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brought up as the twin son of a deceased clergyman, whose widow died while he was quite young, and who had a brother in business at Vera Cruz.
His education was, however, totally different from that of his brother, much higher, more refined, luxurious, and careful, and out of proportion to the family means.
When he left the University of Upsala, where he acquired no small amount of learning, he entered the army, rose with unaccountable rapidity, and at last was placed near the person of Prince Oscar.
While there, about twenty-three or twenty-four, he received a letter purporting to be from his uncle at Vera Cruz, saying he was rich, and promising to make him his heir, if he would come out there.
On his proposing to go, the Prince endeavored to detain him; but, on the whole, he thought the American prospect of fortune quite as good as the Swedish; and, having some love for adventure besides, he provided himself with all necessary papers, and embarked for Boston.
Here he received other letters, saying his uncle was dead, and he must wait.
Then came the anonymous threats, as from a person who possessed his uncle's estate, and was determined to keep it; then the alleged poisoning; then the kidnapping to Marblehead, etc., as I told you before.
Since then, he has generally been in a high state of nervous excitement, sometimes extremely ill; . . . . his hearing failed him, his tongue was so swollen he could not speak, and he was constantly agitated, whether awake or asleep, by slight convulsions.
. . . . In this state, Mr. Froden, the Swedish Consul, being about to return home, arrangements were made to have him put on board the same vessel, so privately that any persons here employed to annoy or poison him should know nothing of it; and a fortnight ago he sailed, leaving all still in doubt and mystery.
Those most familiar with the circumstances of the case believe him to be the son of some considerable personage, who being about to acknowledge him, those who had an opposite interest, under pretence of this South American estate, . . . . had spirited him away; while the rest of us, who are told we know nothing about the secret history of the matter, believe it to be a singular case of insanity.
All agree that his sufferings have been dreadful, and his character and conduct, while here, singularly simple and interesting.
The rest, time must show.
Time has not, however, brought any satisfactory solution of this mystery, which remains, like the fate of Caspar Hauser, unexplained.