THE LATE PRINCE IMPERIAL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7696, 19 March 1887, Page 3

THE LATE PRINCE IMPERIAL.

The Paris correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle, telegraphing on January 14, says:— "The romantic story Hint a child luul been left by the Prince Imperial raised some days ago by tlio Fitjuro is again uppermost. The little boy, who is called Watkins, was at Uercy, in the cure of a lady who was preparing him for tho institution of St. Nicholas, Iml since tho publication of this fnct, the child lias boon removed to I'ollevue. The strong contradictions of the friends of the Imperial family are of little valuo. The Fir/mv remarks, very rightly, that Monsijrnor Cloddard, of Chislehurst, would be a very unlikely recipient of the amorous confidences of n young military student. The prelate's verbal oerlificato of absolute virtue is only the expression of an opinion that the moral standard of the Prince wns of the highest. Ho does not, profess to have been his constant companion in London and elsewhere. Galiymmi's Mr.sstvtr/cr publishes 10-dny two letters— one bearing the Biekley postmark of February 19,

187S; finofliev written frotn Woolwicl Arsenal station, with ,' the Lontlor post-mark, is tinted A'prll 10 ol the same year. There (aro also ' a tclcstvam from Cliislehuvst ami anothei from Biekley. The letters contain notluHfi beyontl the 'fixing of appoiii'tments and some expressions of affection, They arc signed "Louis" and " Waltor Louis " respectively. Letters and telegrams are addressed to Madatiie Watlcins, SO, Jersey. *l,i-«»t, LAiulon. Tli- EngliKli solicitor -in Paris, who- holds the tetters; find teJegmms, teJJs )»e Ihat Miss Watkins lias concealed the matter, and that ibiinsljcen made public Wlier brother. Her only wish, when she left for Australia, was that the child should he brought up in France. It is not quite true that she was ignorant of llio Prince's identity. ' Site saw him soon after their first acquaintance speaking to Lord Reaeonslield under the awning at the door of the livomyiton Oratory, after the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk. She was, however, convinced that her lover was the Prince Imperial when slm saw his portrait. She wn.« so afraid Hint- he nnglif leave her that she nwor alluded to the subject except . niiee. He blushed timidly,' and alluded in his scanty means, adding that he was not worthy to be Emperor of France. The Prince Imperial gave Miss Watkinsin all £895. Of this £400 was given in one sum just liefore his departure, and with the greatest delicacy. The solicitor adds that there is one circumstance of grave importance which professional seceresy forbids him to make known until he has the permission of Miss Watkins. The little lad concerning whose origin so much has been said has a strongly-marked Napoleonic, face. No help has been given by any member of the Imperial family, nor has any ever been asked. This, coupled with the fact that the ntory would never have been revealed had not iU. Darimon communicated some of the facts fo the Figaro, is probably the most striking part of this" strange romance. I have' reason to believe, however, that the Empress has ordered the matter to be thoroughly . investigated . "