or, in his "Monthly Chronicle," begs pardon of the public for having yielded to "the enthusiastic faith and trust of the Rev. John H. Hanson, whose belief in the rightfulness of Mr. Williams' claim, and whose zeal in pushing it, amounted almost to a monomania."

Alas! dear brother! the world thinks thee dead, and bemoans thy credulity, while it is forced to honor thy "enthusiastic faith and trust."

But thou art not dead, but sleepest; and I, in venturing to indite more "last words of the Bourbon story," may be likened to that loving sister of whom it was said, "She goeth unto the grave to weep there." But that grave was the theatre of a resurrection. It was "THE TRUTH" who said, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep."

III. In the summer of 1853, Mr. Hanson called on me in Brooklyn, where I was then settled, to acquaint me with what promised to be a singular confirmation of his theory, as published in the March and April numbers of the Magazine, through the testimony, he said, of Skenondough, a very old Indian chief of the Oneida tribe, who had known Williams when he was a boy of ten or twelve years of age, having been present when two Frenchmen gave him into the custody of the elder Williams, in 1795, at Ticonderoga; and who would testify that Eleazer Williams was of French birth, for the reason that he had talked with him in the French language at that time." Moreover, the old Indian affirmed that "Williams was recorded in the census of the Six Nations as a Frenchman adopted by the St. Regis tribe, and transferred to the Oneidas;" with many other particulars of great interest.

All this seemed, indeed, to be important testimony, if true. Who is this old Indian? How came he to turn up just at that time? What credentials does he show? What proof of his great age and sound memory exists?

These were among the queries that I thought proper to suggest, to guard

myself from a credulity which I felt predisposing me to believe what the circumstance at Newport, some years previously, and the late testimony of the Duke of Wurtemberg, had fixed in my mind.

The answer to these inquiries was this simple explanation: Skenondough was a principal man of the Oneidas, who was accustomed to go to the city of Washington to receive the bountymoney, or on other business, of the Indians. On this year he left Syracuse with the usual contribution of Indian traps of bead-work, by the sale of which he paid his expenses. But there was such an unusual delay at Washington in the payment of the Indian annuity, that Skenondough's resources were exhausted. He was obliged to return without money, reaching Philadelphia penniless.

In this strait, he called on Mr. Peter Sken Smith, of Philadelphia, a wellknown, wealthy, and highly-respected citizen; whose middle name was derived, I was told, from that of the chiefs of the Oneidas-"Skenondough,”—with whom the ancestors of Mr. Smith were familiar in their early settlements around Syracuse. Mr. Gerrit Smith, brother of Peter Sken, is, I believe, still the possessor of the immense patrimony derived from an Indian title.

Old Skenondough was hospitably entertained by Mr. Peter Sken Smith in Philadelphia. It was just at this time that Mr. Hanson's discussion of the question of Eleazer Williams' identity with the Dauphin of France was engaging the public mind. Mr. Smith, therefore, seized the opportunity of questioning old Skenondough on the subject. Skenondough had not heard of the theme, nor had he ever suspected that Williams was of royal blood; but he said that he knew he was a Frenchman, because he was present at Lake George in 1795, when he was brought over and committed into the custody of Thomas Williams; and further words to like effect, as above narrated, and as afterward embodied in an affidavit.

Mr. Smith thought it worth while to

acquaint the Rev. Mr. Hanson with this startling and unexpected confirmation of his theory, and suggested that Skenondough be asked to take New York in his route home to Syracuse, so that his testimony might be taken before a notary.

Mr. Hanson invited Skenondough to visit New York, where, by a happy conjuncture, Williams was also sojourning, while engaged in the printing of his "Indian Prayer-Book."

Mr. Hanson desired me to be present with him when Skenondough's affidavit would be made. I consented. Whereupon, on the day of Skenondough's arrival, I was summoned to meet the parties in the office of Richard Busteed, Esq., in William-street. There sat old Skenondough, his long white hair streaming on his shoulders, the deep wrinkles furrowing his swarthy face, but his form hardly yielding to the pressure of years. Mr. Hanson was by his side. In a few minutes Eleazer Williams entered; and it was impressive to observe the greeting of these old men. They spoke together in the Indian dialect for some time, then in English, then again in Indian, just as the subject of their discourse seemed to prompt. They had not seen one another for a long period; and reminiscences seemed to start up in rapid succession, while various emotions were evinced to the observer by their varying expressions of countenance-now sad, now merry, and now dubious, as if the recollections of one perplexed the other.

I watched this converse of mingled languages and pantomime, till I feared that the long summer afternoon would wear away, unless we went to business. Whereupon Skenondough settled himself, and related his story, beginning at the year 1795, when he first saw Williams and talked French with him-8

his reason; thence he narrated Williams' carcer through the War of 1812, and spoke of the Indian spy-system, in which the old chief was engaged-and especially referred to an occasion when they went together to obtain a subsidy from the United States Government; at which point, Williams, who had been listening attentively, as to a revelation of by-gone times, interrupted Skenondough, saying, "No; it was the State of New York who gave the subsidy;" and after some discussion whether it was the State of New York or the General Government, or jointly, Skenondough, as if tired of this question, exclaimed to us, "Let that go. He is not an Indian! He was never reckoned as an Indian. Look here! Look at his hand!" (taking it). "This is not an Indian's hand! Look at mine! It is double-jointed;" and so he threw his fingers "out of joint," backward and forward.

I mention these incidents, not as proving much on the main question, but because they happened; throwing, I thought, an aspect of simple sincerity on the intercourse of these simple but dissimilar old men.

I recollect asking Skenondough of his age. He replied, jocosely,

"I am old enough to be in my second childhood, as they say; for, look here -I am getting a second set of doubleteeth; " and he opened his mouth, and showed us, sure enough, a fresh set of molars, which, also, he made us touch with our fingers.

The substance of Skenondough's testimony was, finally, put to paper, subscribed and sworn to, as follows:

"John O'Brien, a half-breed Indian, otherwise known as Skenondough, deposes and says, that he resides in the town of Salina, Onondaga County, State of New York; that he is known to the Hon. P. Sken Smith, of Philadelphia, and to Gerrit Smith, Squire Johnson, Mayor Baldwin, and Lawyer Wood, of Syracuse; that he is now directly from Philadelphia, where he was taken sick on his way from Washington, and is returning to Salina; that he is now very aged, having been born in Stockbridge, Mass., in 1752; that his father was an Irishman, of the name of Wm. O'Brien, and his mother an Indian woman of the Oneida tribe, named Mary

Skenondough; that, at the age of twelve years, he was sent from America to France, for his education, and remained there until during the War of the Revolution, when he returned, in the same ship with La Fayette, to America. After his return, this deponent went among the Oneida Indians, in the State of New York; and, in the year 1795, was at Ticonderoga, on Lake George.

"At that time, two Frenchmen came to the Indians on Lake George, and this deponent conversed with them, in their own language. Their names deponent does not remember. They had with them a boy, which this deponent supposed to be between ten and twelve years of age. This boy, the deponent talked with in the French language. The two Frenchmen told this deponent that the boy was French, by birth. The boy seemed weak and sickly, and his mind was wandering, so that he seemed rather silly.

"This child, after the Frenchmen had departed, this deponent saw in the family of Thomas Williams, an Indian, where the child lived. This deponent further recollects that he was at Lake George some time after this, when this boy, playing with other children, fell, or threw himself, from a rock into the Lake, and was taken out with a wound, he thinks upon the head, and was carried into the hut of Thomas Williams. After this he from time to time saw the boy, and that boy is the person now known as the Rev. Eleazer Williams.

"Deponent further declares, that, in 1815, when Mr. Williams first came to Oneida Castle to preach to the Indians, deponent was there, and asked Mr. Williams if he remembered his fall into the Lake; which he did not. Deponent further declares, that one of the two Frenchmen who brought the child to Lake George seemed to have the appearance of a priest of the Church of Rome. Deponent recollects Colonel Lewis, Captain Peters, Captain Jacob Francis, chiefs of the St. Regis tribe, who always believed Mr. Williams to be a Frenchman.

"This deponent also declares, that he was acquainted with Thomas Williams, and Mary Aun his wife, and that there is no resemblance between the Rev. Eleazer Williams and the said Thomas Williams, or his wife, or any of the children of the said Thomas Williams and his wife Mary Ann, who was also known to this deponent.

"This deponent also further declares, that Captain Jasper Parish, of Canandaigua, was appointed, by the General or State Government, agent for the Six Nations, some time before the War of 1812; and after the war was over, in 1815, he took the census of each family, for the purpose of distributing the presents from the Government. Eleazer Williams was set down by Captain Parish, on the record, as a Frenchman, adopted by the St. Regis tribe, and trans

ferred to the Oneidas." This deponent was, at the time, a member of the General Council of the Nation, serving in the capacity of Marshal, and gave, himself, the returns to Captain Parish; and this deponent has seen the record of the census; which record may probably be found at Canandaigua, by writing to Mr. Ed ward Parish aforesaid.

"This deponent further says, that he re members the spot at which the child, now known as Eleazer, fell into the water, and that it was at the south end of Lake George, on the west side, not far from the old Fort.

RICHARD BUsteed,

"Commissioner of Deeds,

"43 William Street, New York."

The review of this remarkable testimony revives the impression of its truth, which it made at the time. Williams sat as one who was hearing tidings that were new and strange. While old Skenondough was relating his early history, his jaw drooped, and his eyes were fixed on the relator with intense earnestness; but when the story reached his middle life, his attitude and expression were changed, and he uttered ejaculations, now and then, such as, "Yes!" "I remember." Especially when Skenondough testified that Captain Parish was appointed by the General Government as agent of the Six Nations, Williams interrupted, and said, that "Captain Parish was appointed by the State of New York;" whereupon there was a slight discussion, and Skenondough's testimony was amended, as above, by the dubious alternate. While rendering his testimony, the picturesque old Indian leaned on his staff, holding it between his legs, and gazing, as it were, into the deep past. But during the intervals, when Mr. Busteed was recording the important facts, the conversation turned on the most commonplace topics; such as "the weather," and "what Williams was in the city for," and "when Skenondough was to leave;" as if the mind demanded relief from its musings and its memories.

The Rev. Mr. Hanson's fine face brightened as the narrator proceeded, like one whose disputed conjectures

were verified as truth. I was in the intellectual attitude of a critic, hardly a skeptic, yet requiring further confirmation of the credibility of the witness. I resolved on the spot, therefore, to ask for this confirmation. It occurred to me, also, to provide a lasting memorial of this interview, by requesting that both Skenondough and Williams would consent to the daguerreotyping of their likenesses so that other eyes than mine might picture these old men, and see the difference in their type of physiognomy.

Williams and Skenondough consented; and, by appointment, we proceeded to Brady's Gallery, where their likenesses were admirably taken. These pictures are deposited with the Long Island Historical Society.*

In pursuance of my desire to learn the credibility of old Skenondough, I addressed a letter, on the 18th of June, 1853, to the Hon. Peter Sken Smith, of Philadelphia; from whom I received the following reply:

"My dear Sir: I have been much indisposed, and not able to answer your letter of the 18th ult. till now, and I am still weak. I have known John O'Brien Skenondough, a halfbreed Indian of the Oneida tribe, for thirty years and upwards. I suspect the "important testimony" from him, which you refer to, relates to the Rev. Mr. Williams.

"I hesitate not to say, Skenondough can be relied on. I also know much of Mr. Williams. "In much haste, very truly and respectfully

66

of New Orleans, acquainting him with a fact which he deemed decisive of the question of the identity of Eleazer Williams and the Dauphin Louis Charles. The letter stated that further information had been derived from the old person (Mrs. Margaret Deboit, whose affidavit, on another point, is published in The Lost Prince," p. 430; Append., 475), who was some time in the household of Count de Provence and the Duchesse d'Angoulême. This information, he said, accorded with a letter from Madame Rambaud to the Duchesse D'Angoulême, lately brought to his notice. The substance of this fresh evidence was this: that, when Naundorf's claim to be the Dauphin was rejected by the Duchesse d'Angoulême, she had said that "when her brother should be discovered, if he were yet alive, there would be found, on the back of his shoulder, the mark of the lancet in the shape of a crescent, which was made there by the surgeon, at the time of the inoculation of the Dauphin, for the purpose of identification." And the letter begged Mr. Hanson to see if such a mark was on the shoulder, of Eleazer Williams.

I asked Mr. Hanson if he had examined into the case. He replied that he had; and the mark was there, and he wished me to verify it. He said, besides, that if he had not found the scar of identification, his opinion would likely have been upset; for he might not justly have disputed the evidence of this woman's testimony, since he himself had journeyed to New Orleans to procure her affidavit. Time might indeed have obliterated the wound; and this fresh testimony might be rejected as hearsay; yet, nevertheless, he had suffered trepidation in asking Mr. Williams to allow him to put his theory to the test; and when he had seen, with his own eyes, this remarkable confirmation of his faith, he could not doubt of the truth, and wished, as I had served him heretofore, that I would consent to bear witness to what I might also see.

I found myself in a very delicate position. It was to request an aged and venerable man to strip his back, that

I might subject him to a scrutiny; while, on the other hand, I might, by declining, leave my friend alone to bear the sarcasms tossed at him as a romancer and a credulous person. I consented. A day or two after,* Mr. Hanson was to have his infant-child baptized by the Rev. Dr. Hawks, in Calvary Church, New York. I promised to be present on that occasion, if possible. I arrived just after the administration of the Sacrament, when the parties were dispersing, and proceeded to the robing-room, where I found Mr. Williams (who had been sponsor to the child), and Mr. Hanson, awaiting.

I shall not forget this meeting, nor the dignified bearing of Mr. Williams. I was reluctant to proceed. Yet I ventured to say, "I hear that you bear a mark on your shoulder, such as is said to have been put on the Dauphin for his identification. Have you such a mark?"

Williams replied, with a smile, "They tell me I have; but I have never seen it."

There was no elation, no symptom of triumph, no suggestion that this report of his "identification" had ruffled the serenity of his soul as a simple missionary to the Indians.

I inquired if he would "submit to my examination, not from idle curiosity,

The record of the baptism above referred to is certified by Rev. W. D. Walker, assistant-minister of Calvary Church, as being in the register of that church, and as occurring June 14, 1853, Eleazer Williams being one of the sponsors.-Editor Putnam's Magazine.

but from regard to the desire of the Rev. Mr. Hanson."

"Certainly," he replied; "I should be ungrateful to decline compliance with Mr. Hanson's desire."

Accordingly, Williams threw off his coat and vest, and allowed me to scrutinize the mysterious mark. The light of the robing-room was very dim. I could see the deep pit of the inoculation on the arm. I could not discern on the back of the shoulder any thing peculiar. Nor could Mr. Hanson. Williams preserved the same calm composure while we were discussing the matter.

"Will you step out into the church a moment? there is no one there," I suggested.

“If you wish it,” said Mr. Williams. I opened the door, and he followed me outside; when, turning his shoulder to the light, there was the cicatrix, in the shape of a crescent, three-fourths of an inch across, nearly obliterated, yet palpable and unmistakable. Hanson saw it again, and tears silently stole down his cheeks. It was proof positive to him, now that he had found THE LOST PRINCE. He grasped my hand. We said nothing, except my ejaculations, "The mark is there! I see it with my eyes! What does it mean? He must, indeed, be the Dauphin!"

Such was the final personal observation that fell to my lot, to test the truth of the question,

"Were Louis XVII. and Eleazer Wil liams the same person?"