“The undersigned, of the town of Alessandria in Piédmont, where
he resides; sixty-seven years of age; formerly professor of
rhetoric, pensioned by his Majesty the King of Sardinia after
having served forty years; being still quite sound in mind,
recollects, as well as if it had taken place yesterday, and
is ready to take his oath that it was about fifty years ago,
though on account of the lapse of time he cannot absolutely
swear to the year, that with his own eyes he saw the Duke of
Orleans, who then bore the title of Duc de Chartres, pass
through Alessandria, coming from Italy and going towards
Piédmont.
“In proof whereof he declares that he saw him in his barouche
which, with his large suite, waited more than half-an-hour
before the Countess Govone’s palace, a short distance from the
post-house, for what reason nobody knew.
“The undersigned stopped about the same length of time, and
remembers that it was in the morning, but has only a faint
recollection of the features of this nobleman. He feels certain
it was in the summer, and affirms that this is the exact,
unalloyed and whole truth.
“In testimony whereof he will affix his signature to it in
order that it may serve as an authentic and historical document.
“Alessandria, December 17, 1824.
“The Priest, CARLO BRUNONE, etc.”
M. le Baron de Vincy de la B., in a letter he was so good as to write me
lately, declares in set terms that “_being in the bosom of his family in
1773, news was spread about in the country that the Duc de Chartres had
passed through Berne under the name of Monsieur le Comte de Joinville_.”
Which, according to the reiterated assertions of d’Alquier-Caze,[32]
would seem to prove that the Prince crossed Switzerland either in going
to Italy or on his return.
And finally, M. D., formerly attached to the Orleans family, testifies
that the late _Madame the Dowager-Duchess had made one journey to beyond
the Alps before that of 1776_; and though he only dimly remembers that
it was in 1773, he knows for certain that the incognito name was that of
Comtesse Joinville, etc.
Therefore, to sum up, between Louis-Philippe-Joseph, Duc de Chartres,
and Louis, Comte de Joinville, perpetrator of the shameful substitution,
there is no difference; everything about them is identical, everything
proves, everything shows them to be the same person, one and the same
individual.