The Merry Past 



with defrauding a sergeant of Marines of twelve 

 shillings under pretence of enlisting. It appeared 

 she had served as a private in two different regiments 

 for the space of three years ; the first was the Ayr- 

 shire Fencibles, from which when discovered she had 

 been discharged ; the second the Light Dragoons, 

 from which she was also dismissed for the like reason. 

 A number of recruiting-sergeants having been de- 

 frauded by her under like pretences, and the charge 

 being made out to the satisfaction of the magistrate, 

 she was committed to New Prison for trial. 



A few women even served as sailors. 



In 1800 there was in the Middlesex Hospital a 

 young and delicate girl, who called herself Miss 

 Talbot, and who was said to be related to some 

 families of distinction. Her story was very singular. 

 At an early period of her life, having been deprived, 

 by the villainy of a trustee, of a sum of money 

 bequeathed her by a deceased relation of high rank, 

 she followed the fortunes of a young naval officer, to 

 whom she was attached, and personated a common 

 sailor before the mast during a cruise in the North 

 Seas. In consequence of a lovers' quarrel she quitted 

 her ship and assumed for a time male military garb ; 

 but her passion for the sea prevailing, she returned 

 to her favourite element, did good service, and 

 received a severe wound on board Earl St. Vincent's 

 ship on the glorious 14th of February, and again 

 bled in the cause of her country in the engagement 

 off Campcrdown, on which occasion her knee was 

 badly shattered. Another woman of the same name 



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