FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   >>  
arly stated in terms derived from the English language exclusively, will generally be both intelligible and interesting to the lower classes. They do not want acuteness, or power of attending; it is their vocabulary only which is confined, and if we address them in such words as they understand, we may tell them what truths we please, and reason with them as subtlely as we can." _Chelsea Heroines._--In the year 1739 was interred in the college burying-ground, Christian Davies, alias Mother Ross, who, according to her own narrative, served in several campaigns under King William and the Duke of Marlborough, and behaved with signal bravery. During the latter part of her life she resided at Chelsea, where her third husband was a pensioner in the college: at this time she subsisted, as she tells us, principally on the benevolence of the quality at court, whither she went twice a-week in a hackney-coach, old age and infirmities having rendered her unable to walk. The famous Hannah Snell, whose history is recorded in various publications of the year 1750, was actually at that time put upon the out-pensioners list at Chelsea, on account of the wounds which she received at the siege of Pondicherry. Her singular story excited a considerable share of public attention; and she was engaged to sing, and perform the military exercises at various places of public entertainment: soon afterwards she married one Eyles, a carpenter at Newbury. A lady of fortune, who admired the heroism and eccentricity of her conduct, having honoured her with particular notice, became godmother to her son, and contributed liberally to his education. Mrs. Eyles, to the day of her death, continued to receive her pension, which, in the year 1786, was augmented by a special grant to a shilling a day. In the latter part of her life she discovered symptoms of insanity, and was admitted a patient into Bethlehem-hospital, where she died, Feb. 8, 1792, aged 69 years. _Longevity of Chelsea Pensioners_.--The following records are collected from among the epitaphs in the college burying-ground: Thomas Azbey, died .. 1737 aged .. 112 Captain Laurence .... 1765 ........ 95 Robert Cumming ...... 1767 ....... 116 Peter Dowling ....... 1768 ....... 102 A soldier who had fought at the battle of the Boyne ............... 1772 ....... 111 Peter Bennet, of Tinmouth .................... 1773 ....... 107 _Cholera._--During the lat
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   >>  



Top keywords:

Chelsea

 

college

 

ground

 

burying

 
public
 

During

 

considerable

 

excited

 

contributed

 

Pondicherry


singular

 

education

 

liberally

 
notice
 
carpenter
 
Newbury
 

engaged

 

married

 

perform

 

places


exercises

 

entertainment

 

continued

 
honoured
 

military

 

godmother

 
conduct
 
eccentricity
 

fortune

 
admired

attention
 

heroism

 
insanity
 

Cumming

 
Robert
 

Dowling

 

Captain

 
Laurence
 

soldier

 

Tinmouth


Cholera

 
Bennet
 

fought

 

battle

 
Thomas
 

epitaphs

 

symptoms

 

discovered

 
received
 

admitted