take care of him, and you may be at ease ; the assassins are cleared off, and new municipal guard do not the least suspect that the little dumb child has taken the place of the infant king. Now, the only business is to get him out of this cursed tower, but how ? Barras has told me, that, on account of the strict watch, he can undertake nothing. If it were necessary to remain there long, I should be uneasy with regard to the health of the little one, for he has very little air in his hiding-place, where the God Himself would not find him, if He were not Almighty. And he has promised me to die rather than betray himself. I have reasons for believing him. His sister knows nothing about it, and prudence obliges me to talk to her of the little dumb bov, as if he really was her brother. The unfortunate child is very happy, and, without knowing it, plays his part so well that the new guard is perfectly persuaded that he will not speak, so there is no danger. Send back speedily the faithful bearer of this, for I have need of your assistance. Follow the advice which he will give you by word of mouth, for it is the only way to succeed. " Laurexz. ' "Tower of the Temple, 7/// November, 1794." * Should be Gomin. 2 2 THE DA UPHIN MYSTER Y EXPLAINED. Laurent and The lad who came under Laurent's charge, in oPtllrfm- J u ^y» T 794> was not Louis XVII., but Augustus Meves. As he had no previous knowledge of the Dauphin, the inference is, he neither had any knowledge an exchange had been accomplished, and, therefore, naturally accepted his charge, as the son of Louis XVI. Laurent and Respecting the substitution of the deaf and the deaf snd dumb boy. c lu m b boy, apparently, that was effected subsequent to Laurent's appointment. Laurent's n- In October, i794, Laurent, considering the colleague, duties too onerous, officially requested a colleague might be added, Gomin'sap. On the 9th November, Laurent's request was pointment at the Temple. g ran t c d, when one " Gomin " was added to the Laurent's Temple service. Mark the singular interrogatory singular in- !o r Gonun?' placed by Laurent to his colleague, on his first entering on his duties : " ' Have you ever seen the Prince Royal f ' No] he replied, ' I have never seen him.' 'In that case? said his interlocutor, ' it will be some time before he will say a word to you. Tie cap- The following will explain Laurent's notification. tive's health. The captives health becoming very critical, an official representation was made to the authorities, which ended in one Harmand, " a member of the Committee of General Safety, who was attached to the Police Section," being appointed to visit, with two colleagues, the young prisoner, and make THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 23 out a detailed report of his condition. In Feb- ""j^" 11 ' ruary, 1795, Harmand and colleagues visited the dionwfi- tial visit at Temple captive. The following is an abridged thc Tem P' e - account of Harmand's published report : — " Having arrived at the doors, the bolts of H ^" n ? n f s which confined the innocent boy, the only son of re P° rt - our King himself, we entered the room in which he was confined, and found him amusing himself with a pack of cards. He did not give up play- ing when we entered. I (Harmand) approached him. While I was addressing him, he regarded me steadfastly, without any change of position, and listened apparently with the greatest attention, but vouchsafed not one word in reply. I promised him toys, &c, but he still stared with steady and vacant indifference, and to all questions asked, he neither answered by gesture, expression, nor word. I then tried peremptory command, after which I proposed a physician should be sent to him, and trusted he would consent to answer him. I then requested him to make a sign whether it would be agreeable or otherwise. He neither answered by sign nor word. I then desired him to walk, to which request he remained silent on his seat, his elbows resting on the table, his features did not change for an instant ; not the least mark of sur- prise in his eyes ; not the least emotion apparent ; his demeanour was just as if the deputation had not been present and I had not spoken. Rever- chon and Mathieu, (my colleagues,) said nothing, but looked at each other in amazement. We were advancing towards each other to exchange reflec- tions, when thc captive's dinner was brought in, at which we expressed, by our looks to the keepers, (Laurent and Gomin,) our astonishment and indig- 24 THE DA UPHIN M YSTERY EXPLAINED. nation. We made a sign for the keepers to retire with us to the ante-room. We there expostulated with them on the inhuman system pursued towards a helpless child, and ordered such vile treatment should be changed for the future, and that fruit should be given to the boy. Having given all the necessary orders, we returned to the room, and found he had eaten all that had been brought him. I (Harmand) then asked him whether he was satisfied with his dinner ? No answer. Whether he wished for some fruit. No answer. Whether he liked grapes ? Still no answer. Grapes were then placed on the table, which he ate without speaking. I then requested to know if he wished for more ? No answer. Finding all my efforts in vain to induce him to speak, I added that my colleagues and self should, in consequence, propose to the Government to send other commissioners, who might be more agreeable to him. To these threats he neither changed his look nor crave an answer, or any indication of such. Do you wish that we should withdraw? He still remained mute, and we then withdrew." Explanation Evidently the prisoner of the Temple, of Feb- and leflec- J r l !!^th e c P ivm. ruary, 1795, wno Harmand and colleagues saw, was no other than the deaf and dumb boy Mrs. Meves had taken to Paris, to rescue her son from the Temple. This explains at once why I larmand and colleagues — Laurent andGomin,and those who approached the captive at this date, were unable to gain any response. That a boy of nearly ten years of age, having the faculties of speech and hearing, could, through sheer obstinacy, have THE DA UPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 2 5 remained entirely silent is beyond credence to enter- tain, for kindness such as Harmand exhibited to- wards the unfortunate captive was of that descrip- tion, that would have exacted an answer in token of thankfulness had he possessed the faculty of speech; but, as the February, 1795, prisoner of the Temple was really a deaf and dumb boy, it was physically impossible for him to answer the commissioners, or understand them. His charac- teristics are compatible with the deaf and dumb boy, but emphatically incompatible with the son of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette. The following particulars in the ^AutobiograpJiy Requestor of Louis XVI IT have a material siq-nificance. The dumbbo y \ J *-> mother to mother of the deaf and dumb boy, " Mrs. Meves Mrs " M had taken to Paris in January, 1 794/' before her decease, sent for Mrs. Meves and requested her to be kind to her daughter. She acceded to the request, and thus reads her will in favour of the deaf and dumb boy's sister : i: London, April 12//1, 1S20, ' ; High Street, Marylebone. " Beino- in my perfect senses, I make my Will Mp.Mev^s O * *■ # * will in t.tv air and Testament, giving and bequeathing all I die possessed of — clothes, &c, &c- — to Caroline Read, '■■ proclaiming her my sole heir, as witness my signa- ture. " Marianne Crowley Meves. Witness — " Elizabeth Collins.'' Laurent resigned his position at the Temple the ] ■■■ ;;•■ 50th March, 1795. He subsequently died at ;■.; V^. ;?,.. of llie deaf ,1 dumb v ■ -.-:■ r 2 6 THE DA UriHN MYSTER Y EXPLAINED, His death at Cayenne, — rumour says, a victim, as he knew Cayenne. J J certain secrets concerning Louis XVII., which made his presence disagreeable to the authorities in France. Cayenne has a significance that State poYn n tmen?at policy had an interest in his safe keeping. One empc- Lasne then succeeded to the duties of keeper of hu state- the captives* on the 31st March, 1795. He like ment the p captfve. w ^ se corroborates the same singular peculiarity that Harmand has so graphically narrated, for, says he, " Notwithstanding all my attentions, I had not been able to extract a single word from the Dauphin during three weeks I had been at the Temp lei'' Mute or not These reiterated admissions about no speech have mute ? a vast importance, and appertain solely to the deaf and dumb boy, that furnishes the solution to Har- mand's report and the Temple keepers' (Messrs. Laurent, Gomin, and Lasne's) asseveration that the Temple captive was speechless. Desauitand In May, 1795, Dr. Desault was selected to pro- the Temple , , , .. captive. fessionally attend the Captive. Within a fortnight Seiuand °^ ^* s appointment, both he and the apothecary, what" "Choppart," suddenly died. Rumour says the attributable, ^ QCtor i ia( j expressed himself that the captive of the Temple the authorities had entrusted to his care zuas not the sou of Louis X VI. and Marie Antoinette, and death, that efficacious silencer, Monsieur stopped his doubts. M. Abeille, a medical pupil respecting dJuU, 1 ! 1 " * Marie Thcrese, daughter of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoi- nette, being also a prisoner at the 'temple. THE DA UP HIM MYS TERY EX PL A EVE D. 2 y under Dr. Desault at the time of his death, has declared in France and the United States that the death of Dr. Desault immediately followed the report he made : — " That the boy to whom they had introduced him in the Temple was not the Dauphin, as he knew Louis XV Us son perfectly well." It is Reflection. a singular coincidence that both the physician and apothecary should die almost simultaneously whilst the captive was under their medical care. This strange fatality gives plausibility to the rumour, and adds significant force to M. Abeille's statement. A remarkable anomaly is asserted to have a remark- taken place all of a sudden with the captive of the anomaly. Temple, after Doctor Desault's death. No one up to that date, as admitted over and over again by the immediate keepers, and all those who approached the young prisoner, were able to gain any speech from him ; however, the keepers, if they are to be believed, state : the captive, just statement. previous to his decease, suddenly became quite garrulous — he was perseveringly communicative. If such really were the case, it gives authority to probable a statement advanced in the pretender Nailndorff's °' fthe , *- anomaly. narration, that the deaf and dumb boy was re- moved from the Temple after Desault's death, and a rickety boy from one of the hospitals in Paris, in the last stage of life, substituted, who enacted the final part of Louis XVII. at the Temple. Did the keepers speak the truth, the 2 8 THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. Query- rickety boy explains the anomaly ; if the untruth, they were suborned. Doctors On the sth Tune, a surgeon succeeded Desault Pelletan and J J ' fc> Dumangin at the Temple. at the Temple, "a Monsieur Pelletan;" but he, not wishing- to incur the sole responsibility, desired the co-operation of another member of the pro- fession. On the 7th, M. Dumangin was added. The prisoner On the 3th, death terminated the captive's suffer- ofthe ' i i!. e Lxine\ es ings ; who died, according to the testimony of his keeper, " Lasne," in his arms, at half-past two in the forenoon.* oominin- Gomin informed the Committee of General forms the cSeraf Safety of the captive's decease. On his visiting captive's the remains in the evening, he thus describes the decease. c.omin's appearance of the young 1 victim : — " His eyes, statement y l J ° the p capth g e-s which while suffering had half-closed, were then open, and shone as pure as the blue heaven, and his beautiful fair hair fell like a frame around his facei'i Reflections It will be well here to seriously consider the real on the J value that should be attached, as an intrinsic bond- fide document, to the certificate of Louis XVI I. s ""'' Lasne died at Paris in 1841, aged S4 years. From his accession to office at the Temple till the captive's decease, was nine weeks. t Gomin accompanied the Princess Royal by her own re- quest to the frontier, on her release from the Temple ; and, on the Restoration, in 1814, the Princess, then Duchess of An- gouleme, appointed him porter of the Chateau of Meudon. He died at Pontoise, in 1841, aged 84 years. defunct' identity THE DA UPI/LV MYSTER Y EX FLAWED. 2 c death, obtained from the medical men. Doctor Pelletan's medical duties extended simply to three days' attendance, and Doctor Dumangin's to one day "only','' before the captive Louis XVII. or otherwise substitute decease, actually took place. The identification of the body, as being that of Louis XVII., rests upon the two above-mentioned doctors, who were only professionally called in as the last spark of life was departing from the Temple captive, and two other medical professors, who were present at the autopsy. Reflection on this point will not be out of place, as the only guarantee the official certificate furnishes testifying the deceased lad was the son of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette, is : the constituted authorities at the Temple, and those who appointed the doctors for this special purpose, informed them that such was the case. The following extract from their joint Certificate will here suffice : " Having all four arrived at eleven o'clock a.m. '>.- O t.;ite < if t !t~- at the outer gate of the Temple, we were received Tempi- L ., P o J- * live a death. there by the commissaries, who admitted us into the Tower. On attaining the second floor we found on a bed in the second, a suite of rooms there, the dead bod)" of a child, apparently about ten years old, which the commissaries declared lo be that of the son of the late Louis Capet, audzehieh two of our number recognised as that of the child they had been attending for several days.'' On this questionable authority Louis XVII. ; s '" ^o THE DA UPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. decease in 1795, according to several distinguished literary savants, is considered duly ratified ; but earnest reflection will repudiate the conclusion as Reiteration, superlatively superficial. The ftroces-vcrbal dis- tinctly records ; "The June, 1795, doctors recog- nised the remains as those of Louis XVII., " only" from what the commissaries and interested parties declared, which is open to the gravest sus- picion — yes ! the gravest suspicion, as they but affirmed his decease, " as requested/' but certainly not his identity. interment of On the evening of the 10th June the supposed the captive. remains 01 the young king were borne to a des- uncertainty tined spot and there interred. Whether they a^ to the t % p' ac ?° f remained in their first resting-place, or were sepulchre. o l removed to baffle any search that might subse- quently be made, is a question. The reports are very contradictory where indeed the remains of the June, 1795, Temple captive actually repose. More than one spot is assigned in the cemetery of Saint Margaret's ; one in the cemetery of Clamart, and another in the grounds of the Temple. Peiietanand After the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty, Temple 3 j n the person of the Count de Provence, as Louis XVIII., Doctor Pelletan, in a deposition before M. Pasquier, Keeper of the Seals, stated, that at the post-mortem examination of the defunct pri- soner of the Temple of June, 1795, whilst he was re-adjusting the remains, he secreted the heart of ;aptive : icart. THE DA Uril IN MYSTERY EX FLA EVE D. 3 { the victim for his own individual possession, which he preserved in a jar. When Louis XVill.'s government were endeavouring to ascertain some clue, where, indeed, the remains of Louis XVII. — ■ — " meaning the Temple victim" — were interred, in order to have them transferred to Saint Denis, Pelletan offered the relic, surreptitiously obtained, to Louis XVIII. However, Lasne, in whose arms the 1 70s i-^nc-^tatc- Captive of the Temple died, interposed, and directly contradicted Pelletan's avowal, stating, he was present during the whole time of the post- mortem examination and re-adjusting of the remains, and however inattentive Pelletan's con- freres may have been after the examination, whilst Pelletan was re-arranging the body he was not so, as he had never taken his eyes off the body or Pelletan during the whole operation, and that no such appropriation of the heart could have been accomplished, as stated, without his personal know- ledge, consequently : Pelletan's statement was a scandalous fabrication. Louis XVIII. accepted Lasne's statement and xvTii.\- 1 1 , T . ,. UIlr -i •. ultimatum. rejected the physicians." Louis XV 111. had ,,„■„;,, :: . likewise directed an official inquiry to be made^: ■- f 1 J the J as to the exact spot of sepulchre of the June, ^:^"" * For full particulars see Eckard's "' .IE moires Historiijucs sur Louis XVII." p. 309: or, Beauchesne's "Louis AT//.,'' p. 472, vol. 2, English Edition. THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. Diverse opinions. Statement. Interroga- tory. T.oui.i XVII.'i remains. 1 795, Captive of the Temple, with the ostensible intention of transferring the remains to Saint Denis. The information officially obtained was so various— inconclusive and contradictory ; one authority asserting such a place, another a different, and another still a different, and as it became a question under the circumstances of paramount importance which authority to credit and which discredit, terminated in wherever the remains of the June, 1795, victim of the Temple reposed, so they remained undisturbed.* Louis XVIII., the Duchess of Angouleme, Charles X., Bonaparte, Louis Philippe, Louis Na- poleon, and the Allied Powers of [814, were well aware Louis XVI I. \s evasion had been effected from the Temple, and that substitutes personated royalty in captivity in the Temple from after October, 1793, till the 8th June, 1795, and the gravity of their combined offence, is : of the most reprehensible nature. The question after the above naturally follows, what then became of Louis XVII., and where repose the remains of this regal scion ? The mortal remains of Louis XVII. really repose in Brompton Cemetery, London, England. No ostentatious funeral pageant retinue on the da)' of * Eor full particulars see Eckard's " Mcmoircs Ilisloriqucs sur Louis X I'll." p. 305; or, Beauchcsne's "Louis XVII.,' p. 339, vol. 2, English Edition. ME DA UPII IN MYS1ER Y EXPLA 1NED. 3 3 interment, " 16th May, 1859," announced to the casual observer the sombre familiar hearse, in lugubrious motion, was conveying' all that remained mortal of the once prisoner of the Tower of the Temple, at Paris, " Louis XVTI.," to its resting-place. Two mourning carriages fol- i:: •'■■'■'■';■■ lowed, containing Louis XVH.'s family, number- ing five sons and two daughters. Since then time has lessened the number. Louis XVI I. 's .":;;; ,.-;.' Ll youngest daughter, who in life so much reminded '' one of the beauteous Marie Antoinette, has passed through the valley of the shadow of death, leaving in the memory of the household she adorned, love and admiration, for her man) - excel- lent qualities. Likewise, his eldest son, who, to ncmUcof 1 ' ' ' his eldest his honour, rendered homage to his father's hil ' memory, in doing his duty, in furtherance of his cause. During the incarceration of the Princess Royal I heI i rinccss at the Temple, she repeatedly supplicated the p authorities to be permitted to see her brother, but without avail — the order was imperative that no meeting should, under any pretence, be allowed. Several commissaries desired to relax the un- 1 :- •. :y orders. natural restriction, but the prohibition was peremp- , . Prlr tory. v " The last lime the Princess Royal saw her mll\ Iilt brother brother in the Temple zvas the Sth October, 1793, ■[■^1%. * See "Autobiography of Louis XVIL? p. 15S. 3 sec her brother. 34 THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. although he, or a substitute, was confuted there till June, 1795, and but one storey separated them during the twenty dreary months that mark the duration of his stijfcrings" Reflections. Had it been the young king in reality confined in the Temple, there would have been no necessity to have enforced so rigidly the rule, but as it was a substitute, that created the decree. If the diurnal history of the Dauphin and Princess Royal is closely studied after October, 1793, it will be but too apparent that an unusual and unnecessary degree of severity and routine were enforced, par- ticularly towards the boy, as thence he lived a totally secluded life : first, with the sinister Simon, the hireling Goth, that scowled on young inno- cence as his evil genius ; secondly, under the Hebert-Chaumette regime, which adopted solitary confinement ; and thirdly, under the regime of selected keepers, obeying orders from without Svxdto- the Temple. The routine observed towards the captive by Captive till his decease amounted almost to solitary his mime- L ' diatekeepers, confinement, as it was only permitted to visit him at certain hours, namely, at nine in the morning for breakfast, after which he was left alone till dinner-time, " two o'clock." Then again till sup- per-time, " eight o'clock," when a lamp was left lighted in the front room, the glimmer from which reflected a light through a glass-window into his bedroom, and thus he remained alone till the THE DA UPH1N MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 3 5 morning call. This was the routine observed, and Doctor* ivi- & Ictau and of which Doctors Pelletan and Dumangin ex- dmand?'"' s pressed their astonishment on visiting the Captive in their capacity of physicians in June, 1795. They at once insisted that this cruel order of solitary confinement should be rescinded, and the lad allowed a nurse. The request was granted, but death obviated its necessity. The following particulars have important silt- i^vend.-e & _ l l rt and the nificance regarding the date of the Temple conve"uln. victim's decease : — " Several members of the Convention, who had ^; tia " not voted for the death of Louis XVI., were employed in carrying on negotiations with the chiefs of the Catholic and Royal Army for a ces- sation of hostilities. The published Articles of the Terms " Armistice stipulated that the Vendeans should be allowed the free exercise of the Catholic religion, that the sequestrations imposed on the estates of the insurgents should be taken off, and that the Republican Government should reimburse notes to the amount of two million francs, mostly bearing the head of Louis XVII., which had been signed and circulated by the chiefs of the Royal Army. " At the conclusion of this suspension of arms, oencraiis- the several chiefs of the Vendeans, having at their ^[^ head the celebrated Chevalier de Charette, re- >,a,nc - paired to Nantes, where they assisted at the Assembly, wearing their white cockades and royal uniforms. All was to remain thus, until the secret articles settled between the Vendeans and the Deputies of the Committees, had been ratified by the Convention. THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. Arrange- ments for releasing the prisoner of the Temple and the Princess Royal. " These Articles also stipulated that Louis XVII. and Madame, his noble sister, should be given up to the Catholic and Royal Army of Vendee and Brittany, and that the re-establishment of the Catholic religion should be proclaimed in France before the :5th June." — Eckard's " Md- ?7ioi?'cs Historiques stir Louts XVII." p. 435 ; Beauchesne's " Louis XVII." vol. ii., pp. 303 and 367; and Hue's "Last Years of the Reign and Life of Louis XVI." p. 501. The 15th of June, 1795, stipulations nullified. Question. Aiij-.v Reflections. Death forestalled the carrying - out these stipu- lations. The question naturally arises, was there an object in the death of the prisoner before the 15th of June, 1795 ? The answer — a too obvious one. The decease and the interment mystery of the June 1795 victim furnishes the conclusion that all was duly considered, and thus ended the final sacrifice of a political ruse, carried on : since October, 1793. It is evident hasty conclusions should not be formed adverse to Louis XVII.'s deliverance, until material evidence is produced, substantially supporting the thesis. Truth gains strength with impartial scrutiny, as the torrent, impetuosity : its course. Fact should prevail over expedient. One withstands the crucial test, the other fears its ordeal. What necessity was there for such unex- ampled caution with the prisoner of the Temple after Simon's resignation, were he the son of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette ? As the THE DAUPHIN MYSTERY EXPLAINED. Dauphin's liberation was effected during Simon's tenure of office, of what avail is the testimony of the subsequent gaolers, the evasion having been effected previous to their appointment at the Temple ? This fact, renders whatsoever they advance of no real importance as affecting actually the son of Louis XVI., for, from their installation, whilst fulfilling their subordinate duty, they had only to do with a lad personating the Dauphin's role. Certainly, the demise of the Dauphin in the Temple is open to grave objection, when the evidence on which it is supposed to be established, is equitably considered. o7 II. LOUIS XVII.'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. R&um£. j N continuing- "from page 16" the Dauphin's incidents career, after his arrival in England, many incidents at the & J Sooi wonh in the "Autobiography" are related that occurred at the Wandsworth School, and his being brought thence during the vacation by Mrs. Meves, and SStoho. seeing the illuminations given " for three conse- nourofLord . ,,.. rT 1T t > Houe-s cutive days in honour of Lord id owe s victory, in victory, -' J June, 1794. danc^Ta After finally quitting the school at Wandsworth, city " he attended a day school in the City, and from t I he P 1 iano- ises that time practised the pianoforte most assiduously. Thus passed his time till the year 1 797. ^ r ;.^" Mr. William Meves, in whose charge the Dau- u ?his\ c or.! 1!o phin-king had been directly placed at Paris, in October, 1 793, adopted him thenceforth as his Mr. Mftves's son. Mr. Meves followed the profession of a pursuits. miniature painter, and at times speculated at the xvirs Stock Exchange. In the year r 797, Mr. Meves took a full-length portrait of his adopted son, with Mr. Mcvcs. LOUIS XVWS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1S36. 39 a gun in his hand, which portrait the Dauphin subsequently recognised, published as an engrav- ing, under the title of " L'espoir des Francais." The Dauphin having - made considerable pro- louuxvii JT o i makes Ins gress as a pianist, he was taken to Edinburgh in Scat • 1 1 iii Edinburgh 1802, by a musical gentleman, and played at many a* a pianist. of the nobility's parties, also at the George Street Assembly Rooms, under the name of " Master Augustus." He met with a most encouraging reception. The following encomium appeared in ^,"1°™^™. an Edinburgh paper : " Master Augustus, the pianoforte concerto player. — This young gentleman's fine touch, taste, and execution is onlv to be equalled by the great 'Mozart.'"* One evening-, after he had played Steibelt's T h t » Count <->' i J de Provence concerto, " The Storm," at the Assembly Rooms, Sr&Su the Count, (brother of Louis XVI., subsequently Louis XVIII.,) and Countess de Provence," who had assumed the title of the Count and Countess of Lally," highly complimented him on his playing. On his return to London, it would seem but a i°"^ ' XVI I. 's natural inference, as so much promise was fore- \f shadowed, that Mr. Moves would have been elated at the reception his adopted son had re- ceived, and endeavoured to further his progress in the art. However, no sooner had he returned, i N J ; r ; ; ?,I l ' ve ' s '■'■'■ See " Biographical Dictionary of Musicians" for Meves. " Augustus," or "Autobiography of Louis XI 'LI." p. 31S. 4 G LOUIS XVII.'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1S36. than lie was placed in the counting-house of a SuEn friend of Mr. Meves's. This novel employment i>i>i"'-kin S ' u did not altogether suit the taste of the young musician ; its monotony, compared with the charm- ing study of music, determined him in preferring the artistic to the commercial. inference. The reason attributed for Mr. Mevcs adopting so unexpected a course, is: "As a public character, the real status of the young musician might have been discovered ; whereas : the seclusion of the counting-house in a creat measure obviated it." Louis xvii. The Dauphin acquainted Mrs. Mevcs of his resumes the *- L mus£.° f dislike to his new vocation, and she secured his retreat; and being "herself" an accomplished musician, was enabled to introduce him to John His progress Broadwood, who became his kind patron, and, at nnd reccp- x ^uety. whose establishment his masterly playing gained him many friends and introductions to the con- versaziones of the aristocracy. The young mu- sician was held in high estimation by the Dowager Marchioness of Lansdowne, and thus was passing his life. Mr. Moves, however, took a great dislike to his visiting such society, remarking, he would never gain money by it ; and, desiring he should have a settled income, purchased a teaching connection, which kept him incessantly occupied. Subsequent to his return from Edinburgh he entered the Saint James's Volunteers, and in 1809 I lis new mu-ical [Ic 1 ntcr- t • LOUIS XVIi:S CAREER EROM 1793 TILL 183G. 41 joined the Loyal British Artificers as an officer. In 181 1 he was promoted to the rank of Captain. In iSi-x he retired from the musical profession, Heretic ° * ' from the on account of the weary monotony of teaching, f"^ 1 "',!;^ and became a speculator at the rotunda of the speculator. Bank of England. In 1814 he visited Calais; but the return of"'* v »»itto ^ ' Calais. Napoleon Bonaparte, in 1S15, prevented him <>-oin£ to Paris. In 1815a visit to the Old Argyle Rooms, Regent *?Z c oT Street, where French plays were performed, is iw in 1815. recorded. Mrs. Aleves and her reputed son occupied front seats in the boxes. During the performance Mrs. Aleves left the box ; but before doing so, requested him to remain till her return. In her absence he observed a lady scrutinising him. After the performance, on his going down- stairs, he saw several ladies and gentlemen bow and curtsey to this same lady. On inquiring who the lady was, he was informed it was the Duchess of Aneouleme. At the time he attached no im- portance to the circumstance, however ; in after years his opinion was, that he was intentionally taken to the Old Argyle Rooms, so that the Duchess might see him. In 1 8 1 6 Ik; visited Paris, having a letter of in- J!^'; ; f traduction to Talma, the celebrated actor. Me l " also became acquainted with Iierold, the operatic composer. 42 LOUIS XVirS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. His v«it to He thus describes his visit to the Palace of Ver- the Palace of\ersaiiies. sa j]] es . *< Having procured an order of admittance in the courtyard of the Palace, I entered, and viewed the various grand apartments, and particu- larly observed the exquisitely painted ceilings by Le Brun. An old Swiss, attached to the service of the Palace, attended me. From La Grande Salle des Ambassades I viewed the magnificent gardens. The attendant then conducted me to the Grand 1'Escalier des Ambassades, the stairs of which, are of the most exquisite and rare marble. Whilst looking over the balustrade of the stair- case, and attending to the narration of the old Swiss guide, who was recounting the attack the populace made on Versailles, the 5th and 6th of October, 1789, instinctively I looked around very attentively ; when it appeared to my recollective powers, that the ceiling, the stairs, and the hall below were somehow familiar, and seemed to cor- respond with the surroundings of a place, which had often in my life been recalled to memory, where : in my infancy, I was in the lap of a lady, [fenced, and heard a military band play in the hall. What had so impressed the circumstance on myretentive- ness was, seeing a man with a kettledrum fixed on his back, and a musician beating the drum. Having inquired of the guide how it was that one of the stairs was of a different kind of marble, he replied : 'As the populace, in October, 1789, was LOUIS XVIL'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1S36. 43 forcing its way in from the doors, entering the hall, the o-uards m defending the staircase with their muskets, destroyed one of the stairs, and the marble being of so rare and expensive quality, another kind of the same colour had been substituted.' I then visited the Theatre of the Palace. After which, when left to myself, I reflected on what I had seen, and the more I reflected, the more I felt assured ' L'Escalier des Ambassades ' was somehow familiar to me ; likewise : the ' Salle du Theatre,' it appearing as being identical with a place, where; in my childhood, I had been much caressed, and seeinir fireworks displayed by soldiers." The Hi* leisure t> l J J time, now Dauphin frequently visited the principal Theatres °Stt • • Paris. during his stay at Pans. On visiting the Palace of the Tuileries nothing Hevi>;uthc ° Tuileries. specially attracted his notice as being familiar to him, except ; a large painting in the room of the Garde-du-Corps. On his return to England he ™'K'™i resumed the musical profession, and published andpup several compositions, which became very popular; and at times made trilling speculations at the Stock Exchange. An incident, happening to Mr. Meves on \ : 1 L * with .Air. " Change'," called forth his adopted son's inter- ;';' ference. His conduct pleased Mr. Meves very much, s and in recognition he placed ^3000 in their joint names at the Bank of England ; and added many other kindnesses, as an earnest of his admiration. 44 LOUIS XVI L'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. Demise of l n 1 8 1 8 Mr. Meves died from the effect of Mr. Meves. Reading of cholera. On Mrs. Meves reading- his will, she Mr. Meves s c> Mrs.Meves's exclaimed to her adopted son : " What could have induced Mr. Aleves to make such a will as tins, dis- gracing me by naming you as being his natural reputed son, and making you, appear to be his ille- gitimate son? You, my dear Augustus, arc the fruit of lawful wedlock ; you are not the son of the late Jllr. Meves, nor arc you my son ; you, Augustus, owe your existence to the unfortunate Marie An- toinette, Queen of France. She was your mother, who, in your infancy intrusted you to my care ; and I have done more than a mother s duty to you. For you, I have become estranged from society in my determination to protect you, and have lost every one that was dear to me. Never let this disclosure escape your lips whilst I am living. Remember two attempts have been made on your life, which nearly look fatal effect, and the third might be de- cisive. The circumstance of your conveyance to England is known to the Archbishop of Paris, and should it be hereafter required, your identity can be proved as positive as the sun at noon-day. The late Mr. Meves, at the hazard of his life, went to Paris, and obtained an interview with the Queen of France in the prison of the Concier- geric, where he made the Queen a promise regard- ing you, which he kept to the latest hour of his existence!' LOUIS XVIFS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1S36. 4- This disclosure naturally unsettled and per- Effect of the J i disclosure. plexed the Dauphin, for his early recollections were but vaguely defined. After the disclosure, not feeling satisfied as to the real cause of Mr. Meves's decease, he obtained an order for the dis- interment of the bod) - , so as to ascertain precisely and satisfactorily the cause of death. The oppo- sition he met with and other circumstances causing his resolution laid him on a bed of illness, and through incautious treatment he remained in a precarious state for some time, it being two years at least, before his health was fully re-established. Antecedent to the disclosure of Mrs. Meves, all Reflection*, the actions of the reputed Augustus Meves were compatible with the sphere in life in which he moved, and in no way prior to that revelation had he identified himself as being any other than the son of Mr. and Mrs. Meves. Certainly no one could have known better than Mrs. Meves her- self, whether he was her own son or that of another person. In 1 82 1 the Dauphin became a speculator, and , T ^ ; : x ^ a n - experienced its vicissitudes. Just antecedent to Mrs. Meves's decease, in . MtOIe t vc ^ 1S23, she requested of her reputed son the sum of" 7 —■" I revi us t 1 £\oo to present to an attendant. This he did hcr dcceav -- not altogether consent to, but said he would make a suitable present in accordance with his means ; but whatever was required for her own personal 4 6 LOUIS XVII'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. comfort and services, he would have happiness in providing. He then took about ^20 from his bureau, which he gave to Mrs. Meves. Whether this refusal to comply fully to her wishes may have deterred her from adding more than she had already stated, is an open question, as she but reiterated her revelation, with advice, namely : Severation " That lie was no other than the second sou of Meves and Marie Antoinette ; and should he ever have occasion advice. to write to the Duchess of Angouicmc, all he had to state, was ; that he had on the instep of his left foot a cicatrice, which was occasioned by a prong of a buckle wounding him when a child with her in France; adding, c Mind, Augustus, not to enter into any particulars, for, if you do, you will be lost. Neither be induced to read any private memoirs of the Queen of France, as it will only set your mind woolgathering : for how is it possible that circum- stances can be known to historians, which are neces- sary to be kept secret f " ordinary" Subsequently a singular incident occurred at his his banker..-, bankers'. Having left his bank-book for certain entries to be made, on its return he found a sum of money placed to his credit, amounting to ^"4750, of which he had no knowledge. Upon making in- quiry of his bankers — 'Messrs. Remington, Stephen- son, and Toulmin' — Mr. Remington said, "That sum, Sir, has been placed at our firm to your account, and we have entered it on our ledger." Mr. LOUIS XVirS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1S36. 47 Toulmin then remarked, " Do you not expect money to be placed to your account from Mrs. Jane Higginson ? ,£1000 was paid in here from Messrs. Hoare, Barnett, and Co. to your credit." He answered, " That is all right ; I inherit that sum under my sister's will, being part of a mort- gage of ^3000 on Mrs. Davenport's estates in Shropshire; and certainly I am entitled to the whole of Mrs. Higginson's property, but she is alive and well; however, as regards this ^4750, I am really quite ignorant of its source." " Well, Sir, we can only say the money has been placed here in the name of Augustus Meves ; and you can write whatever cheques you may require in your specu- lations in the funds, and we shall be proud to honour them." Some time after he left his bank-book to have various sums placed to his credit, and his cheques returned. On receiving his book, Mr. Rowland Stephenson's confidential clerk came down to the counter, and said, ''Sir, we have made inquiry respecting the ,£4750 placed to your credit, and find it is an error." The following particulars are given as the pro- inference after bable source whence this money was derived : rcflccti,:i - The reputed Mr. Augustus Meves, whose cause several French noblemen of Charles X.'s party, " some years subsequent to the banking incident," thought highly of; and as two gentlemen con- 48 LOUIS XVIi:S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. ncctcd with the French Royalist party, were about proceeding- from London to Edinburgh on busi- ness connected with the Duchesse de Berri, these gentlemen he intrusted with a message to the Duchess of Angouleme. On their return to London, amongst other observations, the follow- ing appears in the "Autobiography of Louis XVII" : " Pray, sir, did you not shortly after the decease of your reputed mother receive a large sum of money ?" He replied, " No, gentlemen, I did not." They then informed him that the Duchess, considering he might possibly have some claim on her, had directed a sum of money should be so placed where it was certain to come into his possession. He then informed them he had never received a sum of money from such a source as alluded to ; nevertheless, he did not doubt the kind intentions or the goodness of heart of the Duchess of Angouleme. On after reflection the Dauphin was under the impression the sum of money that had been placed to his account at his former bankers', and the sum forwarded as stated for his use by the Duchess of Angouleme, were one and the same. Ten years having elapsed since the banking incident and the interview- with the Royalist gentlemen, and in the interim the banking firm of Messrs. Stephen- son and Co. failed, and Mr. Rowland Stephen- son, himself, having fled the country on account of LOUIS XVIl.'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. 49 his defalcations, which conduct impressed the Dauphin into the belief that Mr. Stephenson, finding he was in perfect ignorance from what source the '^4750' had been placed to his credit, and his refusing to draw cheques on the amount, had appropriated the money to his own use. Lord William Pitt Lennox, thus writes of Row- T ord Icn 7 no.\ s opinion land Stephenson, in his "Fifty Years Biographical^. >f Rowland Stephenson the banker. Reminiscences^ published in 1863 : — " That Rowland Stephenson carried on, under the cloak of religion, respectability, and morality, the most nefarious transactions, and made away with money intrusted to his care cannot be denied. A more plausible or agreeable an acquaintance I never had, and although I could not help feeling gratified that an exposure had been made which would warn others from placing any confidence in such men, I was grieved when I heard that he had been compelled to flee the country. Had I been possessed of wealth, so implicit was my faith in him, that I should probably have lost my whole fortune. He once asked me to remove my account from Cox and Greenwood to his house, but as I believed the balance was on the wrong side, I gratefully declined his offer." The Dauphin, from old servitors of Mrs. fonZl^n-. Meves's, made inquiries respecting her early life, Me"" 1 * 5 family. movements and occupation, and thus gained her history. Time passed till the year 1830 without anything important transpiring. 4 ^0 LOUIS XVWS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. ft n a in Frcnch Frequently on returning from the city the Dauphin dined at a French tavern in the Strand. On one occasion whilst there, a Monsieur Lassleur, who he had observed on several previous occa- sions, introduced himself by throwing a French silver coin on the table, and saying : — " Que cet gentilhomme ressemble a Louis Seize." This observation was taken up by other French gentle- men present, a conversation then ensued, and before the Dauphin left the tavern, he invited the party to pay him a visit at his residence in South- ampton Street, Strand. They accepted the invi- tation, and after visiting the Dauphin a time or so, Monsieur Lassleur made the following pro- a proposal, posal: — "Sir, would you have any objection accompanying us to France ?" The answer was : He had no objection, but being in negotiation about selling an Estate he possessed in Kent, and the lease of his house, likewise having only recently become a father, it was his duty, in the first instance, to make arrangements for his child's welfare and happiness, and until such business was settled it would be impossible for him to entertain the proposal. He then remarked : — " Gentlemen, supposing I were to go to Paris, what are your intentions ?" " Sir," they replied, " our intentions are, on your arrival to provide you with a suite of apartments, where you will have everything you may require, and in return, all we have to request is, that LOUIS XVII'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. you will remain as silent regarding yourself as you possibly can, and not enter into any conversation or explanation with any persons except ourselves, for the proof of your identity must rest with us ; we know perfectly well who you are, as your proof exists on your own person, and we are fully con- vinced you are the true Louis XVII.; moreover, when you were in Paris in 18 16 the great resem- blance you bore to Louis XVI. caused much conversation." In continuation they said : — " Our plan is to take you on some particular evening to the Theatre, when it will be well filled with our adherents, you will be seated in a conspicuous box, when some one will rise in the pit, and observe to his friend, " Oue cet ofentilhomme res- semble a Louis Seize !" When his friend will answer : " Comme deux gouttes d'eau." This will be repeated and re-repeated, when an old French gentleman of the highest rank in France will be appealed to for his opinion ; he has a knowledge of your person and is sure to be at the Theatre the night we intend taking you, and if he answers, after well observing you, he belives you to be the son of Louis XVI., the true heir to the throne of France, we shall at once raise the cry of "Vive Louis XVII.!" and endeavour to carry our point, as the whole of Paris at the present moment is ripe for a change of government. The reply to the above proposition was : — " Gentle- xvil i>';v. 4 -2 52 LOUIS XVII'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. men, to tell you the positive truth, I assure you I have no ambition to die the death of Prince Murat. The greater chance would be were I to go to France with you, that I should be either destroyed or incarcerated, where no one would be able to trace me, and I assure you I am too fond of my personal liberty to risk it on the chance of such a scheme. No, no, gentlemen, this will never do for me ; what I desire is to be invited to France by influential persons, when I will at once arrange my affairs in England and come to France as speedily as possible. I am ready to do my duty to the best of my ability, but do not think, I am so incautious of myself as you imagine, or that I shall act in a manner, or countenance any attempt that might make the French Nation think lightly or indifferently of my character." Monsieur Lassleur then said : " Tres bien, monsieur, mais la plus belle Trone de 1' Europe ne veut-elle pas vous tenter ?" The answer was : — " Gentlemen, I assure you no temptation in the world would induce me to leave a certainty for an uncertainty. Here I am happy, contented and independent, and have the full enjoyment of social liberty ; what more can I desire on earth, so long as I have the means of supporting myself indepen- dently ?" ihe r rc nch The days of July being critical in France, the party leave French party left the hotel in the Strand. Kngland fo trance. LOUIS XVIL'S CAREER EROM 1793 TILL 1836. 53 A letter was then written to the Marquis of {*"<* to the 1 Marquis de Lafayette and to Prince Perigord de Talleyrand, ^iwe stating the existence of the son of Louis XVI. TaJkyrand* and Marie Antoinette and his place of residence. Charles X. quitted France, then followed the in- Abdication ± of Charles surrection, and soon the son of the regicide Due x ' d'Orleans, (Egalite Philippe,) ascended the throne, Dukeof as Louis Philippe, King of the French. Throne. the The ex-royal family took refuge in Great Arrival of J J & the ex-Royal Britain. During its stay the Dauphin wrote the p^ehf following to the Duchess of Angouleme : — tine. "To the Duchess of Angouleme, Lulworth Castle. " September 2nd, 1830. "Your Royal Highness, — Circumstances Letter from having arisen which emboldens me to address ^The VI " your Royal Highness, an imperative duty seems to AngouhL impel me, which I hope your goodness will pardon, when I call your attention to the following memo- rial. "It was my misfortune to lose my good father in the year 18 18, and in reading over his will to my mother, after some bequests to his relatives in Brunswick, he leaves the remainder of his property to me, as his reputed son, Augustus Meves. That my father, to whom I had ever shown the most affectionate duty, should have thus named me in his will as his reputed son affected me greatly, when my mother overcame my affliction by stating what I now write, and humbly request your serious attention to, — namely : 'Augustus, Mr. Meves was not your father, nor am I your mother, but you owe me a greater duty than if I were your mother. 54 LOUIS XVirS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. For you I have been estranged from society in my determination to protect you, and have lost every one that was dear to me. You, Augustus, were born in France, and owe yotir existence to the un- fortunate Marie Antoinette, Queen of France. She zuasyour mother, and the circumstance ofyotir being conveyed to England is known to the Archbishop of Paris. Remember two attempts have been made on your life, which nearly proved successful, the third may be entirely so, therefore be cautious, and never let this disclosure escape your lips so lonof as I am living. Should it hereafter be re- quired, the circumstance of your being alive is known, and your identity shall be proved as plain as the sun at noon-day.' " This disclosure greatly affected me, which, to- gether with my severe loss, brought me into a high state of fever, so much so, that I could not ad- minister to my father's effects for nearly two months after his decease. During this melancholy period, my mother possessed herself of my father's letters, as my medical attendants stated to her that some circumstances connected with my father's decease weighed heavily on my mind. " In January 1823 I lost my amiable mother. Word was brought me that a Miss Powell, a friendly attendant of hers, was giving directions for the re- moval of her trunks to the Hanover Square Rooms. Upon my arrival at her residence in Conduit Street, Miss Powell stated to me, that Mrs. Meves's wishes were, ' that no papers of hers should be opened until after her interment,' and that in obedience to her desire she had taken Mrs. Meves's trunks under her care, and in due time they should be returned to me, — through which means I have hitherto never been able to ascertain the LOUIS XVirS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. 55. particulars of my mother's residence in the Court of France, from written documents. " I have since learned that my mother, whose maiden name was Marianne Crowley, shortly after my birth went to France, under the name of Schroeder, which name is my deceased father's maternal family name, Meves being the paternal family name, which circumstance I never ascer- tained till very lately. Likewise ; that to Madame Schroeder's care was entrusted the Duke of Nor- mandy, and that the Queen of France had the greatest esteem and confidence in her, and intro- duced her to the Princesse de Lamballe when she came to England in July, 1787. " What I know concerning myself is this : I remember in my early youth having been ex- tremely unwell, and that during a severe illness, on my arrival in England, where persons about me appeared as strangers. That on my recovery I was placed at a Messrs. Thornton's boarding- school, at Horsham, in Sussex, about the year 1 790 ; and I well remember my unhappiness in not being able to understand what was said to me, as I only understood the French language at that time. Here I remained for nearly two years, and was kept at school during the holidays. On my return to the care of my father, in 1792, I had lost all knowledge of the French lanoaiao-e, which my father completed by teaching me the German language. I have lately found a paper containing the baptismal register of Augustus Meves, to- gether with some light-coloured hair, and a descrip- tion of the moles and marks about his person, 'not one of 'which moles or marks I have? The moles and marks about my person are a mole below the chest, 'on the middle of the stomach,' and a cicatrice 56 LOUIS XVirS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL i 8 3 6 - on the instep of my left foot, which my mother said was occasioned by the prong of a buckle wounding me when a child in France. Should any of these circumstances here related bring any recollection to the mind of your Royal Highness, and should you be pleased, on due reflection, to allow me the honour of an interview, I shall, on the receipt of your commands, wait on you, and whatever the result may be, I hope your goodness will pardon my presumption in thus addressing you, as I cannot help believing that my mother was too honourable to have deceived me, as to my knowledge the strength and ability of her mind were ever pre-eminent. — I remain, with the most profound feeling of respect, your Royal Highness's devoted, and obedient servant, " Augustus Meves. " P.S. — A variety of occurrences, and conver- sations with persons who were acquainted with my mother in early life, would be better related than communicated by letter, and should your Royal Highness condescend to permit me an interview, it would at once set the matter at rest." Not having received any answer to the letter, and as the ex-royal family were about quitting England, he again wrote to Her Royal Highness as follows : — " To Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Angouleme. " London, June Gt/i, 1 83 1. xvi'i.'s " Having lately read in the newspapers a report second k er j-j^ y 0ur R y a j Highness is about to quit England, L>uche«s of Angouleme. LOUIS XVIL'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. 57 to reside on your estates in Hungary, and under the impression that, by some mischance, a letter I addressed to Lulworth Castle may not have reached its destination, and some circumstances relating to me may still remain unknown to your Royal High- " ness, I therefore at once recur to the object of my addressing you, and hope your kindness and urbanity will pardon me. "At the death of my father, in August, 1S18, my mother disclosed to me, that I was not the son of Jllr. William Schroeder Aleves, or her son, but that I was the son of the unfortunate Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, the Queen having, in my infancy, confided me to her care, and the circum- stance of my being conveyed to England was known to the Archbishop of Paris ; and that she, in her determination to protect me, had been estranged from her family. Within a few days of Mrs. Aleves s death, in January, 1823, she again more fully related to me the fact, that the Queen was the mother of two male children, the Dauphin and the Duke of Normandy, the latter of whom was still living ; and she then, in the most solemn manner, declared to me, that I was that person. She reminded me of two attempts that had been made on my life, and of a singular circumstance that happened to me in Paris, where I was for a short time, in the year 1816. " I have, since her death, been informed that, shortly after my birth in T7S5, she went to Paris under the name of Schroeder, and was engaged by the Queen of France to nurse a child the Queen had at that time given birth to ; and that she received a pension from the French Court till 1792; and that the name of Schroeder was the family name of my father, on the female side. 5& LOUIS XVIL'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. " In the month of June, 1830, when I resided at 38, Southampton Street, Strand, I became ac- quainted with several French gentlemen, who were very urgent in their invitations for me to ac- company them to Paris. They remarked upon my great resemblance to the Bourbon family, and that my likeness to Louis XVI., was such : that I should excite the greatest attention, from the resemblance I bore to that unfortunate monarch. " A French officer, Colonel de Bigault Des- foucheres, who was introduced at my house, was pressing in his polite attentions to me. " A Captain d'Oliviera, whose father had been ambassador to England in the reign of Louis XV., on my making some inquiries of him, stated : that he had been Page of Honour to the Princesse de Lamballe, and that he well remembered Madame Schroeder, and that the Queen introduced her to the Princesse de Lamballe, to accompany her when she came to England, in July, 1787. " I lately had occasion to write to Shropshire, to Mr. Davenport, and he, in a letter to me, states that Mrs. Meves went to France in the name of Schroeder, under the patronage of the Countess of Harrington.* " I cannot suppose my mother deceived me, as she was a lady of the highest capacity, and honour ; and this belief, joined with corroborative evidence, makes me imagine that some peculiar mystery surrounds me. " On my own part, I can trace my being in Eng- land to the year 1 790, when I was placed by my parents at Messrs. Thornton's school, at Horsham, where I remained for at least two years. * See " Autobiography Louis XVII." page 43, for Mr. Davenport's letter. LOUIS XVirS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. 59 " The extraordinary events which have lately taken place lead me to consider it a solemn duty to inform your Royal Highness of these circum- stances ; and could an interview be brought about, or some confidential person be appointed to in- vestigate the affair, some clue would doubtless be found, and the happiest result be the consequence." — I remain, with the most profound respect towards your Royal Highness, your respectful and humble servant, " Augustus Meves. " S, Bath Place, New Road." Certain anachronisms occur in the correspon- Anachro- 1 in-.ni. dence, which require explanation. In the first letter, dated 2nd September, 1830, viz. : — " I remember in my early youth having been extremely unwell, and that during a severe illness, on my arrival in England, persons about me ap- peared as strangers. On my recovery I was placed at a Messrs. Thornton's boarding-school at Horsham, in Sussex, about the year 1790, and I well remember my unhappiness in not being able to understand what was said, as I only understood the French language at the time. Here I re- mained for nearly two years, and was kept at school during the holidays. On my return to the care of my father, in 1792, I had lost all know- ledge of the French language, which he completed by teaching me German." In the second letter, dated June 6th, 183 1, viz. : — ■ "On my own part, I can trace my being in 60 LOUIS XVII.'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. England to the year, 1790, when I was placed by my parents at Messrs. Thornton's school, at Hor- sham, where I remained for at least two years." Siu-xpUna- The above anachronism is entirely attributable anachro- 6 to misinformation. The reputed Mr. Augustus uism. Meves's recollections were of facts, not precise dates. The statements referring to dates when he wrote to the Duchess of Angouleme and during the period he was surrounded by the ad- herents of Charles X. till his acquaintance with the Marquis of Bonneval were adapted, from in- formation received. The reminiscences of his early life, as regard impression and action, are correct, the dates and stated places of action, alone, are incorrect, which deferential errors are solely attributable to the sources whence they arose. The true Augustus Meves had been placed at a boarding-school at Horsham, about the year 1790, and it is through this school the errors respecting dates and place arise, for that circumstance enabled Mr. and Mrs. Meves to directly confuse and de- ceive their reputed son, " the Dauphin," on account of its representative similarity, coinciding, in many respects, with the Tower of the Temple, the Horsham school having formerly been a county prison. In the course of the Dauphin's life, when he has adverted to certain incidents that had happened to him, in reality at the Tower of the Temple, Mr. and Mrs. Meves have ac- LOUIS XVII.'S CAREER FROM 1793 77LL 1836. 6 1 counted for them occurring at this school, and incidents prior as having taken place at public entertainments, and thus it was that all reminis- cences in connection with his early career referring to dates were incorrect, for he unconsciously appro- priated the dates and place pertaining in reality to Augustus Meves, in England ; and till his ac- quaintance with the Marquis of Bonneval, in the year 1835, he specified the incidents that had happened to himself " as the Dauphin " whilst in the palaces of Versailles and the Tuileries, and the Tower of the Temple, as having occurred in England. His only actual errors, equitably con- sidered, were; in saying England instead of France, and the pscudo dates and place. The reminiscences themselves were perfectly accurate. The 1 789 anachronism is fully and precisely explained in pages 196, 197, and 200 to 202 of the " Autobiography." To briefly state the particulars, the brother of the reputed father of the supposed Augustus Meves, who, when the latter named questioned him respecting what he knew of his early life, stated : — That his brother was a painter, and in 1789 left London for Lord Stamford's on professional business, but previous to going he placed his son Augustus under the care of a nurse at Battersea. During his absence, Mrs. Meves got possession of the boy and took him with her to France. After the attack on the palace of 62 LOUIS XVII'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. Versailles, in 1789, Mrs. Meves returned to Eng- land and placed her son at a school at Horsham, in Sussex, where he remained till 1792. As the Dauphin was only four years of age in 1 789, and Augustus Meves the same, whether Dauphin or Augustus Meves, precludes him being accepted as an authority on his own sole respon- sibility. However, that being the period he was given to understand Mrs. Meves returned to Eng- land from France, and his recollection of her reve- lation and injunctions, just previous to her decease, namely : — "Mind, Anglistics, not to enter into any particulars, for if 'you do, you will be lost. Neither be induced to read any private memoirs of the Queen of France, as it will only set your mind wool- gathering, for how was it possible that circumstances could be known to historians, which were necessary to be kept secret." Likewise her statement on read- ing Mr. William Meves's will: — " Augustus, the circumstance of your conveyance to England is known to the Archbishop of Paris, and should it hereafter be required, your identity can be proved as positive as the sun at noon-day." The above and a concatenation of circumstances made him adopt the date of his supposed arrival as coinciding with information received, the sole authority which led him into this error, " this egregious error," being the Meves information, but as antecedently stated, the boy and all that transpired in England up to LOUIS XVII'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. 63 October, 1 793, appertains individually to the true Augustus Aleves, so far as refer to specified in- accurate dates and place. Three years after writing the letters to the Duchess of Angoulcme, the Dauphin was intro- duced to the Marquis of Bonneval, who averred he guarded the carriage that contained the fugitive Dauphin-king as far as the coast of Normandy, in the month of October, 1793. In one of the conversations between the Dauphin and the Mar- quis, the following interrogatory was placed by the latter : — " What do you recollect of your arrival in England, and when have you been led to suppose you first came under Mr. Meves's care ? He replied, " He was led to believe he first came under Mr. Meves's care in 1792, from a boarding-school at Horsham, which school had formerly been a county prison, but as to his own individual recollection, he was positive of being placed at a boarding-school at Wandsworth, where he remembered his school-fellows leaving during the holidays, and he remained until Mrs. Meves came and took him away to her residence, from where he saw some illuminations. Mrs. Meves had informed him these illuminations had taken place in the year 1792 ; however, they were actually those given in honour of Lord Howe s victory, in June, 1794, which lasted three consecutive days." This fact, again, accounts for the error of the 1 792 64 LOUIS XVIL'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. date, the event being described as happening two years before it actually took place. Thornton's school at Horsham is the authority acquired from tracing, nevertheless it answered, in reminiscence, the Tower of the Temple at Paris, both as re- garded time and in many respects recollection ; but Tempest's Wandsworth school was the actual personal reminiscence of the Dauphin's experience, as being the school at which he attended, shortly after his arrival in England in 1794. Wherever error in date and place have occurred on the Dauphin's part, its originating source has been through adhering to the systematic plan of in- tentional misdirection on the part of Mr. and Mrs. Meves and the particulars furnished by Mr. George Meves in adopting the date of the Dauphin's evasion having been effected after the attack on the palace of Versailles in October, 1789, when, as stated in page 62, Mrs. Meves returned to England from France and placed her son at the Horsham school. It is apparent the Dauphin relied too much and adhered too strictly to the information received instead of ascertaining from authentic records the given history of the events connected with the royal family of France till the year 1795. When this explanation is maturely considered, it will be found the recollections and statements are compa- tible and substantially correct on the Dauphin's part. LOUIS XVWS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1S36. 65 The daughter of Louis XVI. remained in cap- wherein, <_> -l and how the tivity at the Tower of the Temple till December, EySTfiU learnt the 1795. All had been surmise on her part as to^^ 1 ^ the real fate of her mother, her brother, and her mily ' aunt. Madame de Chantereine, who had been appointed to attend the Princess a few months prior to her release, conveyed the unpleasant intelligence : — " Madame has lost both her parents." " And my brother ?" inquired the innocent girl. " You have no brother now," was the response. " And my aunt ?" "Your aunt is no more." Thus the young- Princess learnt the loss of those Political P o- J ° sition of the so dear to her. No passing' thought suggested r"""'^ itself that all revealed was otherwise than stated. \\ hy in the gloom of the prison-house in 1 795 question the authenticity of the young King's as- serted fate any more than her mother's, or her aunt's ? At an age when the heart is free, pure, affectionate and devoid of the artificial, the princess accepted her fate with resignation. On the marriage of the Princess Royal with the P°iicyofthe £> J Princess Duke of Angouleme, (the eldest son of the Count Duchess 0? Angouleme d'Artois, youngest brother of Louis XVI., and subsequently Charles X.,) her policy, " politically considered," was thenceforth . directly vested in Charles X.'s family. Whatever came to her knowledge subsequent to her release from the Temple lo her marriage, and from then till her 66 LOUIS XVIi:S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. decease respecting her brother's evasion from the Temple and existence, peremptorily commanded her secrecy. Had she openly proclaimed her belief in Louis XVI I. 's existence, Louis XVIII. and Charles X.'s regal powers would havebeen rendered untenable, and the grandson of Charles X., "the Duke de Bordeaux," (now known as the Count de Chamjbord.) succession de jure, would have collapsed. £?">? , Thus the policy dictated by Louis XVIII. and X\ 1 1 1, nnd r J J ukfmaTum/ Charles X. imperatively commanded the Duchess of Angouleme's obedience to their wishes, which was the repudiation of her brother. a French After Charles X.'s abdication (in favour of the newspaper \ fnLondon. Duke of Bordeaux), and arrival in Great Britain, visit of the a French newspaper was established in London, Count r cm- i I ' reau e toLou°s entitled, 'Le Precurscur! One morning one of its XVIL • ■ 11 editors, Le Comte Fontaine de Moreau, called at the Dauphin's residence and requested an inter- Origiuofthe view. On his beini/ received by the Dauphin, he Vlblt. o J i- said, " Do I see the gentleman who has commu- nicated with her Royal Highness the Duchess of Angouleme, at Holyrood ?" The reply was : — " Yes, I am the gentleman." A conversation Purport of then ensued, when the Count said, "Will you allow me, Sir, to examine your hands ?" Com- plying with the request, the Count then remarked, " By what means did the scar on the wrist o( your left hand occur ?" The reply was : " Upon my the visit. LOUIS XVII'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. 67 word and honour I do not know, but I imagine from some tumour in childhood." The real origin of the scar was : — " On the morning of the execution of Louis XV I., the Dauphin, his voice lost in sobs, rapidly traversed the outer apartment, descended the stairs without any one being able to stop him, and reached the courtyard of the Temple. He there addressed the guards in the most pitiful terms of supplication, his hands clasped, and throwing himself on his knees, exclaiming : ' Laissez-moi passer, messieurs, laissez-moi passer que. je me parle au peuple, le supplier cle ne pas faire mourir mon pere. Au nom de Dieu, laissez-moi passer.' "* His entreaties were vain; and in despair and excitement, he accidentally struck his left wrist on the point of one of the guards' bayonets. This fact being known to the Royal Family, occasioned the Count's request to examine the asserted Dau- phin's hands, to see whether he possessed such a scar, as of necessity must have existed on the son of Louis XVI. The Marquis of Bonneval, to whom the Dauphin, "subsequent to knowing the Count Fontaine de Moreau,"' had been introduced by the Abbe Prince Charles de Broglie, attached great importance to the scar on the wrist. (See * Necker on the "Revolution" vol. i. p. 106: Eckard, p. 127, " Mcmoires Historiques sur Louis XVII.;" Beauchesne, r. S, vol. ii., •' Louis XVII" 68 LOUIS XVirS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. page 77).* In resuming, the Count desired to be permitted to see his bosom. To this, says the Dauphin, I objected, and said I had some blood- spots on my chest, and a dark-coloured mole on my right breast, and that his seeing them could not possibly be of particular consequence. He then remarked, " You will pardon me, Sir, when I tell you I am like Saint Thomas, I must see before r I believe." He then took off his neckcloth, and allowed the Count to examine the dark-coloured mole on his right breast, and his bosom, on which were several singular small blood-spots, resembling in appearance a constellation in the Reflection, Heavens.* The son of Louis XVI. was known to have possessed these singular marks, and as no allusion in the letters written to the Duchess of Angouleme had referred to these particulars of identity, this was an efficacious way of testing the bond-fide character of the claims pre- ferred. Before leaving the Count gave the Dauphin an invitation to an evening part)-, and remarked he would there meet Le Comte de Jouffroy, a gentle- man of the highest talent as a political writer, also the Chevalier de Vernieul, and possibly Le Comte de Crouy, who was attached to the service of Charles X. * For official medical certificates, see pp. 109, 112, 115 and 118. Result of the Count's visit. LOUIS XVWS CAREER FROM 1793 TLLL 1836. f>g The Count, having fulfilled his mission, must inference, have been highly impressed as to who, in reality, the writer of the letters to the Duchess of An- gouleme was. The visit was not undertaken in favour of the asserted Dauphin, but antagonistic to the claim. The demands were precise and formal, and of most important moment. With the Duchess of Angouleme and ex-Royal Family of France, the existence of the congenital and mis- adventure scars, constituted weighty significance. As the Count had ocular demonstration of the special marks existing on the reputed Augustus Meves, he personally entertained a very high opinion as to the legality of the claims preferred, and perceived the claimant's personal ignorance of the transcendent importance, attached to their existence, as an infallible means of identifica- tion. At the evening part)', says the Dauphin, to ^S 1, which the; Count Fontaine de Moreau invited him, x.-sad r - es , , , herents. he was entertained with great hospitality, and was introduced to Le Comte de Jouffroy, also to Le Chevalier de Vernieul. Upon another occasion he was introduced to Le Comte de Crouy. The day after the part) - Le Comte de Jouffroy visited the Dauphin, and before leaving invited him to his residence. He was subsequently introduced by the Count de Jouffroy to the Abbe Prince Charles de Broglie. 70 LOUIS XVirS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. The count On one occasion when Le Comte de Jouffroy de Jouffroy s j j respecting visited the Dauphin, he said, " Sir, upon due re- the Allied . . . . _ . . . _ Powers and flection, my oiDinioii is, the British Government is their policy J A loLouTs"" perfectly well aware at Bath Place lives the true son of Louis XVI. ; but, Sir, the danger is in acknowledging- you, as from the energy of your character, you might put the whole of Europe in a state of fermentation : as you are not only King of France in right of birth, but also heir to Maria Theresa, Empress of Germany. You thereby see the difficulties and dangers that might occur were you acknowledged the rightful heir to the Throne Louis f of France." The Dauphin thus replied, "What opinion. y QU sa ^ Count, possibly is the case ; however, I think the Powers of Europe would settle what authority Louis XVII. would be entitled to, were such a circumstance to take place as my being acknowledged the rightful heir of Louis XVI." d?jSffroy's The Count then observed, " Sir, I see no means so ready to make your claims known as the Press. You should therefore devise some means, and publish a work on the subject, when I will com- mence a disputation on it, which doubtless will raise the question as to the existence of Louis XVII. Likewise, I advise you to leave London, and make a sojourn at Jersey as soon as you con- veniently can, and there see the different French parties, as their coming to London and seeing you would be of little avail, on account of you being d advice LOUIS XVI L'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. y x known there for so many years as a professor of music, and your habits, associations, and manners being, in consequence of your professional career, so much at variance with so important a character, as that of Louis XVII. It would therefore be greatly to your advantage to see persons in Jersey, where they are totally unacquainted with you, and consequently would judge by seeing you per- sonally ; there being thousands of French families in La Vendee, Normandy, Brittany, and Gascony who fully believe in the existence of the son of Louis XVI., they knowing perfectly well the Prince Royal of France did not die in the Tower of the Temple ; therefore the striking resemblance you bear to the Royal Family of France and the marks and scars which are known to have existed on the person of the Prince Royal, being found to exist so accurately on you, these will constitute a convincing argument as to who you really are." Respecting the incidents and accidents that occurred to the Prince Royal during the period of his captivity, these are all duly registered and known ; therefore it is impossible for any pre- tender to gain credence. There were many youths and boys residing within the precincts of the Temple at the time the Royal Family were confined there, who could easily, if necessary, assume the character and pass themselves off as bein'»" Louis XVII. Hebert had two sons, who 72 LOUIS XVII.'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. resided with him in the Palais du Temple ; these youths and many others must have known the Tower of the Temple, much better than the un- fortunate captive Prince. Message to Whilst the ex-Royal Family of France were stay- the Duchess J J J gou^me. ing at Holy rood Palace, the gentlemen connected with the 'Precurseicr newspaper gave the Dauphin an introduction to two gentlemen, who were about to proceed to Edinburgh on business connected with the Duchesse de Berri, who offered to take any message he might wish to the Duchess of Angouleme. The Dauphin availed himself of the offer. R^iy. On their return to London they called on the Dauphin, when Captain Curten thus addressed him, " Monsieur, votre nom est en bon odeur a Holyrood." He then stated the communication he had to make did not come direct from the lips of the Duchess of Angouleme, but from the Car- dinal de Latil, " Confessor to Charles X.," who said the Duchess of Angouleme desired him to state, that the gentleman who had written to her was mistaken when he asserted an exchange had taken place in October, 1789, as she was quite positive it was her own brother who got into the carriage with her when the Royal Family left Versailles, and that she had never lost sight of him from that time till their unfortunate separa- tion in the Tower of the Temple. The Duchess, LOUIS XVII.'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. ^ however, assures the gentleman who wrote to her, that nothing- on earth could afford a greater con- solation to her heart than to know her brother was still in existence ; but she believes he died, and that his death was accelerated by poison. She admits not seeing him in death, but the proof was so positive, as not to leave the slightest doubt on her mind. The origin of the 1 789 anachronism being fully Explanation, explained, from page 60 to 64, renders any com- ment here superfluous. The Dauphin had desired Captain Curten and ^ c c ™i; Monsieur Rogiers, amongst other subjects, to in- form the Duchess of Angouleme of his recollection of having once broken a small enamelled box, which he believed belonged to Her Royal High- ness. Captain Curten said, " The Duchess of An- gouleme recollected such an incident as mentioned ;" but, observed the Captain, " very probably, Sir, you may have heard of the circumstance from Mrs. Meves." " Oh no," was the reply, " it comes entirely from my own recollection. When a young man, I spoke to my reputed mother respecting the circumstance, and she stated, 'Augustus, that must have occurred when you were at the Messrs. Thornton's boarding-school, and very likely the enamel box belonged to one of the Miss Thorn- tons, for which no doubt you were punished.' ' The reply was, " No, I was not punished, for I 74 LOUIS XVII.'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. remember putting the lid of the box into my pocket, and the box part I threw over a high wall, and the circumstance occasioned much distress." Mrs. Meves Captain Curten and Monsieur Rogers then in the service I o t°oin«t" e An ' stated the name of Marianne de Courville Schroe- der was known in the ex-Royal Family circle at Holyrood, who remembered such a lady in the service of Queen Marie Antoinette, in whom the Queen placed the greatest confidence. Recapituia- Particulars referring 1 to Mrs. Meves, "n£e Crow- ley/'andtheinfluencetowhich she owed her appoint- ment in the service of Queen Marie Antoinette, have been antecedently explained, (see page 13). Derivation Likewise corroborative evidence appears in the of the name *■ *■ was'known 3 "Autobiography" (pages 49 — 193,) respecting the court of name of Schroeder, where it is seen Mr. Meves, trance. when he followed the profession of a miniature painter, called himself, William Meves von Schroe- der. a sum of At this interview it was that Captain Curten money from *■ ofAngo C u- ess and Monsieur Rogiers alluded to the sum of money, (previously mentioned, see page 47,) the Duchess of Angouleme had forwarded into such hands that would sure to have reached him. i.atour's During Mrs. Meves's life she had informed her statement re- ° Mrs. U Meves. reputed son that a Monsieur Latour knew many circumstances regarding him. (Latour held the position as pianist to the Prince Regent, afterwards George IV. of England.) Accordingly he called LOUIS X VII 'S CAREER FR OM 1793 TILL 1 S3 6. 7 5 upon Latour, who stated, that Mrs. Meves was called Marianne de Courville at the Court of France, being one of the ladies in attendance on Queen Marie Antoinette, at the Petit Trianon. On his questioning Latour when and where it was Latour-s 1 ° statement he first saw him, he replied, he first saw him in the SK™ 8 year 1 794, and he then knew he was not Augustus Meves, as he had previously given instruction on the pianoforte to Mr. Meves's son, when he lived in Bloomsbury. Latour then narrated he was in his youth Latoiir re - •' counts his attached to the service of the chapel of Versailles, tur« ndven " and attended the priests in their duties ; however, he took a dislike to the life, and entered the office of Monsieur Calonne, " Minister of Finance," in 1786, and was subsequently appointed his private secretary. On Necker succeeding Calonne as Minister of Finance, he came to England with Calonne. In 1793 he went to Paris, and Beur- nonville advised him to enter the National Guard, which he accordingly did, and at the Tower of the Temple he did duty as a sentinel, so likewise at the prison of the Conciergerie. At the Con- ciergerie he came on duty in the passage near the door of the chamber where the Queen was con- fined, Beaugerard. was at the gate, and he passed word into the Queen's room for her to make hen- escape, but she declined unless accompanied by her children. The request was an impossibility. j6 LOUTS XVII :S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. The Queen might have escaped, had she availed herself of the opportunity offered. She then requested Latour to conceal about his person pen, ink and paper when he came on duty again. The Queen then gave him a pen ; the nib part was of gold and the quill portion of crystal, with a gold top to secure ink, When he next went on duty he concealed the pen and paper and gave such to the Queen, who then commenced writing, and when the ink was expended she punctured her arm and drew sufficient blood to finish the letter, after which she presented him with the pen. The Dauphin asked Latour what became of the letter, when he replied : — " I brought it to England, and it is now in the possession of the ex- Royal Family of France now at Holy- rood." intended The ex-Royal Family bein^ about leaving Great visit of Louis J J o o ex-Roy!? 1 e Britain for Germany, it was arranged the Dauphin Family at Hoiyrood. should proceed to Edinburgh with Le Comte Fontaine de Moreau, who promised to procure him a proper introduction to the Duchess of Angouleme. Mr. George Meves was much against the proposed visit, and finding he could not dissuade him from it, had recourse to the expedient of procuring an order for his detention. This was easily obtained on the plea of its being required against a person, supposing himself to be a king, who, to the annoyance of his friends, hud t rated LOUIS XVIi:S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. 77 resolved on travelling to Edinburgh with the ostensible purpose of preferring his claim. Un- censure, questionably Mr. George Meves's presumption was unpardonable ; nevertheless, he personally believed he was befriending his brother's son. Thus, then, was the proposed interview frustrated. .In 1S52 Charles X. and suite left England for jJ,y'f" K a. r -* mllv of Germany. i-vancc In iS^s the Abbe Prince Charles de Broglie 1:,,gl;ind JJ & Louis introduced the Dauphin to the Marquis of Bon- ^j u ' neval, who, on a visit of the Dauphin's, said, of iWmevai. "Sir, during 1 the process against Louis XVI., L/He- The Mar- ritier passed from the tower of the Temple into La SpTniou" d ' Rue du Temple, and the guards who were stationed at the gate presented their muskets in order to prevent him passing into the street, when he cried out, ' Laissez-moi passer, laissez-moi passer, pour que je me demande grace pour mon pere,' and in his agitation he accidentallv struck his left wrist on one of the points of the bayonets of the guards at the gate. Now, Sir, it is extraordinary, but you have on your left wrist a scar correspond- ing with such that must necessarily exist on L'Heritier.* This scar, and particularly your features and general appearance which so exactly correspond with those of LTIeritier, are tome the most convincing proofs, and not your conversation, as apparently you are quite ignorant of the cir- * For official medical certificates, sec pp. 109, 112, 11^ and 1 iS. quis s re- quest. Louis yS LOUIS XVWS CAREER FROM 1793 TILL jS 3 6. The Maquis cumstanccs which regard yourself." The Marquis interrogates ° J •*• Louis xvii. t | len said,—" What do you recollect of your arrival in England, and when have you been led to suppose you first came under Mr. Meves's The rcpiy. care ?" The Dauphin's reply has antecedently been given. To avoid tautology the reader is referred to page 63. The Mar- The Marquis then requested him to write us s re- i J- a Narrative of what he had been led to believe, and give it to the Abbe Prince Charles de Broglie. compliance. He complied with the proposition.* Attachment The Marquis of Bonneval perceived the and state- a x M^rqufs'to 6 Dauphin had been misled, and being convinced of the bona-fide character of the pretensions, became greatly attached to him. On one occasion he re- lated the following : — " That he had emigrated to England in 1 79 1 , and in 1793, during the time the Queen of France was confined in the prison of the Conciergerie, he accompanied an English lady, " a Mrs. Atkyns," to France. She proceeded to Paris, and he for safety took refuge at his mother's chateau in Normandy, as he was fearful of being recognised in Paris. The cause of Mrs. Atkyns going to Paris was to aid the Queen of France to escape Irom the Conciergerie and make her way if possible to England. The Queen declined the offer unless she could be accompanied :;: For Narrative, sec " Autobiography Louis XVII." Note I., P- 3^5- LOUIS XVIL'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. yg by her children, which was impossible to accom- plish. Mrs. Atkyns then returned to England.'"' The party to which the Marquis belonged, find- ing their endeavours ineffectual in releasing the Queen, determined to use every effort to liberate the heir. Access was obtained to Simon and Hebert, who were bribed. f The escape was effected, and he had guarded the carriage which contained the royal fugitive, with a guard of un- doubted courage, through a certain pass in Nor- mandy, and on arriving at the coast he wished the young king God-speed and returned to his mother's chateau, and shortly afterwards came to England. The Dauphin then said : " My dear Marquis, at J™^ . what time did this occur, and where did the gatLn-." carriage proceed?" He replied: "During the Thc rc ' [] y- proccs against the Queen, and the carriage pro- ceeded to La Vendee, for Charette to certify the identity."' The Dauphin then asked the Marquis whether he looked into the carriage. He replied, he did not, but he knew perfectly well it contained the Heir, with a guard of undoubted courage. On another occasion the Marquis asked the !' :';";"; .. , : Dauphin whether he had read the trial off Mathurin Iiruneau, or that of the Baron de Riche- • : See pp. 75 and tc6, on tins subject, and Toulan's pre- vious essay at the Tower of the Temple and result, p. 97. t See foot-note, p. 10, and Remusat's statement, p. ti. 1 Margui.-,. •So LOUIS XFLL'S CAREER FROM 1793 TLLL 1S36. mont. The answer was, "No, Monsieur le Mar- quis, I have not, nor any works of that kind.''' The Marquis then gave him two French newspapers containing two clays' trial of the Baron de Riche- mont, and observed : — There was a paper pub- lished at Paris, established by a person the name of " Thomas," for the purpose of receiving any evidence concerning the Prince Royal, Dauphin of France, and that an aged person had given the following information at the office : " That he had been in the service of Her Royal Highness Madame Adelaide at Versailles, and had fre- quently been in the apartments of the nurses and held the Prince Royal in his arms when the nurse was washing him, and had observed the Prince Royal had an appearance on his right breast inter, ,- resembling ' two teats' " The Marquis then said : the P two ing " Sir, have you an)' such mark, as it will be a i.oui> singular proof ?" The reply was : " I certainly reply. have many singular marks on my chest, but not two teats on my right breast, nevertheless ; over the nipple is a kind of mole, which in my youth may have greatly resembled two teals T' 1 ' nines* of ihc Shortly after the Dauphin paid a visit to the Mnr.jui>. ■> l l Abbe Prince Charles de Broglie, who informed him the Marquis of Bonneval had been seized ' ln xvii. with a fit of paralysis. On leaving the Abbe .Mar T .n., prince lie went direct to the Marquis's residence * For official medical certificates, see pp. 109, 112, 115 and 1 18. LOUIS XVII! S CAREER FROM 1793 77 IL 1836. 81 and made inquiry as to the state of his health, and was informed he was in a dying- condition, the fit having - rendered him speechless. lie was shown into the bedchamber and found the Marquis in a deplorable state. He said, " Dear Marquis, I am sorry to see you suffering, and have come to offer you my sincere gratitude for your interest and kindness towards me." He seemed to understand perfectly what I said. I took from the side of the pillow his handkerchief and wiped his mouth. I then made inquiry whether he had sufficient medical advisers, and was answered in the affirma- tive. I then took my last adieu of the kind old Marquis, as when next I called, he was Demise of the Marqui.-, deceased. of uonuevai. The Marquis's testimony convincing the Dauphin xvir, of the fallacy of the anachronism he had adopted, rL resulted in his repudiating the data obtained from his reputed parents. He then considered the cir- cumstances of his life, as really pertained to him- self, and wrote his "A titobiography" which estab- lishes in every line his integrity, and likewise his identification, as being the son of the martyrs Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette. Subsequently, the Dauphin was introduced toj.^u.wn. the Pretender. Herr Naiindorff, and had several: interviews with him in the society ol the part}- who ' supported his pretensions. The conclusion he came a;. to, was : "' That if Kaiindorff was in any way what- !;;; v ': : 6 forcnce. Red on I XVI aspirant 82 LOUIS XV WS CAREER FROM 1703 TILL 1836. e.ver connected with the events of the Temple, it must have been in the character of " Augustus Meves," as his description in many particulars andi.T" 1 coincided with Mr. Meves's son.* u It must be distinctly understood the inference rests solely on supposition." If he were indeed the son of Mr. Meves, that would account for the part he adopted. wis 1 * Respecting the several aspirants to the dignity of Louis XVII., what do their pretensions em- phatically suggest ? That the revolutionary government's official report respecting Louis XVII. 's demise in the Temple, was not believed, but considered merely as a political expedient. Imposture generally has an originating source, founded on something resembling a possibility. Although pretenders have dared presume to the dignity of Louis XVII., whose imposture have been unmistakably proven, that has not altered the fact of the actual realisation of Louis XVI I. 's deliverance, for that fact withstands the most crucial test. It is one thing to unmask an im- postor, but another to disprove the rectitude of facts that have stimulated and emboldened to their respective parts such adventurers as those who have, at the bar of France, dared essay Louis ■ : Sec page 88, " Autobiography of Louis A7 "//.," and pp. 81 to 88 for conversations, that transpired between Naiindorifand the Dauphin. louis xvn:s career from 1793 till 1S30. s o XVII., impositions. Let the subject meet fair consideration, and the artificial must give place to the real. The voice of France since June, 1 795, has echoed and re-echoed its belief in the liberation of Louis XVII. from the Temple, which has aroused both diplomatists and adventurers. The former to raise obstacles against the truth trans- piring, whilst the latter hazarded attempts, either for imaginary fame, or for what the chance of cir- cumstances might have opened. Beauchesne, an indefatigable collector of what i; ^^" r -'-- C> undertakes transpired at the Temple from the incarceration '^,^^"~ of the Royal Family till the release of the Princess Royal, published a work in 1852, with the ostensible purpose of proving the decease of Louis XVII. in 1795, as public opinion, at that distant date, "fifty-seven years after" was far from beino- unanimous on the subject. His efforts were p^cce^fui £3 J issue. a signal failure ; for those who were then, and are now, acquainted with the intricacies of the Temple routine from 1792 till 1 795, respectively ; repudiate accepting the authenticity of the Republican announcement, for it is obvious, all circumstances duly considered, that Louis X\ II.'s escape was accomplished, alter October, 1793, and thence- forth a substitute, or substitutes ; enacted the mysterious role at the Temple. 6—2 S4 LOUIS XVII! S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1S36. Beauchcs. In Beauchesne's work there is an incessant nc s pre - mark?aad struggle to obviate approaching seriously the opinion. questionable portions. It is apparent the author " himself" was in the same dilemma he repre- sents public opinion in the preface of his work, namely : — • " We discovered at the commencement of our researches how it was that public opinion had never been definitely fixed upon the point, appa- rently imperceptible, but in reality considerable, of the death of Louis XVII. Both France and Europe witnessed, but from a distance, the drama of the Tower of the Temple ; they saw not all the scenes, they only learned the lamentable catastrophe in such a manner as to lead them to doubt its reality. Before the veil which enveloped the tragic end of the son of Louis XVI., we are not astonished to hear it said with the warmth of Jinn conviction that the young victim issued alive from his prison ; men, indeed, admitted that a child really died in the Temple, but they added, thai whether it was the son of our King no one can prove, that the physicians indeed affirmed his death but not his identity, that as it was never known how the man in the iron mash came into the world, so it would never be known how the child of the Temple had quitted it, and that the tomb of one, must remain as mysterious as the cradle op the other P hes- Bcauchesne's work is published both in French and English, and is an elaborate consideration oi Tr- Mcvs the question. The Meves " Louis XVII. Aulo- X \"'^"- biography" is published in English, and explains LOUIS' XVII.'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1S36. 85 fully those points Beauchcsnc was fearful of honourably discussing, and in the hands of the critical historical student will be invaluable in bringing a correct solution to the mysterious doings at the Temple, in connection with the Captive. Beauchcsnc has likewise incorporated, " 7tu- remarks on 1 ^ Lieuuchesne acknoz^lcdgcd" in his work Eckard's " Fragments and lv - : - u •• Historiqucs sur Louis XVII." and accepted them as realities, instead; of devotion offered at the shrine of admiration. Credulous, indeed, the one would be who could accept in toto, and, " au serieux" the scholastic and ready repartees chro- nicled by Eckard as emanating from the Dauphin as a mere infant, he would have been a prodigy of erudition to have given extempore utterance to such traits of wit and sageness. As a myth comprehensible, but incomprehensible, impos- sible and impracticable as a fact. They are conspicuously ideal. Eckard in the generosity of his heart permitted a fertile imagination, through an excess of zeal, to overstep pru- dence. Sympathy acknowledges the adulation, but reason peremptorily repudiates, mistaking sentiment for fact.* ■•'• Marie Antoinette in a letter, dated 25th July, 17S9, to the Marquise de Tourzel, who succeeded Madame de Poli , r nac as governess to the royal children, thus writes: — "My sea cannot read, and he is very slow at learning, but he is too giddy to apply," &c., &c. S6 LOUIS XVII.'S CAREER FROM 1793 TILL 1836. The Resto- ration audit; policy. Conditions 0:1 which Louis XVI I r. oc- cupied the throne of France. Secret Treaty of 1S14. Remarks. On the restoration in 18 14, it should be re- membered it was the political interest of the acknowledged Royal Family of France, to acquiesce in the asserted death of Louis XVII. since the settlement; gave each its social position. It is important here to state on what conditions Le Comte de Provence occupied the Throne of France, as stipulated in the Secret Treaty of Paris, in 1 8 14, viz. : — " That although the high contracting powers — the Allied Sovereigns — have no evidence of the death of the son of Louis XVI., the state of Europe and its political interests require that they should place at the head of the Government of France, Louis Xavier, Comte de Provence, ostensibly with the title of King, but being in fact considered in their secret transactions only as Re- gent of the kingdom for the two years next ensuing, reserving to themselves, during that period, to obtain every possible certainty concerning a fact which must ultimately determine who shall be the sovereign of France, &c, &c." Assuredly this Secret Treaty does not inva- lidate the escape of Louis XVI I. from the Temple, neither; do the attempted personifications."' ■■■■ Louis XVIII. was never publicly crowned King of France, but proclaimed. From the accession of Philip Augustus to that of Charles X.. Henri IV. and Louis XVIII. arc the excep- tions, who were not solemnly crowned, at Rheinis. III. PROMINENT ATTEMPTS ENTERTAINED FOR RELEASING THE ROYAL FAMILY OF FRANCE FROM THE OUT- BREAK OF THE REVOLUTION TILL I 793. From the outbreak of the French Revolution Waiia efforts to numerous projects were entertained for placing" ^.'w/nf the Royal the Royal Family beyond the arena of its political F:imil >"- enemies. Thus writes Madame Campan in her " Memoirs of Marie Antoinette :" — " The palace of the Tuileries was a very dis- p'^ ; ]V, y :! ! - agreeable residence during the summer, which ^;;\ l :: 1 :" , "~ made the Queen wish to go to Saint Cloud. The Ll ; removal was decided on without any opposition ; the; National Guard of Paris followed the Court thither. At this period new plans of escape were I>: presented, nothing would have been more easy at that time than to execute them. The Kir.g K: '■■'■' • had obtained leave to go out without guards, and to be accompanied only by an aide-de-camp of M. de La Favctte. The Oueen also had one on 88 PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY. duty with her, and so had the Dauphin. The King and Queen often went out at four in the afternoon and did not return until eight or nine, contem- The following is one of the plans of emigration onhe Royai which the Queen communicated to me, the execu- tion of which seemed infallible. The Royal Family were to meet in a wood, four leagues from Saint Cloud, some persons who could be relied on were to accompany the King, who was always followed by his equerries and pages ; the Queen was to join him with her daughter and Madame Elizabeth, these princesses, as well as the Queen, had equer- ries and pages of whose fidelity no doubt could be entertained. The Dauphin, likewise, was to have been at the place of rendezvous with Madame Tourzel. A large berlin and a chaise for the attendants were sufficient for the whole family. The aides-de-camp were to have been gained over or mastered. The King was to leave a letter for the National Assembly upon his bureau at Saint Cloud. The people in the service of the King and Queen would have waited until nine in the evening, without anxiety, because : the family sometimes did not return until that hour. The letter could not be forwarded to Paris until ten o'clock at the earliest. The Assembly would not be sitting at that hour — the President must have been sought for at his own house, or elsewhere ; it would have been midnight before the Assembly could have been summoned, and couriers could have been sent off to have the Royal Family stopped, but the latter would have been six or seven hours beforehand as they would have started at six leagues distance from Paris, and at this period, travelling was not as yet impeded in France. The Queen approved of this plan, but I PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY. 89 did not venture to interrogate her, and I even thought if it was put in execution she would leave me in ignorance of it. One evening in the Anticipated 1 r t 1 1 r 1 1 f 1" accomplii.li- month 01 I une, the people 01 the castle rinding mentof the King did not return by nine o'clock were walking about the courtyards in a state of great anxiety. I thought the family was gone, and I could scarcely breathe amidst the confusion of my wishes, when I heard the sound of carriages. I confessed to the Queen that I thought she had piishme..T set off; she told me she must first wait until the'"' King's aunts had quitted France, and afterwards see whether the plan agreed with those formed abroad." The first actual attempt essayed by the Royal ™fj r r ;[. Family to quit Paris for the frontier was the leave France night of the 20th June, 1791. Several members Rumours. of the Convention had previously informed Ge- neral La Fayette a report was in circulation at the clubs, that on that especial night an attempt was to be made to effect the Royal Family's deliver- ance. La Fayette laughed at the rumour as he .l^'.n,; considered its realisation impossible. His assur ance, however, did not appease his informers, who at procured the password, and repaired with all diligence to the Tuileries. During the evening Routino the usual ceremonies took place at the palace. After the servants were dismissed, the Royal !.;,:v Family habilitated themselves in all haste in I ..■■ 1 ... dresses corresponding with their assumed stations, I.a Favette. Virulence id vigilance 90 PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY. Departure of and at intervals left the palace. The Oueen led Queen Mane x "^ £omthe tte the way, leaning on the arm of one of the body- The Queen guard, with her daughter. Whilst her Majesty layette. wa s crossing the Carrousel she passed La Fayette with one or two officers on their way to the Remarks, palace. The Queen felt happy in eluding the vigilance of that apostate — that aristocratic jailer, that dreamer of Utopia amidst the raging elements of discord, sedition, corruption, dissemblance and ambition, enrolled indiscriminately under the The Princes |3 anncr « Patriotism !" Next followed Madame r.hzabetn s from r [he e Elizabeth, in company with one of the guards. Tuileries. The Kin- Then came the Kincr with the youno- Dauphin, and the ° J £> t leavT'he while the devoted Count de Fersen, (Colonel of the Royal Swiss Regiment,) disguised as a coachman, preceded his Majesty to show him the Marie ,\n- way. The Queen in her confusion crossed the t linette in a dilemma. Pont- Royal and entered the Rue de Bac, then perceiving the mistake had to retrace her steps, Rome of the whilst the Kins: ^ n tl the Dauphin traversed the King and tiie <-> i darkest and least frequented streets. Arrival at On the arrival of the Kino; at the appointed the aligned "-> J- x rendezvous, the royal party entered a coach that was there in readiness, and the Count de Fersen drove the royal fugitives as far as Bondy, the first stage between Paris and Chalons, where in readi- ness were a berlin and a small travelling carriage. The Queen's women and one of the disguised body-2fuard occupied the smaller carriage, whilst and depai ture. Arrange iuent-. at Uondy. PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY. 9 1 the King, the Queen, the Dauphin, Madame Royale, Madame Elizabeth, and the Marquise de Tourzel occupied the berlin, one of the body- guard sat on the box and another behind. The The count de Fersen Count de Fersen then kissed the hands of the S?^", t0 King- and Queen and bade the royal party God- pX^tlof speed. The fugitives proceeded on their route, J.'nv''; < ir whilst the Count returned to Paris, and the same • Mc " ch ,,ll,,J - night set out for Brussels. On proceeded the carriage, reaching in safety the village of Sainte Menehould. Here the King incautiously put his ^sLlme* 1, head out of the carriage window, in the cxpecta- " tion of seeing some friend to explain the reason of the absence of the appointed detachments he should, according to arrangement, have passed on the road. This one action caused his recognition, Hisidemifi- *-> cation by for the son of the postmaster " Drouet'' identified Drouct ' the King by his likeness to the stamp on the coins. After the carriages had started on their 2™l"u m . route, Drouet circulated his suspicion, whereupon the National Guard opposed the departure of the soldiers, who were there in readiness to follow in the track of the King. During the confusion^™"" 1 " that ensued, Drouct saddled his best horse and rode as fast as possible through the cross country to Varennes, to acquaint the authorities with his suspicions and arouse the inhabitants to arrest the occupants of the carriages. lie accomplished his f"^\ ■'■■' purpose, the Royal Family through his excess ol x . ..: 9 2 PLANS FOR LIBERA TING THE ROYAL FA MIL V, zeal were arrested, and ultimately taken back prisoners to Paris. The Rnyai Whilst the Royal Family were captives at the family at J J I the lempic Temple, two commissaries, named Toulan and 1 oul.in and L Lepitre, who had been led astray by the spirit of calumny, so banefully propagated against the Royal House of France, conceived a bitter enmity towards Louis XVI. and the members of Animosity his family. In the discharge of their duties at traiibtormed. J ° the Temple, proximity changed imaginary hatred into sincere devotion. Loynky at These two commissaries the Queen beheld one empe ' day fall at her feet in the gloom of the prison, and offer her a devoted attachment, which the place, the peril and impending death elevated above all that had been shown her in prosperity. * Iar!e She accepted and encouraged their devotion and Antoinette, r L . r 1 1 ■ • • Touian, and crave loulan a lock of her hair, with this device Fepitre. *^ Marie in Italian :— " He who fears to die, knows not appoint 6 " how to love." This was the letter of credit she misty^gent. gave Toulan to her friends, soon after she added V n - a billet in her own hand to the Chevalier de Tar- Am mette . J writes to the i a y es her secret correspondent. " \ ou may fullv ( hevaher ue •* J .*■ J J jarjayes. confide, she wrote, " in the person who remits you this; his sentiments are well-known to me, they have not varied during five months." Toulan and Le Chevalier then cogitated on the best means to effect the royal captives' escape from the Temple. A certain number of trusty Royalists, concealed at Paris and distributed in the ranks of the National Guard, were vaguely initiated into the plan of escape resolved on, which con- sisted in bribing some of the commissaries charged Toulan and the Cheva- lier decide (.n a plan of 1 : '-e. PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL LAM UN. 93 with the surveillance of the prison, drawing up a list of the most devoted Royalists in the National Guard, in order that these men might, on a fixed day, compose the majority of the troops on guard at the Temple, disarm the rest of the detachment during the night, set the Royal Family at liberty and escort them by relays, prepared beforehand, to Dieppe, where a fishing bark would convey them to England with their principal liberators. Toulan, intrepid and indefatigable in his zeal z«ia t and furnished with considerable sums, which a word from the King had procured him from his adherents in Paris, matured his plans in obscurity, transmitted intelligence of his partisans, sounded the principal leaders of the Convention, and in the Commune strove to obtain the aid even of "Marat, Robespierre, and Danton" tempting the generosity of some and the cupidity of others, and each day more fortunate in his enterprises and more certain ol success, " already reckoned several of the guardians of the Tower and five members of the Commune amongst the accomplices of his perilous designs." Thus a ray beamed into the hitherto Anticipation darkened dungeon and kindled, if not the hope, at least the dream of liberty."- — Lamartine's '''History of the (ii/^o/ldists.' , The abandonment of the attempt to release the r n f oresee: , royal captives was frustrated through the re-elec- «!uu." a " tions for the Municipality taking place, which occasioned especial vigilance over the custody of the august prisoners of the Temple. Still bold and loyal hearts entered the Temple, c ::,;-. amongst these history will preserve the name of c..-. ' 94 PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY. " Toulan." It was he again who conceived the project of delivering the Royal Family from cap- tivity. He submitted his plan to the Queen, who, pleased with its daring-, would not, however, adopt it without the previous sanction of a grave and able man, "the Chevalier de Jarjayes." Marie Antoinette sent Toulan to this general officer, who received the trusty messenger with full confidence and examined his plan with intelligent attention. After two conferences the possibility of success having been established, it became indispensable to admit into the secret another commissary of the Temple. The reader has already named the person, " Lepitre" was the man who, at a third conference at which he was present, the basis of the plan was adopted. nM C ria ptl " n M- de Jarjayes undertook to have male attire : ^ r - eJupjn ' prepared for the Queen and Madame Elizabeth, and the two Municipals were to convey this attire secretly into the Tower. The two Princesses were in this disguise, heightened by the addition of the tri-coloured scarf, to quit the Tower, fur- nished with the pass-cards carried by the com- missaries and all other persons who had access to the Temple. So far everything seemed clear enough and of read)" execution ; but the escape of the two chil- dren presented difficulties that seemed insur- mountable. Louis XVI I., in particular, was so closely watched, that it was almost impracticable to effect his deliverance. An idea, however, occurred : the genius of devotion is a great worker ol mi nicies. There was a worthy man, named " Jacques," who came every morning, we know not whence, to clean the lamps, and again every even- ing to light them. lie was usually accompanied PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY. 95 and assisted in his work by two children of about the same age and size as the Royal children. Prudence precluded the admission of this stranger into the secret, who, in the execution of his sub- ordinate functions, silently obeying his orders, never exchanged a word with the persons em- ployed in the Temple, to whom consequently he had remained almost wholly unknown. But this plan presented itself: '•Jacques was in attendance at between live and six o'clock in the evening, and his last lamp was lighted, and he himself departed from the Temple, when at seven o'clock the sentinels were changed. After his departure then, and the change of the sentinels, a man dressed like him was to pass, by favour of an admission-card, the first gatekeeper, t and on reach- ing the Queen's apartment, his tin box under his arm, was to be soundly rated by Toulan for not having ccme himself to trim his lamps, and for having sent his children to do his work for him. The two Royal children were then to be handed over to him scoldingly, and the pretended lamp- man and his young apprentices were then to quit the Tower and proceed to the corner ot the Boule- vard, where the) - would find M. dc jarjayes wait- ing to receive them."' This plan adopted, it became necessary to associate with it another confidant, worthy of ad- mission into this hob: conspiracy and ot playing the exceedingly important part ot lamp-lighter. Toulan proposed a friend ot his own, a discreet and courageous man, who, on beiiiQf accepted himself, accepted with enthusiasm his share of danger and oi' devotion. This new confederate, equally resolute with the chiefs ot the design, was an inspector of the national domains, named 9 6 PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY- " Ricard.'' Toulan was to have special charge of all the arrangements for the escape from the Tower, Jarjayes of all those for flight from the French territory. The latter had, for this pur- pose, secured three cabriolets, which at a fixed place and hour, were to be ready, with vigorous horses. The Queen and her son were to get into the first of these carriages, driven by M. de Jarjayes, Madame Royale into the second driven by Lepitre, and Madame Elizabeth into the third, driven by Toulan. Ricard, his part acted and his disguise laid aside, was to return home, no one being in a position to suspect the successful share he had taken in an event which would occupy the attention of Paris, of France, of Europe, while his colleagues would reach the -frontier with the precious charge they had achieved by their liberating zeal. Everything seemed to assure the success of the enterprise. The requi- site money was provided, the passports ready, signed by Lepitre himself, as President of the Passport Department in the section of the police, every arrangement was made, every incident duly calculated, so that the pursuit of the fugitives might not commence until many hours after their departure. It was at first proposed to direct their steps to La Vendee, where insurrection was already (m loot ; but it was considered, on mature reilec- tion, that this would only be an asylum in a camp, •and that, while on the one hand the presence of the Royal Family would communicate a powerful impulse to the enthusiasm of the Royalist army, it would at the same: time create for that arm)* fresh difficulties. M. de Jarjayes pointed out these objections to the Queen by the medium of Toulan, and Marie Antoinette, influenced by maternal PLANS TOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY. 97 love more than ambition, and who was anxious to save the head, rather than the crown of her son, at once adopted them. It was then determined to proceed to the coast of Normandy, a shorter route and less impeded with obstacles. Arrived there, Jarjayes had provided the means of transit to England in a vessel which lay at his disposal off a point of the coast near Havre. In short, all the best means calculated for frustrating" mischances were taken. The circumstancewhich prevented the accomplish- unforeseen ment of the aforesaid plan, was this : — The 8th March, 1 793, was the day fixed upon for the carrying out of the plan. On the 7th there was in Paris an almost universal rising, excited on the one hand by the scarcity of provisions, and on the other by the intelligence just received of the rapid progress of the foreign armies into the heart of France. The impractica- commotion that followed rendered the practicability escape. of the escape impossible. However, these in- indefati?- \ *■ . . able ;-"\.l and trepid Royalists watched an available opportunity to carry their noble project of deliverance into execution. Unhappily, each clay brought with it some event which infused fresh vigilance into the guard of the Tower, and especially into the sur- veillance of the Prince Royal. It would have been imprudence, madness in fact to have at- tempted an escape which had become almost impracticable. The virtuous conspirators did not allow themselves to be blinded by their vast desire to accomplish a good action. They calmly re- ^ solved to confine the ir enterprise within the limits ot the possible, and to concentrate their ideas oi deliverance upon the Queen and Madame Eliza- beth, whose exit from the Temple presented diin- culties of a less insurmountable character. But 7 discretion. Toulan undci takes the (Ji.ccn' evasion. 9S PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY. howinduce these two mothers to separate themselves The Princess both from their beloved children ? The devotion Elizabeth .. . . 111 exhorts 01 Madame Elizabeth was well known, she em- Amuincue. ployed the entire eloquence of her love to per- suade her sister that it was her duty to profit by the resources which still remained at her disposal for escaping' from her enemies. She impressed upon her that her very life might be endangered by her stay, whereas, the lives of her children and 'that of her sister were under no peril. M. de Jarjayes himself conveyed his earnest supplication that she would concur in the execution of the new project, every feature of which was carefully ex- plained to her by Toulan. In that new plan it was still the faithful Toulan, and this time Toulan alone, who undertook to effect the exit of the Queen and to conduct her to a secure retreat, where she would meet Jarjayes. The latter, on his part, had taken measures which seemed to place that august head beyond the reach of assault. The tender entreaties of Madame Elizabeth, the fervent zeal of Toulan, at length produced their effect upon the Queen, who approved of the plan and consented to conform to it. The day fixed upon at length approached. On the evening preced- ing it, the mother and the aunt were seated beside the bed of the sleeping King. Madame Royale had also gone to bed, but the door of her chamber was open, and the young Princess, intent upon the mournful and meditative air which her mother had worn throughout the day, had not yet closed her eyes. Thus it was that she heard the words. which at a later period she repeated. Resolved upon the sacrifice demanded at her hands, the Queen, as above said, was seated by her son's bed. " God grant that this child ma}' be happy," she The Oucen consents. ■..:.; PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY, 99 exclaimed. " He will be so, my sister," replied Madame Elizabeth, pointing to the open, candid, gentle, yet proud features of the young King, who seemed to smile as he slept. " Youth is brief as joy," murmured Marie Antoinette, in heart-break- ing tones, "happiness comes to an end as every- thing else." Then rising, she walked to and fro in the chamber. " And you, my dearest sister, when and how shall I see you again ? No ; it's impossible, it's impossible." The youthful Marie Therese did not, at the time, comprehend these words, the meaning of which was explained to her afterwards. The O uc:en had made up her mind not to avail herself of the door which Toulan had undertaken to open for her on the morrow. Her resolve was irrevocable. Love for her children was more potent than ali other considerations — than the prayers of her sister, than the instinct of her self-preservation, than the promise she had given to the devotion of her courageous friends. But reproaching herself as for a breach of faith, for that promise given and which she would not observe, she felt that she owed reparation to the generous hearts who had resolved to imperil them- selves for her. Next morning, the municipal Touian r r , , 11- i - - ii - • i faithful and Ionian presented himself, lull ol emotion at the confident, idea of the great action he deemed himself about to accomplish. As soon as it was possible to m speak with him Marie Antoinette said, "You will i^r.^ cm be angry with me. but 1 have reflected. There is - nothing but danger in this. Better death than remorse."' Later, she said to him these words, which, Toulan recalled to mind as he ascended the scatiold, on the 30th June, 1794: "I shall die un- m- ,: happy, ii I have not first an opportunity to prove to you my gratitude." " And I, Madame, 1111- loo PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY. happy indeed, if I have not first been able to prove to you my devotion." Marie The Oueen wrote the following note to M. de Antoinette T . '~ -nr i 11 1 1 1 writ,-, to the anaves : " We have had a pleasant dream, that is Chevalier dc -' J J . - 1 jarjayes. all. But there has been this great gain to me from it. that it has furnished to me a fresh proof of your entire devotion towards me. My confidence in you is boundless. You will ever find in me firmness and courage ; but the interest of my son is my sole guide. However great my happiness in quitting this place, I cannot consent to separate from him. I could feel no enjoyment apart from my children, and this idea leaves me without even a regret at my resolution. The naron Subsequently the Baron de Batz, of whom incessant search had been made since his attempt to deliver Louis XVI. on his road to martyrdom, this intrepid servant of a cause that misfortune had rendered so noble, and which besides pre- sented the allurement of danger, irresistible to all generous spirits. The obstinate struggle main- tained by this man against the fearful power that oppressed the nation is one of the marvels of those times. Everywhere present, though no- where to be seen, as skilful in laying his own snares as in avoiding those of the enemy, he had the most prudent agents at his devotion and the most active spies in his pay. His words were even more insinuating than the arguments of his purse were persuasive, and with admirable address he had gained over several members of the Con- vention, who, ii circumstances did not allow of their rendering him any useful assistance, at least remained faithful to him, bv preserving' inviolable silence, upon his affairs. Unwearied in conspiracy, no sooner had his PLANS FOE LIBERATING TILE ROYAL FAMILY. IO i enterprises failed, than he began again with renewed ardour, and fearlessly remained in a town where a price had been set upon his head. His name was a signal for serious measures being taken and the strictest possible search being made. The trackless conspirator had many impenetrable places of refuge in Paris and its environs ; but his most usual, and perhaps securest retreat, was in the house of Cortey, a grocer, in the Rue de la Loi, whose reputation for civism had recommended him to the suffrages of his fellow-citizens, by whom he had been chosen Captain in command of the National Guard of the Lepelletier section. Cortey also enjoyed the friendship of Chretien, a member of the revolutionary tribunal, whose influence was all-powerful in the committees of that section. It was in consequence of his recom- mendation that Cortey was appointed one of the officers of the post to whom the guard of the Temple was intrusted, whenever a detachment from their battalion formed part of the armed force there. Sheltered by the revolutionary renown of his host, and concealed in his house, Baron de Batz confided his plans to him and Michonis, and in concert with them, took all the measures relating to their execution. The first time Cortey was on Qiiard at the The I:aron '' Temple after this disclosure, Batz desired him <;-"-' to include him under a fictitious name in the list of the men whom his company furnished to the post, in order that being thus introduced into the Tower, he might, as a preliminary step, be enabled to form an exact idea of the locality. The officer c .,;.:..: yielded to his desire, and having put him down on the roll of the men on duty under the name of " Forget," he thus eave him admission into the 102 PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY. Precautions: T em pi ej where he mounted guard. It was also necessary for the execution of the plan agreed upon to wait until Cortey's turn on guard should coincide with Michonis' turn on duty. The mutual understanding of the two authorities was indispensably requisite, and several days passed before the Captain and the Civil Commissary were dfscrcTion. on dutv together. Batz took advantage of this delay to secure, conjointly with his host, the assist- ance of thirty men of the section, whose sentiments either one or the other had discovered, whose character they had cause to appreciate, or whose discretion they had tried. The good- nature of Cortey seduced some, while the flattering words of Batz persuaded others. Michonis, with his customary prudence, did not appear in person in this dangerous recruiting. However, he reserved as bold a part for himself, when, he took upon him to direct everything within the: Tower. corS a - U and ^ ne cx P cctec l day arrived. The officer and the municipal were on duty at last together. Cortey entered the Temple with his detachment, among whom figured "De Batz" under his assumed name. The officer of the post arranged the turns of duty in the manner the most favourable for the success of the enterprise. Twenty-eight men on whom he could depend, were to be on patrol or sentry from midnight until two o'clock a.m., while the Civil Commissary on his part, was to take measures for being on guard himself in the apart- ment of the Royal Family at the same hour. The men on sentry on the staircase of the Tower were to wear above their uniforms ample military cloaks. Michonis was to take this extra clothing from them and dress the Princesses in it, who Mid ■ PLANS FOR LIBER ATI XG TILE ROYAL FAMILY. 103 under the disguise and with arms in their hands, were to be incorporated with a patrol, in the midst of whom the child-King would be concealed. The sentries on guard in the courtyard who were acquainted with the secret, would be silent if the night turned out bright or the lamps not discreet. Cortey was to command the numerous patrol in person, and have the great gate of the Temple opened for them. A prerogative which during the night belonged only to the officer commanding the post. Once without the walls, the safety of the Royal Family was certain. Carriages were placed ready in the Rue Chariot to insure a rapid flight. By this street the patrol would pass, and was then to leave the prisoners together with De Batz, Michonis, Cortey, and several others, who, like them, had entered on this forlorn hope. The course and I lid :!ity :it day which had passed over without any si<_m of their A - ' -i m „ . ' '- punned bad weather seemed to give hope of a favourable i'"- ,s night. It was half-past eleven o'clock. Michonis had been some time on duty in the apartment of the prisoners, and his colleagues were resting or playing in the council-room, with the exception of Simon, who had left the Tower about an hour before. All the men who were to enter upon their turn of duty at midnight were at their post, when \ suddenly Simon arrived, and noisily entering the midnight. guard-room, he roughly ordered the roll of all the men present to be called. " I am most happy to see you here," said he to Cortey, " I should not be easy without your pre- sence." M. de Batz saw that all was discovered, p e iv^ and the thought came into his head to blow a : '.; :i " Simon's brains out and to attempt the escape by iorce. But speedily mastering his first impulse, io4 PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY, he reflected that the explosion of fire-arms by causing a general stir, would ruin his enterprise and probably aggravate the sad condition of the Royal Family. He reflected that the posts on the staircase and on the Tower were not yet in his possession, and that the very men around him on whom he might rely for passive co-operation would perhaps fail him if the question became one of a struggle, and after all, of almost certain death. Batz remained immovable after the roll call. simon re- Simon went up to the Tower and displayed an M^honisat order from the Council-General, commanding ie lempe. ]\XiclionIs to give over his charge to him and instantly repair to the Commune. Michonis heard it without surprise, and unhesitatingly miels° nis obeyed. He met Cortey in the outer court. coney. « What is the meaning of all this ?" he said to him. " Be easy," replied the Captain, in a low voice, " Forget is gone." Produce of The head of the post had not indeed lost a minute. As soon as Simon had left him to go up to the Tower, he had, on pretence of a noise in the next street, sent out a patrol of eight men, who were but seven in number when they returned. The coolness of Batz, and presence of mind of Cortey, had saved the lives of all. Simon had not been idle ; he had instituted a strict search in the apartment of the Princesses in the Tower and in all the; outbuildings within the enclosure ; he had examined all the men on duty — but all his inquiries were fruitless. Nothing at all suspicious was visible within the Temple bounds, where all was as quiet as usual. Ashamed of the useless alarm lie had occasioned, Simon then doubled the number of men on duty, en- deavouring- to 'jive weight to an idea of danger, mind of Cor tey and liatz. J-iimon \i -ilai io5 treacherous paper. PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY. in which he no longer himself believed, by the precautions he deemed it prudent to take. Simon thus accounted for his sudden intrusion : simon-s "A gendarme on duty at the Temple had, at -•' ^ about nine o'clock that evening, found a paper, without any address, lying on the pavement before the great gate, within the second fold of which were written these words : ' Michonis will betray you this evening. Watch.' ' The gendarme having opened the paper, gave Fatality i it to Simon, the only one of the six commissaries with whom he was personally acquainted. Simon repaired with this note in all haste to the Council- General, who ordered him to relieve his colleague, and desire him to repair without delay to the bar of the Commune. Obedient to the summons, Michonis had to ' undergo a most ri^id examination. He answered council o o _ General. all questions skilfully, refuted with authoritative honesty of manner, the testimony of an anonymous paper forged by some political enemy, and also, which was indeed the case, represented Simon to be his per- sonal enemy. The open countenance and apparent candour of the accused had already won him an acquittal from his supposed crime. When next si evening his adversary of the previous night having given an account of the meagre results of his mis sion, the Council-General remained impressed with i^impre the conviction, that ; although Simon with his rest- less temper, might be capable of imagining a con- spiracy, Michonis, with his frank disposition, was quite incapable of forming one.-- -" EckanVs Mc- moircs Historiqucs sur Louis XVII" and '•' Bcau- chesnes Louis XVII." Thus mere accident prevailed over the well- : mon a pi rt t i the un, il ueral. 106 PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY, organised plans of the intrepid Royalists, at the moment, when their heroism seemed crowned with success. Made O n Marie Antoinette's removal to the prison of Ant 'inette L ciergerie!"' the Conciergerie, she found in Monsieur and The wardens Madame Richard (the wardens of the Con- and the \ ^ uee "' ciergerie) sympathy, who alleviated her prison life. Whatever kindness Madame could possibly an- ticipate, she did without hesitation. Madame Many Municipals joined secretly in plots to Richard and , !nah! lini " effect the Queen's escape, and Madame Richard favoured the introduction of these devoted men into the prison. She cleverly engaged the atten- tion of the gendarmes on guard in the ante- chamber during these rapid interviews. Michonbat Michonis, a member of the Municipality and ciergerie. Administrator of Police, who had already proved his devotion to the Royal Family in the Temple at the peril of his life, continued the same devo- tion in the Conciergerie. The By his favour a Royalist gentleman, named Chevalier de # . . Rougcviiie Roueevillc, was introduced into the cell ol Mane gams ad- o ' IhcQuccn's Antoinette, on entering which the Chevalier per- riiic ceived Her Majesty recollected him. After some pn-.eiits a 1 . ,-inktothi: W ords of no consequence, lie pretended to believe? IJ 1"CII. A J- a pink he had would be agreeable to the Queen, and presented it to her ; she accepted it, and being apprised by a look to secrete it, withdrew to a corner, and found a paper and read it. PLANS FOR LIBERATING THE ROYAL FAMILY. 1 07 Her Majesty had begun to trace with a pina^', 1 : ,,. negative, when one of the gendarmes on duty at writing the door of the cell suddenly entered, and seized the paper. The prison was immediately in an Alarm - uproar, and a denunciation made to the Commune, and to the Committee of Public Safety. M. de 7! 1C ,• J Chevalier Rougeville, however, escaped. Thus loyalty and devotion were incessant in L °v ah >' rin XVII. tus Meves, "Louis XVII.," occasioned "a. post- mortem examination, which was intrusted to Dr. Andrew, of the University College Hospital, HO IDENTITY AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE. ins sons London. Previous to the examination, Louis request to a!. r dMr! rcw XVII.'s two eldest sons requested Dr. Andrew Wakley. , . , . . . . . . to be particular in examining certain marks and scars, as indicated in Dr. Newton's certificate, "a copy being given to Dr. Andrew," as such were of particular consequence in proving deceased's identity to certain property he should have in- herited in France. On the day of inquest, previous to the coroner, " Mr. Wakley," proceeding to ascertain the cause of death, the deceased's sons expressed a desire to speak with him privately. On seeing Mr. Wakley he was requested to interrogate Dr. Andrew as to the marks and scars existing on deceased, and to draw up an official certificate of the same. He inquired for what purpose the cer- tificate was required, or were there any suspicion violence had been used. The reply was, there was no reason to imagine violence had been used, but that the marks existed from birth, and the scars had occurred from various accidents which had happened to deceased during his early youth. Mr. Wakley being desirous of knowing the real object of the request, and finding it essential to satisfy him, well knowing, had the subject been allowed to pass, without directing official medical attention to the marks and scars, it would have subsequently been impossible to satisfy public credence, that such had existed on deceased, mentation ID ENTITY AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE. \ \ \ when their existence constituted material evidence, as proving deceased's identity with the son of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette. Under the circumstances the following" statement was made : " That there was every reason to believe, from the facts of deceased's life, that he was no other than ' Louis Charles, the Dauphin of France, son of Louis XVI., King of France.'"' Mr. Wakley then said he would direct Dr. Andrew's attention to the request. During" the inquiry, Dr. Newton's certificate official was placed in Court. Dr. Andrew was then "fj questioned as to the existence of the marks and scars specified, and stated, he could vouch for the truth of the whole of Dr. Newton's certificate, ex- cept ; that, of the " middle of the stomach/' how- ever ; he found a mark corresponding, midway between the navel and pubes. -Mr. Wakley then requested to know whether r ; it was desirable to make any statement, and, if so, we could retire and consider upon it. Availing ourselves ol the offer we consulted and wrote out a statement, which Mr. William Meves, as the eldest son, on re-entering the Court and being dul} - sworn, read, viz. : — " The deceased gentle- man was my lather, who always led us to believe, from the marks on his person and other circum- stances, that he was Louis Charles de Bourbon, son of Louis XVI., King of France, and he had bv Mr \Vakl, 1 1 2 IDENTITY AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE. lately written his life, which is, at the present time, in the hands of Mr. Bentley, the publisher, of New Burlington Street." Dr. Andrew On calling on Dr. Andrew, he observed, had he re>pecnng ° LndTcaS known the certificate was required for such a pur- pose, he would have instituted a committee of medical men to have been present during \h& post- mortem, and have taken notes on the different particulars. Re-e.vamina- Dr. Andrew aeain examined the different marks Hon oi the •— > ™arA a y in company with Dr. Ringer, so as to be able to Drs. Andrew and Ringer. g} ve a precise description as to their appearance. The following is their joint certificate : — Their certifi- "Having been appointed by Mr. Wakley (Coroner) to make a post-mortem examination on the body of Mr. Augustus Meves, this gentleman having died suddenly while riding in a cab, my attention has been particularly called to the follow- ing external marks :— " Four scars, quite apparent, but evidently ol considerable age, the colour being nearly that of the surrounding skin. One of these, irregular in outline, is on the left instep. " Another, linear in form, one inch in length, and transverse in direction, is on the front of the left wrist, at the base of the thumb. " The third, irregularly triangular, one inch and a quarter in length, is above and to the left of the lelt eye, extending inwards from the temple, and slightly encroaching on the eyebrow. "The fourth,, irregularly rounded, about three quarters of an inch in diameter, is on the outer IDENTITY AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE. n side of the right arm, and at its upper third, seemingly from inoculation, but a larger scar than usual. " A mole, well defined, about the size of half a small pea, very dark in colour, situated above the nipple, and about half an inch from it ; in addition, several blood-spots are scattered over the front of the chest, and one much larger than the rest is placed midway between the navel and pubes. " Similar statements to these were made by me on oath before Air. Wakley on the day of in- quest, " Edwyn Andrew, M.D. Loxd., " Resident Medical Officer at University College Hospital. "Saturday, May 14th, 1859." " Having examined the body with Dr. Andrew, I certify that the above statements are quite correct. ''Sydney Ringer, M.R.C.S., " Physician-Assistant at University College Hospital. "May 14///, 1859." There beino- an omission in Dr. Andrew's Cer- interview witn Dr. tificate as to which side the natural appearance on Andrew - the breast of the two teats were, he was seen on the subject, and at the same time requested to Request, explain how, in the first instance, the subject respecting the marks had been brought under his notice, and for him to state his opinion as to the probability how the marks were occa- sioned, that is, through what agency. The fol- lowing letter was written to Dr. Andrew :— Il 4 IDENTITY AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE. Dr' Andrew " ^ IR ' — ^ ^ e time ^ desired a Certificate for the marks on my late father, I directed your attention to them through Doctor Newton's Certificate, it not being my intention then to have made public the claim, but only to have attested the Certificate officially, knowing, had the occasion offered been past, I should never have been able to stamp the truth of the identity. As you found the marks, &c, corresponding, as stated in Doctor Newton's Certificate, you not then knowing the motive for a Certificate until after the statement made by you before Mr. Wakley. Such being the case, you would favour me by stating such, as it will show you were not influenced or biassed by any remark I might have previously made, as I merely observed the Certificate was desired so as to claim property by identity in France. Likewise, whether you re- member what class ' mole' the one which existed on the breast, whether pustulous or otherwise, and the side it was situated, as it is omitted in Doctor Ringer and your Certificate, it being necessary to be critical, and to refer to the 'Photograph' Dr. Ringer and yourself placed your signatures to, as being the portrait of Mr. Augustus Moves, as the generality are apt to discredit statements without they are properly ratified. Also to mention the stature of deceased in reference to embonpoint, &c. And whether you think the scar on the right arm was one likely to be caused from inoculation, and the one on the left instep from a wound received by a prong of a buckle. Also, whether the scar over the left eye was one likely to be occasioned from beini/ thrust against a door, and the mark on the left wrist as one resulting from the wound of a bayonet, or some such similar instru- ment. Likewise, whether such a mark could be IDENTITY AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE. caused as the appearance on the ' right breast,' and if age would in any way diminish its contour, and whether at birth such might have appeared as another nipple or teat. " About twenty years ago my father caught the scarlet fever, after which he thought the marks and scars were not near so visible. — Yours Truly, " Augustus Meves. "Edwyn Andrew, M.D., " 26th November, 1859." Dr. Andrew's reply : — " Being requested by the sons of the late Mr. Augustus Meves to explain more fully the cir- cumstances connected with the official examination of their father's body, I may state, that on May the oth I was summoned by the porter of Univer- sity Hospital to see a gentleman, supposed to be in a dying state, who had just been driven to the door in a cab. I at once proceeded to the spot, and found him seated in a corner of the vehicle, with his body in an upright position, but life was quite extinct, although the body was still warm. " Finding that he had passed beyond all earthly means of restoration, I had him at once removed, and sent a message in due form to the Coroner. During the period which elapsed, before I received the necessary warrant from the Coroner, the son, Mr. William Meves, called on me to desire that I would be especially careful in noting any marks presenting themselves on his father's body, as these observations might be very important in supporting certain claims to property to which he considered his father had an undoubted rierht. Letter fn m Dr. Andrew u6 IDENTITY AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE. At the same time he showed me the copy of a Certificate given by a medical gentleman, a Mr. Newton, of Fitzroy Square. My attention being thus especially directed, I examined very closely the surface of the body, the results of which examination I have previously given in a medical Certificate, and they were also stated by me on oath before the Coroner. On reading, however, my Certificate a second time, I noticed one defi- ciency, which my memory readily supplied — viz., that with regard to the position of the large 'mole,' which should have been mentioned to have been situated over the 'right nipple.' This mole was very distinct and prominent at the post-mortem, and I can well conceive it might have been readily mistaken for a second nipple during childhood by a casual observer, especially if it presented such a character at that period of life ; whether, how- ever, it has remained stationary from birth, or became enlarged proportionally with the whole body, I should not feel justified, with my present experience, in offering an opinion. " As to the scars, the most probable inference is, ' that the linear one,' situated on the left wrist, was produced by a sharp cutting instrument, while those on the instep and on the temple were caused by blunt agents. As to the form or nature, of these instruments it would be impossible to make any trustworthy statement. "Again as to the height and stature: Mr. Moves was above the middle height, rather cor- pulent, with features and hair, &c, indicating the aire which he was considered to be ; but all the minute facts with reference to these points may be better ascertained by examining a photograph, to which I have placed my signature, after noting IDENTITY AND MATERIA I EVIDENCE. uj and observing the exact likeness to the face of the deceased. "In conclusion, I may add, that these various statements and explanations have been made by me with the only motive of eliciting- the truth of this apparent mystery, being perfectly unacquainted with any member of the Aleves family, and being influenced by no remuneration, which I have not received or desired. " Edwyn Andrew, M.D. Lond., " Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons " To Mr. W. Meves, "December 6th, 1859." Letter to Mr. Wakley : — "Sir, — If not troubling you too much, vou Letter t0 , , ill- i • • i -Mr. Wakley. would much oblige by giving an account, under what circumstances the importance of the marks and scars existing on my late father, were brought under your notice previous to the examination before the jury, it being then absolutely necessary to obtain Certificates officially corroborated, for had the occasion been passed, I should never have been able to gain credence respecting their exist- ence, thereby necessitating the statement made in order to make the subject clear. Likewise, Doctor Andrew's cross-examination respecting the marks. Also, during the proceedings when you requested to know whether it was desirable to make any statement, and what subsequent state- ment was placed in Court. And whether you can recollect the appearance of the ' mole' over the nipple on the right breast, and the general appear- ance of my late father." I 18 IDENTITY AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE. " Would you comply with the request, you would much oblige, as it is desirable to place every fact concerning my father beyond dispute. " Yours most respectfully, "William Meves." " T. Wakley, Esq., ' ' 1 oth December, 1859." The following is the reply : — SX "On the 1 2th day of May last I held an inquest at ' The Wellington,' University Street, in the parish of St. Pancras, on the body of Mr. Augustus Antoine Cornelius Meves, late of 35, University Street. Previously to my proceeding to view the body, a gentleman, who stated he was a son of the deceased, requested me 10 examine particularly certain marks on his father's body, which I did in accordance with his desire. They strictly corresponded with the description given of them by Dr. Andrew in his evidence at the inquest." " Thomas Wakley. " Coroner for Middlesex. " Office, t, Bedford Street, Strand, London. " December 27///, 1859." Remarks In remarking on the question of identity, is it not more than singular, it may be said extraor- dinary, that each individual mark and scar attri- buted to the Dauphin was identified existing on the reputed Augustus Meves ? Perhaps not one in a generation would be born with such an extra- ordinary appearance on the right breast, as that which existed on the Dauphin. This natural IDENTITY AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE. no mark is of such characteristic meaning, that its existence, alone ; is sufficient identity evidence. Regarding the two teats on the right breast, infc"»«*- the inference is, that while the natural teat, as common to man, has enlarged, the appearance, designated the second teat, has remained stationary from birth, and that its appearance, then, would have been as large as at any period of life. Thus SStVuLs the identity evidence establishes more emphatically test, than words the truth of the claim preferred. Material Whatever is material bearing: on the issue of evidence - the deliverance of the Dauphin-king from the Temple, is recorded in the 'Autobiography of Louis XV I LI published at Ridgway's, Piccadilly, London. Names, " not inferences" and every possible information is given, so as to enable the reader to arrive at a definite conclusion as to the real fate of Louis Charles, Prince Royal, Dauphin of France. V. LOUIS XVII. 'S CAREER FROM 1838 TILL HIS DEMISE. Louis xvii. In following the career of the Dauphin, he lost in 1838. _ ^ _ . . considerably in South American Mining Shares tionf"m pa ' * n I ^3^' From the year 1840 he principally fol- 1359." lowed the musical profession in arranging works "daun-" e f° r different publishers. He lived till the 9th of May, 1859, and was held in the highest regard His inter- for his genial and estimable qualities. His inter- ment. ° l ment took place the 16th of the same month at Brompton Cemetery. iact versus Such, then, is the true life of the second son expedient. of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette, although ; the revolutionary expedient, " politically con- sidered," has prevailed. VI. INTERROGATORY AND APPEAL. In conclusion, should I 7 ranee eventually deter- int« J gato mine reinstating the Legitimate Hereditary Monarchy, why should the eldest son of Louis XVII., " Auguste de Bourbon," who by birth represents the actual legal Hereditary Monarchy, obsequiously give place to the pretensions of Le Comte de Chambord, or; the ambition of an Or- lean ? Symbolically, justice consists in awarding, with- a pp out fear or favour, what is lawful and just. Let justice, then, with its inalienable attributes, prevail in the interpretation of the present particulars, is the only request asked. rro- tory. THE END. PILLING AND SUNS, PRINTERS, GUILDFORD, SL'KKLV. Previous Works, by Auguste de Bourbon, respecting the Dauphin, Louis XVII., King of France. THE PRISONER OF THE TEMPLE, pp. 103. Published in i860. LOUIS XVII. Pamphlet - - pp. 8. Published in 1867. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LOUIS XVIL, with Commentary pp. 342. Published in 186S. LOUIS. XVIL versus the " Times." Pam- phlet pp. 43. Published in 1872. THE ABOVE WORKS TO BE OBTAINED AT W. RIDGWAY'S, 169, P I C C A 1) ILLY, LONDO X Or through any Bookseller in Great Britain. The ^Wbrds and Music tfdb B Y &$m^ The Dauphin, Louis XVII King of France Isiiowit as ■^m(& VIVE LA LIBERTE FRANQAISE. LOUIS XVII. Marziale . .ft' C\ m ^ro- fr, rh ^ ECHO. A P mmm 3 — ± /F P f^ . i£- •JfrtPSfOSO. •fS ^ * -c? 3 * ^ p #E=^ France lite Eng . Brave _ . _ ly did French _ men should | land would be free, those French _ men die, with heart and hand: t P ^E 1= gg P * HU 2 s her rights and lib . _ er . . ty. the cause of loy. - al - - ty, ce's weal join to de . . fend: * W m J • .r J j fed f ■F i i ££ ^ 1 _ ly Mould the poVr gone strifes those rights main of an _ - arch re - vive no uin , - y< more pm i i m * i But las all seems In sa . _il"d La Ven all, true friends of ^ — ^r vain . _ dee . Prance I S -••t «! s* •■n $ £ £^M 1) itu et mou droit, Dieu 8cc . Dieu &o. *— r r »' .' r r SE Dieu et raon droit, Vive La Lifc.er. -I jJJ^ 1^ I I ; irP P ! * — y v— r m tug ^ i^^ *— * TT^I? CHORUS. :i -r. J j r i ,r j r ^ £: Fran.caise. God and « my rigbt, Qod aud my right. f 1 HW ? i^rw ^ F? « L l 4 feK f 5 ^ ^ Vive La Lib _ er _ te, Fran - gaise, k- ^ 1 s 5W— ^ ores: - m ■ « f i £ rr3ifr^-rt ^? P i i ^fe r"U ef» i f i>«i.i,i» u r r r i r rn i ^ n r m ? r , i j j God and my right Vive La Lib . er - te Fran.caise I i ^ — 2 ♦' . r * » ere si a iff 33 Ss f-*-* ^ m ff t HI Do 137.3 M4 THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara STACK COLLECTION THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. FA W^-2-8 136$ 10m-6,'62(C97'.Ms4)476D *$*. AA 000162 883 3