The Female Soldier.
by Anonymous.
TO THE PUBLICK.
_Notwithstanding the surprizing Adventures of this our_ British _Heroine, of whom the following Pages fully and impartially treat; yet the Oddity of her Conduct for preserving her Virtue was such, that it demands not only Respect, but Admiration; and as there is nothing to be found in the following Sheets, but what is Matter of Fact, it merits the Countenance and Approbation of every Inhabitant of this great Isle, especially the Fair s.e.x, for whom this Treatise is chiefly intended; and the Truth of which being confirmed by our Heroines Affidavit, made before the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, the said Affidavit is hereunto annexed, in order to prevent the Publick from being imposed upon by fict.i.tious Accounts._
Hannah Snell, _born in the City of_ Worcester, _in the Year of our Lord 1723, and who took upon her the Name of_ James Gray, _maketh Oath, and saith, That she this Deponent served his present Majesty King_ George, _as a Soldier and Sailor, from the 27th of_ November, _One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty five, to the 9th of this Instant_ June, _and entered herself as a Marine in Capt._ Graham_"s Company in Col._ Fraser_"s Regiment, and went on board the_ Swallow, _his Majesty"s Sloop of War, to the_ East-Indies, _belonging to Admiral_ Boscawen_"s Squadron, where this Deponent was present at the Siege of_ Pondicherry, _and all the other Sieges during that Expedition, in which she received Twelve Wounds, some of which were dangerous, and was put into the Hospital for Cure of the same, and returned into_ England _in the_ Eltham _Man of War, Capt._ Lloyd _Commander, without the least Discovery of her s.e.x._
_And this Deponent further maketh Oath, and saith, That she has delivered to_ Robert Walker, _Printer, in the_ Little Old-Bailey, London, _a full and true Account of the many surprizing Incidents, and wonderful Hardships she underwent during the Time she was in his Majesty"s Service as aforesaid, to be by him printed and published._
_And this Deponent lastly saith, That she has not given the least Hint of her surprising Adventures to any other Person, nor will she, this Deponent, give any the Least Account thereof, to any Person whatsoever, to be printed or published, save and except the above-mentioned_ Robert Walker.
Sworn before me this 27th Day of _June_, 1750, at _Goldsmith"s Hall, London_,
J. BLACHFORD, Mayor.
Witness
Susannah Gray, _Sister of the said_ Hannah Snell.
T. Edwards.
_Her_ Hannah x Snell, _Mark_.
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF _Hannah Snell, &c._
In this dastardly Age of the World, when Effeminacy and Debauchery have taken Place of the Love of Glory, and that n.o.ble Ardor after warlike Exploits, which flowed in the Bosoms of our Ancestors, genuine Heroism, or rather an extraordinary Degree of Courage, are Prodigies among Men. What Age, for Instance, produces a _Charles_ of _Sweden_, a _Marlborough_, or a Prince _Eugene_? These are _Rara Aves in Terris_, and when they appear, they seem to be particularly designed by Heaven, for protecting the Rights of injured Nations, against foreign Oppression, securing the Privileges of Innocence from the dire a.s.sault of Prey and Rapine; and, in a Word, vindicating the common Prerogatives of human Nature, from the fatal Effects of brutal Rage, the love of Conquest, and an insatiable l.u.s.t after Power. The amazing Benefit arising to Mankind from such ill.u.s.trious and exalted Characters, is, perhaps, the princ.i.p.al Reason why they attract the Eyes, and command the Attention of all who hear of them, even in Quarters of the World far remote from their Influence and Sphere of Action: Why they are the Subjects of the Poets Song, the Founders of the Historian Narration, and the Objects of the Painters Pencil; all which have a Tendency to transmit their Names with immortal Glory to latest Ages, and eternize their Memories, when their Bodies are mouldred into Dust, and mingled with their Parent Earth. Perhaps their Rarity may also contribute, in a great Measure, to that Esteem and Veneration, which the World thinks fit to pay them: But sure if Heroism, Fort.i.tude, and a Soul equal to all the glorious Acts of War and Conquest, are Things so rare, and so much admired among Men; how much rarer, and consequently how much more are they to be admired among Women? In short, we may on this Occasion, without any Hyperbole, use the Words of _Solomon_, and say, _One Man among a thousand have I found, but among Women not so_. However, tho" Courage and warlike Expeditions, are not the Provinces by the World allotted to Women since the Days of the _Amazons_, yet the female s.e.x is far from being dest.i.tute of Heroinism. _Cleopatra_ headed a n.o.ble Army against _Mark Anthony_, the greatest Warrior of his Time. _Semiramis_ was not inferior to her in Courage. The _Arcadian_ Shepherdesses are as memorable for their Contempt of Danger as their darling and beloved Swains. But among all our Heroines, none comes more immediately under our Cognizance, nor, perhaps, more merits our Attention than the remarkable _Hannah Snell_, whose History is highly interesting, both on Account of the Variety of amazing Incidents, and the untainted Veracity with which it is attended. Some People guided rather by the Suggestions of Caprice, than the Dictates of Reason and a sound Understanding, have foolishly imagin"d, that Persons of low and undistinguished Births, hardly ever rais"d themselves to the Summit of Glory and Renown; but they will find themselves widely mistaken, when they reflect on a _Kauli-Kan_, a _Cromwell_, and many others I could mention.
But if this Observation had the smallest Foundation either in Nature or the Course of human Experience, from the most remote, to the present Age, yet its Force does by no Means extend to _Hannah Snell_, the Heroine of the subsequent Narrative: For though her immediate Progenitors were but low in the World, when compared with Dukes, Earls and Generals, yet she had the Seeds of Heroism, Courage and Patriotism transferr"d to her from her Ancestors, as will appear from the following Account of her Genealogy.
Hannah Snell, was born in _Fryer-Street_, in the Parish of _St. h.e.l.len_"s, in the City of _Worcester_, on the 23d Day of _April_, 1723. Her Parents, tho" not immensely Rich by the hereditary Gifts of Fortune, yet secured a Competency, which not only placed them above Contempt, but also enabled them to bring up, and educate a numerous Family, none of whom have miscarried for want either of sufficient Learning from Masters, or salutary Advices and virtuous Examples from their Parents. And though Mrs.
_Hannah Snell_ did not while she was at School learn to write, yet she made a tolerable Progress in the other Part of Education common to her s.e.x, and could read exceeding well.
Though the Father of our Heroine was no more than a _Hosier_ and _Dyer_, yet he was the Son of the ill.u.s.trious Capt. Lieut. _Sam. Snell_, for so I may or rather must call him, since with Intrepidity he stood the Brunt of the Wars in the latter End of King _William_"s Reign, signalized himself at the taking of _Dunkirk_ and served faithfully in the _English_ Army during Queen _Anne_"s Wars.
This Captain Lieutenant _Snell_, the Grandfather of our Heroine, enter"d as a Volunteer in King _William_"s Reign, and in the Beginning of Queen _Anne_"s Wars, was at the taking of _Dunkirk_ under the Duke of _Marlborough_, where the Captain Lieutenant was killed by a Shot fired through the Wicket by the Governor; upon which he fired, and killed the Governor. When the Duke was informed thereof, he called him, and asked him what Preferment he desired; his Answer was, that he chose to accept of that Commission, which was become vacant by the Death of the Captain Lieutenant, which he was immediately preferr"d to, and took upon him the Command as such. After the Surrender of _Dunkirk_, where he received several dangerous Wounds, he returned to _England_, where he had the proffer of a very handsome Pension in _Chelsea College_; but coveting fresh Glory, and new Trophies of Conquest, he intreated of his Grace, that he would permit him once more to go Abroad with him, that he might have an Opportunity of signalizing his Valour, against the avowed Enemies of his Country. This his Request his Grace complied with, and at the Battle of _Malplaquet_ he received a mortal Wound, from whence he was carried to _Ghent_, where he died: This last, was the twenty-second b.l.o.o.d.y Battle in which he had been engaged, and which he generously launched out into upon the sublime Motives, Liberty and Property. This Gentleman"s Character must appear the more sublime, when we observe how he advanced himself by Merit from a private _Cadit_ to the Rank he held at his Death; and had it not been for his over-modest and generous Sentiments, he might have been preferr"d to a much higher Rank; but the _Englishman_ prevail"d above Self-Interest.
The Son of this ill.u.s.trious Man of whom we have here treated, and Father of our Heroine, was possessed of many excellent Gifts, particularly Courage, for which he was distinguished; yet never had an Opportunity of displaying his Bravery in the Field of Battle, his Genius leading him another Way, to wit, Trade, into which he entered very young, and prospered in the World, married to his liking, and in a few Years saw himself the Father of nine promising Children, three of which were Sons, and six Daughters, all of whom save one Daughter, were either Soldiers or Sailors, or intermarried with them. The eldest of the Sons, _Samuel Snell_, incapable of Restraint, and void of all Fear, listed himself a Soldier in Lord _Robert Manners_"s Company in the first Regiment of Foot-Guards, commanded by his Royal Highness the Duke of _c.u.mberland_; when he was draughted to go for _Flanders_, where he received his mortal Wound at the battle of _Fontenoy_; and being sent to the Hospital at _Doway_, he there expired.
Tho" the Daughters were, by those who knew them, accounted aimable Women, both on Account of their Persons and their Virtue; yet I shall pa.s.s over the Characters of five of them in Silence, and only take Notice of that of _Hannah_, the youngest of them but one, who is the Heroine of this Subject. It is a common Thing to observe a Family dispersed, when the Heads of that Family are either laid in their Graves, or by accidental Calamities rendered incapable of supporting it longer. Accordingly, when the Father and Mother of _Hannah_ died, _Hannah_ came up to _London_, and arrived in Town on _Christmas-Day_, 1740, and resided for some Time, with her Sister in _Wapping_.
Some Time after she came to _London_, she contracted an Acquaintance with one _James Summs_, a Sailor, who was a _Dutchman_; this Acquaintance was gradually improved into a Familiarity, and this Familiarity soon created a mutual, tho" not a criminal Pa.s.sion; for in a little Time, _Summs_ made his Addresses to her as a Lover, and gained her Consent, and was married to her at the _Fleet_, on the sixth Day of _January_, 1743-4. But all his Promises of Friendship, proved Instances of the highest Perfidy, and he turn"d out the worst and most unnatural of Husbands. Since, tho" she had Charms enough to captivate the Heart, and secure the Affection of any reasonable Man, yet she was despised and contemned by her Husband, who not only kept criminal Company with other Women of the basest Characters, but also made away with her Things, in Order to support his Luxury, and the daily Expences of his Wh.o.r.es. During this unlucky Period of the Husband"s Debauchery, she poor Woman proved with Child, and at the same Time felt all the Shocks of Poverty, without exposing her Necessities to her nearest Friends. But at last, her Pregnancy laid the Foundation for her pa.s.sing through all the Scenes, thro" which she has wandered; for when she was seven Months gone with Child, her perfidious Husband finding himself deeply involv"d in Debt, made an Elopement from her. Notwithstanding these her Calamities, she patiently bore herself up under them, and in two Months after her Husband"s Departure was delivered of a Daughter which lived no more than seven Months, and was decently interred at her own Expence at _St. George_"s Parish in _Middles.e.x_.
From the Time of her Husband"s Elopement till the Time she put on Man"s Cloaths, she continued with her Sister, who is married to one _James Gray_, a House Carpenter, in _Ship-street, Wapping_, and from whence she took her Departure unknown to any, and was never heard of until her Return; and with whom she now dwells.
As she was now free from all the Ties arising from Nature and Consanguinity; she thought herself privileged to roam in quest of the Man, who, without Reason, had injured her so much; for there are no Bounds to be set either to Love, Jealousy or Hatred, in the female Mind. That she might execute her Designs with the better Grace, and the more Success, she boldly commenced a Man, at least in her Dress, and no doubt she had a Right to do so, since she had the real Soul of a Man in her Breast.
Dismay"d at no Accidents, and giving a full Scope to the genuine Bent of her Heart, she put on a Suit of her Brother-in-Law, Mr. _James Gray_"s, Cloaths, a.s.sumed his Name, and set out on the 23d of _November_, 1745, and travelled to _Coventry_, with a View of finding her Husband, where she enlisted on the 27th of the said Month of _November_, in General _Guise_"s Regiment, and in the Company belonging to Captain _Miller_.
With this Regiment she marched from _Coventry_ to _Carlisle_, where she learned her military Exercise, which she now performs with as much Skill and Dexterity as any Serjeant or Corporal in his Majesty"s Service. But here, as Fortune is often a Foe to the Distressed, she met with a discouraging Circ.u.mstance; for her Serjeant, whose Name was _Davis_, having a criminal Inclination for a young Woman in that Town, looked upon this our Female Heroine, (a common Soldier in the Company) as a proper Person for a.s.sisting him in this his vicious Intrigue, therefore disclosed to her this Bosom Secret, and desired her Endeavours in promoting this End; however, this open Discovery caused a sudden Emotion in her Mind, her virtuous Soul abhorred with a becoming Detestation the criminal Intention; yet to prevent the ill Consequences that she foresaw must ensue from a refusal of complying with his Request, she promised to use her Endeavours in his Behalf; but instead of acting the Pimp, she went and disclosed the whole Matter to the young Woman, and warned her against the impending Danger; which Act of Virtue and Generosity in a Soldier, gained her the Esteem and Confidence of this young Woman, who took great delight in her Company; and seldom a Day pa.s.sed but they were together, having cultivated an Intimacy and Friendship with each other: But _Davis_ going one Day to make his Addresses to his Mistress, met with an unexpected Repulse, which unusual Treatment made him suspect our Female Soldier. Jealousy that Moment took Possession of his guilty Breast, and he imagined, that instead of befriending him in his Amours, she had become his Rival, and had gained her over to her Inclinations. These Reflections troubled him much; Revenge reigned triumphant in his Breast, and how to punish her was his chief Aim: He took hold of the earliest Opportunity, and accused her before the commanding Officer for Neglect of Duty, upon which she was sentenced to receive six hundred Lashes, five hundred of which she received, having her Hands tied to the Castle Gates for a Crime which Nature put it out of her Power to perpetrate, and had undergone the Punishment of the other Hundred, had it not been for the Intercession of some of the Officers.
This severe and unjust Punishment, reduced her to a very low State, but notwithstanding this severe Whipping, the Villain _Davis_ bore her an implacable Hatred, and strove all he could to depress her, by putting her upon the hardest and most difficult Duties; but she was most tenderly and affectionately regarded by her Female Friend, who neglected nothing that might a.s.sure her, she was neither unmindful nor ungrateful for the Friendship she had shewed her. Soon after this, a fresh and unforeseen Trouble presented itself; there happened to come a fresh Recruit to the Regiment, a young Man whose Name was _George Beck_, a Carpenter, born in _Worcester_ City, that had come to _London_ in Quest of Business, and happened to lodge with her Brother and Sister, and whom she left at her Brothers House when she went off in Men"s Cloaths, the Sight of whom troubled her much, fearing she should be discovered by him; this, together with the Serjeant"s ill Treatment, inspired her with a Resolution to desert; having carried this her Intention to Maturity, she communicated the same to her intimate Friend the young Woman, who, tho" loth to lose the Company of such a Friend and Companion, yielded to her Remonstrances, and provided her with Money to bear her Charge in her intended Flight.
Having gone so far with the Author of this Subject, I cannot refrain making a little Digression, and making a few Reflections upon the melancholy Prospect: What an Ocean of Troubles was this unfortunate Woman involved in? Behold her inwardly looking back on the past Vicissitudes of her Life, on an inhumane, ungrateful and faithless Husband, who had broke through all Engagements, sacred and civil, and had drove her into all the direful Troubles and Afflictions she was then involved in: Behold her tempted by a vicious Man, to be aiding and a.s.sisting in carrying on an immodest and abominable Intrigue; but (being inspired with virtuous and generous Sentiments) she proved the Instrument of extracting Good out of Evil, in discovering to the innocent Maid, where the Net was spread for her, that she might guard her self against the Adversary: Behold the Friendship that this virtuous Discovery produced, it chained them together in the strictest Bonds of Love and Affection, which never quitted its hold, till forced thereto by a hard Fate: Behold her suspected of supplanting the Serjeant of his Mistress, and the direful Effects his Jealousy occasioned, having her Arms extended, and fixed to the City Gates, and there receive the Number of five hundred severe Lashes, as the Effects of a partial and unjust Sentence: Behold her tender Flesh cut and mangled by these Scourgings, and the Pains and Agonies she suffered: Behold in this her Distress, the friendly Sympathy and eager a.s.sistance of her female Friend, who administred Relief to her under this her Dilemma: Behold the Commotions she felt upon perciving one in the Regiment whom she knew, and by whom she was afraid of being discovered; the bad Treatment she met with from the Serjeant, and what a Storm must surround her upon her projecting the Means for an Escape, and the moving Seperation "twixt her and her Friend: The Rehearsal of so many concurring Circ.u.mstances of Adversity, is sufficient to melt the most stoney Heart into a compa.s.sionate Tenderness for this our female Adventurer.
Having finished this Digression, I shall begin where I left off. Upon her Desertion, she set out on Foot for _Portsmouth_, and about a Mile out of _Carlisle_, exchanges her regimental Clothes for worse, with some People employed in cutting down Pease. But Courage and Love, like impetuous Torrents, rage the more they are opposed; for _Hannah_ whose Breast was actuated with both these Principles, had no sooner arrived at _Portsmouth_, than she found her Expectations disapointed: However, whether Despair or the Hopes of again meeting that unfaithful Man, who had made her the Mother of a helpless Infant, actuated her Breast and gave her Pa.s.sions a preternatural Spring. So it was, that she courageously inlisted herself in Captain _Graham_"s Company in Colonel _Fraser_"s Regiment, and soon after there was a Draught made, to go abroad in Admiral _Boscawen_"s Fleet, and she chanced to be one of the Number draughted, and went immediately on board the _Swallow_ Sloop, Captain _Rosier_, Commander; and when on board was observed to be handy in washing, as well as in dressing Victuals, for the Mess she first belonged to, and being thus remarkable, she was sollicited by _Richard Wyegate_, Lieutenant of Marines, to become one of their Mess, which she readily agreed to, as believing the Officers Mess, was better than the common Mens, and she acted in the Station of their Boy, and by her modest Deportment soon became a Favourite, drest their Victuals, washed and mended their Linnen.
She was stationed (in Case of an Engagement) on the Quarter-Deck, and to fight at small Arms, and made one of the After-Guard; she was obliged to keep watch four Hours on and four off, Day and Night, being often obliged to go aloft, and altho" unexperienced with these Kind of Hardships, soon became expert in the Business.
On their first setting sail, they enjoyed as fine Weather, and as fair Winds as could possibly be wished for, to convey a Ship safely and expeditiously from one Harbour to another. But no sooner were they arrived in the Bay of _Biscay_ than the Scene was altered; their favourable Weather converted into a dismal Hurricane, and their smooth placed Ocean, changed into Billows, which threaten"d them with immediate Death, by this Moment raising them to the Clouds, and in the next plunging them, as it were, to the Centre of the Earth. The Danger may be easily estimated, from the Circ.u.mstance, for the _Swallow_ was as strong and well built a Vessel, as any belonging to his Majesty"s Navy of her Burden: yet such was the Stress of Weather, that she sprung her Main-mast, and lost not only the Gib-Boom, but also two Top-masts. After they had for several Days been beat about in this imminent Danger, they with great Difficulty arrived in the Port of _Lisbon_, which was great Joy to them, after having suffered so much in the Bay of _Biscay_, where every Moment they had been in danger of being swallowed up in the vast Abyss. In this Port, which to them was like a safe Asylum, or Sanctuary, to a Man pursued by a hungry and enraged Lyon, they continued three Weeks; because the Vessel was so damaged, that the Number of Hands employed in refitting her could not do it sooner.
Here they found the _Vigilant_ Man of War, which was likewise much damaged in the Storm in the Bay of _Biscay_, being one of the Fleet that sail"d from _Portsmouth_ with them.
While she was ash.o.r.e at _Lisbon_, with her Master, she was quartered at one Mrs. _Poore_"s a Punch-House and Tavern; but says nothing material happened there, during the three Weeks.
As it often happens for the wise and n.o.ble Purposes of Heaven, that one Misfortune succeeds another, as close as the Waves on the Sea-sh.o.r.e; so the _Swallow_ set sail in Company with the _Vigilant_ Man of War, in Order to join the Admiral"s Squadron; and the next Night after their Departure, another violent Storm happened, in which the _Swallow_ not only lost sight of the _Vigilant_, but also sprung her Main-mast, lost most of her Rigging, and was so much damaged in her Hold, that all the Sailors and Marines were obliged to take their several Turns at the Pump, which is by far a harder Piece of Labour, than those who have never tried it are apt to imagine. Such a Series of Calamities succeeding each other so fast, and so unexpectedly, were, in all Appearance, sufficient to daunt the strongest Resolution, and cool the Courage of the bravest young Sailor that ever trod the Deck of a Ship. But some Minds are cast, if I may so speak, in so happy a Mould, that Danger and Difficulties instead of depressing, raise them above themselves, enlarge their Views, and animate them to stem the Tide of Adversity, which they rarely fail to surmount by Steadiness and Perseverance. To this favourite Cla.s.s of Mortals our Heroine belonged, since on this Occasion she not only willingly took her Turn at the Pump of a sinking Vessel, but also performed the several Offices of a common Sailor, and in both Qualities behaved with such Judgment and Intrepidity, that, next under G.o.d, she was looked upon by the Ship"s Company as a Kind of Deliverer, and an Instrument of their Preservation. The _Swallow_ after this Disaster made the best of her Way to _Gibraltar_, were as soon as they arrived, she went on Sh.o.r.e, and attended Lieutenant _Richard Wigate_, Lieutenant of the Marines, who was very ill, and lodged at Mrs. _Davis_"s on the Hill.
The Ship refitted here with the utmost Expedition, and sailed for the _Madiera_ Islands, where she took in such Wines, and other Provisions, as was thought necessary for the intended Voyage. As Providence is always Kind to Distress, she here met with the _Sheerness_ Privateer of _Bristol_, whose Commander generously supplied her with a sufficient Number of Hands, and from thence, they sailed to the Cape of _Good Hope_, and in their Voyage, were put upon Short, and some time after upon Half Allowance.
During their Pa.s.sage, their Allowance was shortened, as I just beforementioned, and that which they had, was salt and bad, and besides there was so great a Scarcity of Water on board, that they were allowed only a Pint a Day for some Time; all which, must have been great Hardships to her.
When they arrived at the Cape, they there met with the Admiral in the _Namur_, which was great Joy to them; and our Heroine being disappointed hitherto of meeting her faithless Husband, and now seeing the Fleet all in Company, was in hopes of acquiring some Glory as a Soldier, knowing the Reason of this Fleet"s being fitted out was to annoy the Enemies of her Country, which soon happened according to her Wishes, as the Fleet soon sailed from this Port for _Morusus_, on which Place they began their first Attack; and though unexperienced in the Use of Arms, except in learning her Exercise, she behaved with an uncommon Bravery, and exerted herself in her Country"s Cause.
This Attack did not hold long; our brave Admiral finding this impracticable, and unwilling to lose his Ships and Men, for whom he had great Regard, left that Place, and sailed for Fort St. _David_"s, where they arrived in a little Time, and the Marines being put on Sh.o.r.e joined the _English_ Army, and encamped, and in about three Weeks marched and encamped before _Elacapong_, and laid Siege to it, with an Intent to storm the Place. This fresh Adventure inspired her with fresh Hopes of shewing her undaunted Courage, which she did to the Admiration of her Officers; but on the tenth Day of the Siege, a Sh.e.l.l from the _English_ took the Magazine of the Enemy, and blew it up, which occasioned them to surrender at Discretion.
I cannot help reflecting a little upon the Hardships, Fatigues and Dangers she incountered from the Time she left _Lisbon_ in _Europe_, till her Arrival before _Pondicherry_ in _Asia_, so many Vicissitudes, as were sufficient to damp the Spirits of an _Alexander_ or a _Caesar_, Storms, Hurricanes and pinching Want, were her Concomitants, pumping an almost wrecked Vessel, was her most constant (tho" laborious) Employment; seventeen Weeks short Allowance from the _Maderas_ to the _Cape_ of _Good Hope_, was all she had to subsist upon; Attacks upon fortified Towns, some of which were impregnable, where Bomb-Sh.e.l.ls and Cannons were incessantly displaying Death wherever they fell; at other Times, moving, marching, and encamping; I say such Reflections and gloomy Prospects, prove the Cause of many such Hardships and Difficulties even in the most robust of the Masculine Gender, how much more in one of the tender s.e.x, who are afraid of Shaddows, and shudders at the Pressage of a Dream.
I shall now proceed to their March to _Pondicherry_, which is but a few Leagues from the forementioned Place; they encamped within about three Miles from the Town, _Boscawen_ being then both Admiral and General, and Major _Mount Pleasant_ informed them with their Intention, which was to storm the Place, which Attack was began by the Ships firing at the Fort, some of which Time they lay Middle-deep in Water in their Trenches: This Attack continued eleven Weeks, part of which Time they had no Bread, most of their Food being Rice; and the many Bombs and Sh.e.l.ls thrown among them, killed and wounded many of their Men. During this s.p.a.ce of Time, she behaved with the greatest Bravery and Intrepidity, such as was consistent with the Character of an _English_ Soldier, and though so deep in Water, fired 37 Rounds of Shot, and received a Shot in the Groin, six Shots in one Leg, and five in the other.
The Siege being now broke up, by reason of the heavy Rains, and violent Claps of Thunder, it being the Time of the Year when the _Monzoons_ (for so they are called in that Country) happens, she was sent to an Hospital at _Cuddylorom_, under the Care of two able Physicians, _viz._ Mr.
_Belchier_ and Mr. _Hanc.o.c.k_; but she, not willing to be discovered, extracted the Ball out of her Groin herself, and always drest that Wound; and in about three Months was perfectly cured; but most of the Fleet being sailed before her Recovery, she was left behind, and sent on board the _Tartar Pink_, which then lay in the Harbour, where she remained, doing the Duty of a Sailor, till the Return of the Fleet from _Madra.s.s_ when she was turned over to the _Eltham_, Captain _Lloyd_ Commander, and sailed for _Bombay_, where they arrived in about ten Days, being scarce of Hands, having only eight in a Watch, of which she was one; and what made their Fatigue still more, was their being obliged to keep continually at the Pump, the Ship having sprung a Leak in her Larboard Bow.
At _Bombay_ they were obliged to heave the Ship down in Order to clean her Bottom, which kept them there about five Weeks, and then they sailed to _Monserrat_, to take the _Royal Duke Indiaman_ under Convoy, to bring her to Fort St. _David_"s where she was gone for Provisions.
At _Bombay_ her Master being on Sh.o.r.e, she was obliged to watch in her turn, as is usual on such Occasions; but being one Night on Duty, Mr.
_Allen_, who then had the Command of the Ship, being on Sh.o.r.e, desired her to sing for him, which she begged that he would excuse, as she was not very well; but he being proud in this his new Employ, as Commander, absolutely commanded her to sing; which she refused to do, as she did not think it any inc.u.mbent Duty for a Soldier to sing when commanded so to do, and that by one who was not an Officer in their Core, or had she any Obligations to him; however this Refusal proved of fatal Consequence to her; he ordered her immediately into Irons, which accordingly was done, and continued for the s.p.a.ce of five Days, and then ordered her to have a dozen Lashes, which she had at the Gang-Way of the Ship, and after that sent to the Foretop-mast-head, for four Hours; such is the Cruelty of those that are invested with Power, and do not know how to use it.
However, this Man"s Cruelty did not go unpunished; for after there Arival in _England_, as they were unriging the Ship, one of the Sailors let a Block fall on his Head, which hurt him greatly.
They now, with the _Royal Duke_, sailed from _Montserrat_ to Fort St.
_David_"s, and was there at the Time of the great Hurricane, when the _Namur_ and _Pembroke_, and other Ships were lost: The _Eltham_, of which she was on board, had some Share in the said Hurricane, for she broke her Cables, and was forced to Sea; but happily returned in again to the Port without receiving any great Damage.
Now during her stay here at Fort St. _David_"s, she had frequent Opportunities, and Causes for Reflection: She went on Sh.o.r.e sundry Times along with some of the Men, where her Ears and her Eyes were often affected with the disagreeable Sound of horrible Oaths, and many lewd Actions and Gestures, such as stripping themselves naked, when they went to swim, a Sight, which however disagreeable it might appear to her, yet she was forced to make a Virtue of Necessity, by openly conforming herself to those rude, indiscreet, and unwomanly Actions, which she silently disfavoured and contemned. But here the unpolished Tars had not Opportunities of extending their Wickedness to such a high Pitch as they would have done, had they had Objects to satiate their brutish Appet.i.tes; for there were but a few white Women in the Place; however she saw too much not to be afflicted, lest her s.e.x should by their impudent, and unlimited Behaviour, be discovered, and her Virtue sacrificed to their rapacious, boundless and l.u.s.tful Appet.i.tes; but Innocency and Virtue is the safest Protection in the worst of Times; and this was what sheltered her from the much dreaded Calamity that threatned her.
On the 19th of _November_ last, the _Eltham_ sailed with the rest of the Fleet from Fort St. _David_"s, and kept Company till they came to the Cape of _Good Hope_; when the _Eltham_ had Orders to make the best of her Way to _Lisbon_, to take in Money for the Use of the Merchants of _London_.
The Day after they left Fort St. _David_"s, her Master Lieutenant _Wyegate_ died, in whose Death she lost the only Friend she had on board, and where to find such another, she knew not: This brought afresh into her Mind the Remembrance of her faithless Husband, whole Villainy and Cruelty had drove her to all the Straits, Hardships and Dangers she endured both by Sea and Land, and had reduced her to the wretched State she was then in. These Reflections were sufficient to have sunk the Spirits of the most hardy Hero; but she bore them with a becoming Resignation. She was distinguished amongst the Ship"s Crew for her Ingenuity in washing and mending of Linnen, but as it is common on board of King"s Ships to have some Men who are dexterous at such Performances, she was not suspected upon that Score.