IV-., .f 01 loi 101 7i 0! 31 1 ; 1 • l4: Ferry An epistle from mademoiselle D'Eon to the Right Honorable L — d M d, C f J e of the C t of K — ^s B h Usrc, THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES A N '3snJoj«s Alt EPISTLE FROM Mademoiselle D'Eon TO THE Right Honorable L — d M D, C — F J E OF THE C— T OF K-G's B — H. On his Determination in regard to her Sex. IntermilTa, Venus, diu Rurfus bella moves Non fum qualis erain. HoR. Od. I, Lib. 4. LONDON: Piinted for M, SMITH; and fold by the bookfcUers in the Straxd and PatcrnoJIer-Riiiv. M,DCC,LXXVm. ■"" .\ PR, DEDICATION. To the Ricjht Honorable Lady M***F***D. Madam, np HOUGH, in this age of gallantry, it may feem fomewhat ftranore to deliver a chal- lenee to the hufband into the hands of the wife; yet there is fomething in your ladyfhip's cha- racter that will eafily reconcile this feeming im- propriety. The timidity or jealoufy which mark the greateft part of womankind, would pro- 870S01 probably prevent moll hufbands from receiving fuch a fummons : but there is a noble bold- nefs in your ladyihip's conduct: which is fupe- rior to fuch frailties, and you are fo far from reftraining your hufband peacefully at home, that you are happy when freih occafions call forth in him frefh courage. In this light, and with this idea, Mademoifelle D 'Eon's Epillle to Lord M— f— d is dedicated to you : though at the fame time I cannot but acknowledge it con- tains a propofal fomewhat odd, and what mo- dern falliions only have allowed to be commu- nicated to a wife. As, however, there are fome uninformed people who have no tafte, who may think fome apology neceffary for fuch a Dedi- cation, I am happy in having fo good a one in the detail of your ladylhip's virtues. You are one of thofe few women who can prefer the re- putation of your hufband to any private ad- vantage of your own ; and inftead of being jealous of the lo^■e %\hich your lord univerfally excites, Ml excrtes, you can look on that love with plca- fure, and think it (as it really is) the ftrongeil proof of his lordihip's undoubted greatnefs. It is this temper of mind which marks the fuperiority of your charadler. It is this temper of mind, fo dilTerent from what other women poflefs, which makes you rather glory in hav- ing lefs of your hufband, whilft he is exerting himfelf for the grood of the Public. But if we wanted any further proof of your excellence, we might find it by taking a furvey of your ladyfhip in private life, and in the dif- charge of thofe little domeftic offices which wo- men of your rank are too apt to neglecSl. Tn- ftead of wafting the day on beds of down, and lamenting that the fun dared tQ fnine to inter- rupt lijfi ir:?>'{ THE. EDIT P R E F A C E. 'T^ H E following t'oem was written originally in French by the cekbrated Mademoifellc D'Eon. Deprived by L— d M— f-— d's determination in the Court of King's Bench of the femblance of that man- hood which had long been the fubje<5l of general difpute, and various policies, Oic was obliged to leave England^ and fly to Fj-ance. From that country this Letter was intended to have been fent, as a juft tribute to his Lord- fhip's wifdom and precifion, and at the fame time to conciliate his patronage on her intended return- to Eng- land. After it had been fhev/n to many of her ac- quaintance,, [ 2 ] Who lofl amidft the darkcn'd ray, Like Ajax, vainly call for day. Nor right from wrong difcover : Or emulating Mead or Hulfc, If now you feel poor England's pulfe — — No dodor ever furer ; And pitying her defpairing way. Bring -f Scotch phyiicians into play. Of all complaints to ciircher: Or if than * M—7i-rs felf more great. Full of the fecrets of the ftate. To Change you now repair j Where t Dr. Johnfoii has obfervcd in hi^ Tour through Scotland, tliat though the land is not produ(5live of grafs, it is very fertile in thaflrloii— tTIus reiii;\rk might have been ex- tended to the inhabitants of the country, which though very barren in wits, is very fertile of phyficians. — Thcfe gentlemen having cured all the diforders of their own countrymen, are fo kind to come td town ih droVss 'to aflift us ;- witnefs the extraordi- nary cures with which the London ncwfpapers abpund, and which arc fo notorious, that our very pods and woHsi fpeak of thcni. .':ni [ 'John Fieldirg, who certainly is jrore acquainted with the fubjcd, has plainly fhewn us that ihe fureft way is, to fct •jae thief to catch another. Un« r 7 1 Unvaried flow'd eacli checrlefs day. And oft in tears I ufed to flray Beneath fome lonely lliade ; Yet there impatient to begin, I felt the fpirit * ftir within. And powers above a maid. Oft when my Mother's flern command Would place tlie dillaf in my hand. And houfe-hold's cares would ve« ; Like Cato's daughter fierce and loud, ^ 1 left behind the female croud, " -And tower'd aiove my fex.'" * This fpecies of divinity is not confined to one fex only, -Tor Addiibn informs us» 'it ftirr'd within Cato. Vide Ad V. Scene I. t The people who liften to this fort of fpirit, 'ought to be on their guard, as there isjio faying where thefe inward feelings will lead to. In vain flie gave me girlifli toys, 1 lov'd the company of boys : They were my only theme: With open legs I flrode tlie fteed ; With ftronger arm and fwifter fpeed I pafs'd th' oppofingftream. . Then as they fliew'deach naked charm,. My eager fenfes took th' alarm. And gazed without defign : Then would I look beneath the tide. Lament what Nature had denied, Andcurfe a form like mine. ** 'Tis true, like many a married dame» *• I might aflbrt a common claim, " And wear my hufband's breeches j ** But then I mufl fubmit to n>ftn, •' And that I'm furewas n'er my plan My Lord, I love plain fpeeches. «' But '• But Is there no way left, I fald, *' Can't I be breech'd, and be a maid ?' ** Yes certainly I can :"^ Thus duly reafoaing pro and con, / boldly put the breeches on. And fallied forth a man. At firfl I fear'd my beardlefs face Would bring my manhood to difgracc. And check my promis'd fune ; But when I caft around my view, I found mankind a pigmy crew. All women but in name. But Mars, who always pleas'd a woman, Offer'd me pleafures more than common. And promis'd untried charms : Tire martial fife and gay cockade Soon baniili'd what remain 'd of maid. And fummon'd me to arms. D l.ii;c r -^ Like Pucclle d'Orlcans of old, * I thought all female charms well fold For glory and for plunder; Records could tell each bloody ftory — •• But this a maid may fay before yo«, •f- No man e'er got me under. When at my feet the vanquifh'd lay. Virgins unravifli'd went away; Tho' widows curs'd the hour. Thus I as virtuous and as bold. Like the great Scipio of old Was chafle — for want of power. But when thefe jars and broils were over I could not perfonate the lover. Nor fill the taftlefs void : * It is difficult (0 determine to vVhat particular duty Mademolfelle D'Eon here al- ludes, as Mr. Voltaire mentions that the Pucellc d'Orleans underwent manv duties which were not ftriftly military, tho' probably equally fatiguing. + This indeed is more than the Maid of Orltans could poiTibly affert. And And when with joy each amorous dame Clafp'd to her breaft her wilh'd for fwalfij Poor I was unemploy'd. My adlive foul thus hating rell, Each novel objed ftill carefs'd. As wayward fancy led :- Now warm'd by mad ambition's dreams. To politician's tempting fchemes 1 gave my maiden head^ 'Twas then to Albion's happy plains I bent my way, where Freedom reigns O'er Coblers and o'er Peers > Blefl country ! where in judgment fit O'er virtue, property, and wit. Bawds, Jews, and Auctioneers. E'en t/jere my parts diftinguifli'd grew, Chatham and Chejlerfieldl knew. By more than by their faces y Whcft [ 13 ] "When one was in, t'other was out : The firft was martyr to the Gout, The fecond to the *" Graces- To me the Marquis too was kind. That Marquis who has taught mankind A Wentworth can he frail : Ungrateful Naples to dilfcver •f- Thofe parts for ever and forever, And leave nor head nor tail ! A better fate was old Shebbeare's, V/ho left on ports his forfeit ears, ( Your Lordfl:ip knows the flory ) Yet he furvives fuch foul difgrace, }Iis ears are well fupplied by place, And V/ig conceals the Tory. * M:iJ;m()ircllc ufTertF this fiom her ov/nlknov/Ied^e, as it is well known that fhc ^iiidifi] gracufull poitjiis umlcrLord Ciicftcditlcl. ^ The piii-.ccfs cf Villa-Fraiica v^ith great fir.ccrity informed his Lorclfiiip of her fi- tuiUicn; l)uthe, more ir.ad than Eripcdocles, jumped amidfl. the flames. Satui- [ i'3 ] S-^dw—h, that prince of catch and glee,. With cheating Ray too fmird on me ; Him folly marks her own ; * He blends all bufinefs with his fport, Then hies from kettledrums to court. Now flatefman,. now buffoon,. Lo ! the great man by virtue fir'd, -f- Who nevec but. at founds expir.'d,. Sounds from Italian dames ;: See him burlefque the cares of flate,. Like Nero, mufically great. Fiddling amidfl the flames. * This is fuppofcd to allude to the manner and to the compan-yiawhich his LorJ- (hip takes a furvey of the Briti(h Ports and Navy. Marflial Saxe has indeed obferved, in his military treatifc, that all warlilce operations fhould be conducted with mufic. His Lord/hip is of this opinion, and is never without a full band, caftrati, &c. &c. And there is no doubt but it muft be highly infpiring to the Britifli failor to heur Ten- ducci warble forth " O qui gufto !" t " Lo ! the brave youth by virtue fired ' Who nobly in his coimtry's caufg expired." " Cato. • E' Forr [ '4 ] For mc too many a Brltifti toaft.ii;'| i-iil ,u--:i\»— Z Exhaulied all their charms could boafl.^'rijrsd- Their tears, their fighi in vain i ." Their nets they fpread with nicert; art, olcl sll But little thought a fifter's heart i i Was all they could obtain. ; iUJliv Y;f riCfll - (J 1 oj Dame H-rr—gt-n, with leacherous leer. Inured to fliame, unawed by fear. Would tap me with her fan ; Then would fhe fit and ardent gaze. The ling'rino; fpark would try toraife. And warm me into man. But when flie found on every trial 3he met with nothing but denial, By difappointment bold, J .Tiiu i iC She [ 15 ] She feem'd with hopclefs looks to fay, '* Can one fo form'd for amorous play, *' Poflcfsa heart fo cold ?" * That Profcrpine of Portman-fquare Her darling money did not fpare To bribe me to her arms ; Hungry and fierce flic fprung upon nic. One moment more flie had undone mey-J''" By feeing all my charms. So when fomecat, both grey and blind. Bent to deilroy the vermin kind, A modeft moufe has taken ; . Her confcious tail infures the prize : But quick, the little reptile flies, Andfaves itfelf and bacon--i--'^^'^f^ ^^A ^ * It is fomcthiiig furprlzing that her L:idyfliip flioulJ be aftoniflicd nt any thing cold, when nothing can be well coljpr than licrhulband. •.'113 .»•(( 1 ' •' Thus JK [ i6 J Thus had each nymph of lovclieft ray Pcrceiv'd her arts were thrown away,. And Aill I 'fcaped the fnare :. " Oh! cried ^ack Cavcndijh,. 'tis (o„ ** He's one of us; well,. letJiim go„ '» We'll fuit him tea hair.:' Thefe doubtful accents fcarce I heard',. When .D-/«-r'j pallied forraappear'd,. Like beauty's fetting fun ;. Fondly they clafpt each other's waift. Then talk'd, of Sappho's purer tafte. And, maids themfelves had won. Such. were thc:fcenes, my Lord, I prov'dj * And neither loving nor belov'd, L was my/elf alone ; * This circumdaace tho' fimple in itfelf, rtiay have lome^ weight with his LorWiip, a& he has long been ia the fame fituatioa. Each. [ ^7 ] Each lufly youth rals'd new defire. At every maid's extinguifli'd fire I heav'd an envious moan — And that beft comfort here below, Frirndflaip, it was not mine to know. But doom'd to be undone ; Too fure I found, that fpite of art. And weak difguife, in woman's heart Friendf]iip and Love are one Full many a year was gone and pafl Sinc^ Nature form'd my fwelling breafF, And ftarnpt the woman there; Gave the firft fpark of young defire. Which from the eyes darts liquid fire And curls the wanton hair ■■' Yet never had I known the blifs That follows the impaffion'd kifs. Which man alone can give : Ne'er [ :8 ] Ne'er had I felt that panting, fighing. The warm ccflatic lenfe of dying, Tliat makes it Heaven to live. One night, wlien filence reign'd profound. Save where the Watch forgot his round. And fnor'd tlie hours away; As I with various cares opprefs'd, In vain invok'd propitious reft To chace my griefs away ; Full flowly to my wond'ring view A bloated form of pallid hue. It's jdiapelefs length uprear'd ; It's aged head a mitre wore, A crofier in one hand it bore. The other dead appear 'd. " My child, it cried, difpcll thy grief, ** To give thy bofom widi'd relief, " I leave my Windfor's ihade. ♦' A power r 19 1 <» A power unfeen old K-pp-/ {ends , *' To execute it's awful ends, " And fatisfy a m^Id. «* With pain I fee thy life unblell:» « Thofe tempting limbs, that heaving breaft, *' Ina<5live, unemploy'd, ** Shame ! that thy powecs fliould thus be loft, <*■ All hopes of propagation croft, ** * And Heawns commandment void — ** Thou knoweft not the joys in ftore, *« Which I and many bifliops more, " Full oft perform in common ; «' Strip off" thy breeches, foul difguife !■ « To play the man thy form denies, ** And therefore a£t the woman. riiC'/.j < * This, the eleventh commandment, is in general better obferved than aiiv of tlic other ten, particularly anxongft the clergy. '' A race [ 20 } *•' A race there Is mark'J out by nature, *' As black in morals as in feature, ** The worfhippers of Pelf, " Who exiled roam the fpacious earth, *♦ Conceiv'd in iin, and in their birth. ** Accurs'd by God himfelf. *' No human fympathics they know, *' They never feel another's woe, " Or weep another's pain, " Extortion marks their damned courfe, " They blefs, blafpheme, eat pork, or worfe,, ** They ftarve themfelves for gain: ** All vile diflioneft parts they play, " Pimp, pedlar, audlioneer to-day,. •* Annuitant to-morrow :, '*" Money to them is food and raiments '* Before they lend they aflc foe payment, " And do all things but— borrow,. St Such. [ 21 ] *' Such men, my child, are lawful prize^ ** Heaven grants to you the facrifice, " No-pafchal lamb but gold: ** Your doubtful fex becomes the bet, '* The infurance is already fet *^ Accept it and be bold. * ** So fliall applauding parents lee *f Their fpendthrift heirs preferv'd by thee^ *' Nor.weep their:rnorgaged_halL> - . " Swindlers fkall cwfe thy native morn,. " By thee whole fynagogues fliall mourn,. " t-A-n'^^^^^'&felf fliallfalL * This Is a fpecies o fortitude; tl^^^is pepiiliartdNe'wmarJLet, White's, Almack'sr and other fafliionr.ble places, and feems perfedly independent either of the nerves or a fear of fhame. It has frequently bsppcned'tltat fonie of the nipft notorioift cowards have poffefied it, and at the moment they have felt themfelves the moft bold, have tamely fubmitted to be kicked out of the ropim. , ...;.. ' •f''TH^ Editor has fearched every fcriptural record, but cannot find any mention of this overthrow of the Synagogue. u Ewt ( « 1 • *' But if there's one yet biaflcd more " Tlian all his tribe, 'tis S-lv-d-re, *' Of him you mufl: be^};^&te: ** On his white beard fits hoary fin, " Foul Letchery wrinkles his old chin, " Plots lurk in every hair. " Mark what I fay, he'll feign the lover, ** And if he can yourfex difcover; " For well he woman knows ; " Be yours to glean the remnant treat, " What RutiJ began, do you complete, ** And fill the bankrupt's woes, " What tho' all Juda's fclf combine, '* Attornies with attornies join, " To counteradl the laws i ft Yet r 23 1 ** Yet that wife Judge, who hates Jews mor« ** Than ever * Scotchman did before, ** Will vindicate your caufe. "* Hail ! thou produftion mofl uncommon, ** Woman half-man and man half-woman !" . More he would have fpoke. When the pale light of the morning's dawa Quick glancing o'ei* the Biiliop's lawn. He vaniih'd into fmoke. I rofe— and true to his predidion I found, my Lord, the thing no fidion :- You iilued your avvard, * It is remarkable that there never was a Jew feen in Scotland, Whether this arifcs from the fterility of the country, or from the acutcncfs of the Scotch themfelves, hi- iherto remains a doubt. O fc- [ 2+ ] fccond Daniel ! 'tis to you 1 owe the fpoils of many a Jew, And maiden-hood reflor'd^ When Law had given me every thing,. Honour cried, " go, enrich your king." Where devil drives nseds muji is. Away to France I therefore fped. There found I Lewis gone to bed, * In order to do Juflicc, But that cold Prince, a Jofeph h#K Blufh'd to behold a maid fo free,' And tura'dhishead afidej: * Madcmoifelle here alludes to the Beds of Juftice, which the French kings were ufed tohold on certain occafions. It has been thought that his prefent moft Chriftian ma- jcfty will drop the cuftom, as he finds he cannot give fatisfadlion in that fituation. All [ ^5 1 All loft on him were charms divine. His royal confort look'd at mine, Then view'd herfelf, and figh'd, • Sick of a land where art, not nature. Forms every thing, and every creature; One general mafquerade : To Albion's happier climes I come Your kind reply fixes my doom. Nor let it be delay'd ! To find for your old age one pleafure, I offer now my virgin treafure, Virtue without a flaw: Too long the fport of all mankind. One fafe afylum let me find, T'/6r bojhm of the Law. H And [ ^6 }, I And the ftale partner of your life. Who long has bornethe nanie of wife. Now caret not howflae's put on j * Turn'd out — fiic'll fiirc rcfign her place. Your Lordlhip too loves a new face. And younger charms to glut on— The wond'ring world when they fhall fee You on the genial bed with me. Will praife your refolution. And as if boil'd in -f* magic kettle. You'll iffue forth with added mettle, AUbrafs and conftitution. * For the meaning of this afk Sir William Merediths ■\ Infirmum do6ta novare fenem Medea's Receipt . ih;l li \ And [ 27 J And tho' the courts (hould be furpended, Tho' lawyers wait the bufiiiefs ended. And think youwond'rous long j What then ? The world well knows you hear. With patient * flirug and callous ear. The cenfures of the Throng,. * Still have I borne it with a patient fhrug ; For fufFerance is the badge of all our tribe,. Shakefpear's Merchant of Venice. FINIS. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 • Box 951388 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. THE LUMiAPTY ^^^,-., lJl.iyEK™v£cAL»X)RNIA. 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