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Daily National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
In France, a man confined as the Dauphin, son of Louis XVI, faced trial. Identifying as Charles, Duke of Provence, he denied being Mathurin Bruneau, claimed royal parentage, French naval service, desertion to the US in 1805, and residence in Philadelphia and New York before returning.
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The President. What is your name.
Bruneau. Charles, Duke of Provence
Q. What age are you—A. (with an oath) I know nothing about it; go to the Public Library or to Versailles.
Q. Where were you born?—A. I believe at Versailles.
Q. What is your profession?—A. I am chief of all the States. You know it.
Q. Are you not the son of Mathurin Bruneau?—A. I do not belong to that family.—The Abbe Marmontier knows well that I am the son of the unfortunate Louis the Sixteenth.
Q. On the registers in the naval department, it appears that you entered into the service at Mons. Did you not engage yourself on the 23d Nov. 1803, under the name of Mathurin Bruneau, son of Mathurin, a clog maker at Vanzins, and of Francis Tesnier?—A. No. I did not enter the service.
Q. You agree that you were conducted from brigade to brigade, from St. Denis to L'Orient; what profession was assigned to you on your arrival there. A. That of a private soldier; I deserted to the United States, and was not one of those who thought Bonaparte a God.
Q. Did you not serve on board the Cybele frigate?—A. Yes; I was also on board the Constitution frigate.
Q. Was it not in 1805 that you set sail?—A. Yes I think it might have been in 1805.
Q. At what time did you desert?—A. I did not desert; I went to Norfolk; I did not belong to them
Q. Did you not live with a baker at Philadelphia?—A. Yes, you ought to know that.
Q. On quitting Philadelphia, did you not go to New-York? A. Yes; I was always shifting about.
Q. Were you not servant in a house there, which was the abode of a great number of English and Americans?—A. That is the truth
Q. What route did you take on returning to France?—A. I was at Madeira, and many places.
Q. Where did you land?—A. At St. Maloes safe and sound.
Q. You know that the motive of your being, arrested was, because you called yourself the son of Louis XVI?—A. I do believe that I am, but I did not say so in the United States.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
France
Event Date
Lately
Key Persons
Event Details
A man confined in France as the Dauphin, son of Louis XVI, underwent trial. He claimed to be Charles, Duke of Provence, denied parentage from Mathurin Bruneau family, asserted son of Louis XVI known to Abbe Marmontier. Denied entering French naval service in 1803 as Mathurin Bruneau, admitted being assigned as private soldier, serving on Cybele and Constitution frigates, sailing in 1805, going to US via Norfolk, living with baker in Philadelphia, moving to New York as servant, traveling via Madeira, landing at St. Maloes. Arrested for claiming to be son of Louis XVI, though he believed it but did not claim in US.