I knowthe Reader will be desirous to know how the Ball was extracted out of her Groin, and will imagine, that it was next to an Impossibility it could be performed without a Discovery. Now to rectify the Scruples of such, I shall relate this Account as attested by herself; which she said was, that after she received the twelve Wounds, as before mentioned, she remained all that Day, and the following Night in the Camp, before she was carried to the Hospital, and after she was brought there, andlaid in a Kit, she continued till next Day in the greatest Agony and Pain, the Ball still remaining in the Flesh of that Wound in her Groin, and how to extract it she knew not, for she had not discovered to the Surgeons that she had any other Wound than those in her Legs. This Wound being so extreme painful, it almost drove her to the Precipice of Despair; she often thought of discovering herself, that by that Means she might be freed from the unspeakable Pain she endured, by having the Ball taken out by one of the Surgeons; but that Resolution was soon banished, and she resolved to run all Risques, even at the hazard of her Life, rather than that her Sex should be known. Confirmed in this Resolution, she communicated her Design to a black Woman, who attended upon her, and could get at the Surgeons Medicines, and desired her Assistance; and her Pain being so very great, that she was unable to endure it much longer, she intended to try an Experiment upon herself, which was, to endeavour to extract the Ball out of that Wound; but notwithstanding she discovered her Pain and Resolution to this Black, yet she did not let her know that she was a Woman. The Black readily came, and afforded her all the Assistance she could, by bringing her Lint and Salve to dress the Wound with, which she had recourse to, it being left in the Wards where the Patients lay; for which Act of Friendship she made her a Present of a Rupee at her Departure, which is 3s.4d.of the Currency of that Country, but here inEnglandit goes for no more than 2s.6d.Now the Manner in which she extracted the Ball was full hardy and desperate: She prob’d the Wound with her Finger till she came where the Ball lay, and then upon feeling it, thrust in both her Finger and Thumb, and pulled it out. This was a very rough Way of proceeding with ones own Flesh; but of two Evils, as she thought, this was the least, so rather chusing to have her Fleshtore and mangled than her Sex discovered. After this Operation was performed, she applied some of the healing Salves which the Black had brought her, by the help of which she made a perfect Cure of that dangerous Wound.
TheReader will here observe, the invincible Courage and Resolution of this Woman, who in the midst of so many Inconveniences as she daily encounter’d, should still be able to guard herself from a discovery of her Sex; but indeed it appears she acted so artfully on every Emergency, as rendered any Attempts of this Kind abortive; for notwithstanding the Wound she received in her Groin was the most dangerous of all the others, yet that was the only Wound she kept from the Knowledge of the Surgeons, by telling them, when they came to examine her, that all the Wounds she had received were in her Legs which they readily believed; and by that Means prevented any farther Search.
Observehere the Steadiness and Intrepidity wherewith she overcame all the Pains and Dangers which assaulted her. Who would not in the midst of so much Agony and Pain as she felt here, broke through the strongest and most virtuous Resolutions in order to obtain immediate Relief? But she remained still inflexible in the midst of every Affliction wherewith she was environed, no Consideration could ever prevail upon her in her own Mind to deviate from the Resolutions she had imbibed upon her first Launching out, and which, though it cost her many a painful Hour, yet by her steady Adherence to these Principles, she obtained a Conquest over near five Years adverse Fortune.
Nowhaving satisfied the Reader’s Doubts in Regard to the Methods she used to conceal her Sex from the Knowledge of any about her, on theseparticular Occasions, when she was most exposed,viz.the twice she was whipt, and upon the dressing of her Wounds, which were Times I say, when Danger was at the Door ready to burst in, and plunder the Habitation of its most valuable Furniture; I shall next proceed, to shew the Reader some Transactions that has occur’d since she came toLondon.
Tho’she had not discovered her Sex to any besides her Brother in Law, her Sister, and the young Woman with whom she lodged; she was very uneasy, fearing, lest a further Discovery should be made, and she thereby deprived of her Soldier’s Pay. This Motive induced her to conceal herself as much as possible, till she had received her Pay, (being 15 Pounds) which she accordingly did on theSaturdayafter her Arrival inLondon, being the 9th Day ofJune, when she, with SerjeantOrley,John Hutchins,James Moody,Andrew Grey, and the rest of the Marines that came toLondonwith her, went to the AgentJohn Winter, Esq; inDowning-Street, Westminster; where being all paid and discharged, they went to an Alehouse, the Fighting-Cocks, next Door to Mr.Winter’s House, and there she first discovered herself to her Comrades. There being two Suits of Cloathing due to her from the Regiment, she also sold them for 16s.being glad to get hold of all the Money she could before her Sex was discovered.
Now upon receiving her Pay, and all her fellow Adventures then present, she thought that was the most proper Opportunity she ever could have, for disclosing her Sex, seeing they could then testify the Truth of all the Fatigues, Dangers and other Incidents of her Adventures, and that her Sex was never discovered, which if then omitted, she might never have an Opportunity of seeing them all together again, and by that Means, the Account of her Adventures as aforesaid, might be lookt uponby the Publick as fictitious: These Considerations prevailed upon her to embrace the then seasonable Occasion, for discovering herself, before they took a final Leave; she therefore proposed to them to make merry before they parted, which was agreed to by one and all of them, as they expected never to meet altogether any more; and then she discovered herself to the whole Company which caused a universal Surprise amongst them all.
Butafter they had recovered themselves from this sudden Emotion, which the aforesaid surprizing Information had thrown them into, they could hardly be prevailed upon to believe the Truth of what she advanced, until her Brother and Sister undeceived them, by informing them of the whole Transaction. Upon which, they all with one Voice sounded forth her Praise, by applauding her Courage as a Soldier, her Dexterity as a Sailor, her humane Deportment and Sincerity as a Friend, having performed many good Offices towards them in Times of their Sickness, and upon every other Opportunity. They expatiated much upon the Evenness of her Temper, the Regularity of her Conduct, and the many Dangers and Hardships she underwent, without ever shewing the least sign of Discontent with her Situation. These Encomiums once over, the forementionedMoody, who had been her Bedfellow two Nights, and was present at this Discovery, became of a sudden so much enamoured with her, that he proposed to marry her, which she refused, upon reflecting what a bad Husband she formerly had, and who had been the Instrument of all her Misfortunes, therefore for his sake she resolved, in the Mind she was then in, never to engage with any Man living.
Nowupon the Discovery of her Sex, her Relations, and some of her intimate Friends, advised her to apply by a Petition to his Royal Highness the Duke ofCumberland, not doubting but that his Highness would make some proper Provision for her, as she had received so many Wounds. Upon which a Petition was drawn up, setting forth her Adventures, and the Hardships she underwent, together with the many Wounds she received, which she was the Bearer of herself, and coming where his Royal Highness then was in his Landau, accompanied by ColonelNapier, she delivered her Petition to his Royal Highness, and upon his perusing it, gave it to the Colonel, desiring him to enquire into the Merits. So that it is not doubted but his Royal Highness will make her some handsome Allowance, exclusive ofChelseaCollege, to which she is entitled.
Now, notwithstanding this our Heroine has at sundry Times appeared upon a publick Stage since her Return toEngland, and diverted the Auditors with a Song or two, in order to procure a little Money, wherewith to support her present necessary Expences, yet the Publick we hope will encourage her, if she should have a Benefit Play perform’d on her own Account, as an Encouragement for the many singular Adventures, and signal Deliverances from the many Perils and Dangers that environed her, and all in the Behalf of her Country: Her Merit I think is such as is sufficient to set her upon a Level with the most celebrated Ladies of antient Times. She is not to be put in the Lists with the fictitious and fabulous Stories of aPamella, &c. no, her Virtues have displayed their Lustre in the remotest Corner of the World, the once fam’dAsia. It was here she performed such noble Deeds, as will cause her Name and Fame to be revered to latest Posterity: Here is the realPamellato be to found, who in the midst of thousandsof the Martial Gentry, preserved her Chastity by the most virtuous Stratagems that could be devised: Next behold her upon the Ocean, surrounded with Storms, Tempests and Hurricanes, every Moment expecting the watery Element should prove her Tomb; and as an Addition to her wretched Situation, she was intermixed with the hardy resolute Tars, who soon would have batter’d down the Fort of her Virtue, had they discovered thatJames Graywas Mrs.Hannah Snell. See her making for fairAsia’s ancient Shore, with all the speed that Canvas Wings could carry her; and going aloft and discharging the Duty of a skilful Mariner; afterwards upon the Poop and Quarter Deck exercising her small Arms, as an able and experienced Soldier: Then when the Enemy were attacked, firing her Pontoons, brandishing her Sword, receiving dangerous Wounds, and spilling her precious Blood: If these, together with many more Circumstances, are not Virtues infinitely surpassing the Adventures and Virtues of our romantickPamella, I own I am mistaken, and shall leave them to the Judgment of the impartial Reader. This is a realPamella; the other a counterfeit; thisPamellais real Flesh and Blood, the other is no more than a Shadow: Thefore let this our Heroine, who is the Subject of this History, be both admired and encouraged.
I shallconclude this Subject, with observing, that notwithstanding the many Reflections thrown upon the Fair Sex on Account of their Weakness in Point of Secret, the Conduct of our Heroine in this Particular is a plain and demonstrative Proof of this Truth, that a Woman is not only capable of confining a Secret in her Bosom, but actually do so upon sundry Emergences, seeing she concealed her Sex in the midst of the greatest Dangers and Hardships; no Difficulties, no Pains, no Terrors, nor Prospect of future Calamities, could prevail uponher to discover a Secret, which, if once divulged, might have proved more fatal to her Repose, than all the Difficulties she had undergone during the past Course of her Adventures.
TheAdventures of this Female Soldier, as the like is not to be parallelled in History, should never be forgot by ourBritishLadies, but whenever satirized by any of the Masculine Gentry, they should always have this Repartee ready,RememberHannah Snell.
I shallnow conclude with informing the Publick, that she still continues to wear her Regimentals; but how she intends to dispose of herself, or when, if ever, to change her Dress, is more than what she at present seems certain of.
FINIS.
Asthis Treatise was done in a Hurry fromHannah Snell’s own Mouth, and directly committed to the Press, occasioned by the Impatience of the Town to have it published, it is not doubted but that such Part of it as appears somewhat incorrect, will be candidly overlook’d, that, being made up in the Veracity and Fulness of her surprising Adventures; the like not to be met with in the Records of Time.
Asthis Treatise was done in a Hurry fromHannah Snell’s own Mouth, and directly committed to the Press, occasioned by the Impatience of the Town to have it published, it is not doubted but that such Part of it as appears somewhat incorrect, will be candidly overlook’d, that, being made up in the Veracity and Fulness of her surprising Adventures; the like not to be met with in the Records of Time.