Letters written in France, to a friend in London, between the month of November 1794, and the month of May 1795Tench, Watkin
History
Letters written in France, to a friend in London, between the month of November 1794, and the month of May 1795
Tench, Watkin
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Personal narratives, British; Tench, Watkin, 1759?-1833 -- Correspondence
Soon after Lady Anne Fitzroy, and her brother Mr. Wesley, arrived here.
He who recollects the former courtesy and gallantry of this once
polished nation will scarcely believe, that an attempt could be made to
immure a young, helpless, and beautiful woman, within the walls of a
common prison. “The age of chivalry is indeed no more!” By much
supplication, and after considerable difficulty, her ladyship obtained
permission to hire an apartment in an adjoining house, and to be served
by a _traiteur_ with what she wanted for herself and her attendants. She
was, however, forbidden to hold any communication with the people of the
town, and a sentinel was placed over her to enforce the order. In the
process of her confinement, liberty of walking in a garden, at the back
of her prison, was granted to her ladyship; and this signal indulgence
was followed up with leave to walk in the town, or to be carried in a
sedan which she had borrowed, guarded, however, by her sentinel, lest
her machinations might endanger the republic. The humane beneficence
exerted by Lady Anne and her brother, to all ranks of their poor
countrymen in captivity, are proclaimed here in terms of the most
enthusiastic applause and gratitude. Misery, in whatever shape it
appeared, excited their compassion, and called forth their bounty. They
supplied the unhappy sufferers in the common prison with raiment,
bedding, and food, without which assistance many of them must have
perished.----You will observe, by one of my former letters (which, long
ere this you must have received) that I had not the good fortune to see
her ladyship. Admiral Bligh was more lucky, when he carried his son, in
last January, on board the ship she was in, to receive her protection.
We have known, for some time past, that they arrived safely in England.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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