DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0040
28
kirby’s wonderful museum.
sword in processions in the streets of Paris, and wished for
nothing but actual service; war nobly made, and courage-
ously supported. “ In my eager impatience,” continued this
curious document, “ I have sold every thing but my uniform,
and the sword I wore in the last war, which I wish again to
wear in the present; of my library nothing remains but my
shelves, and the manuscripts of Marshal Vauban, which I
have preserved as an offering to the National Assembly, for
the glory of my country, and the instruction of the brave ge-
nerals employed in her defence. I have been the sport of
nature, of fortune, of war and peace, of men and women, of
the malice and intrigue of courts. I have passed successive-
ly from the state of a girl to that of a boy; from the state of
a man to that of a woman. I have experienced all the odd
vicissitudes of human life. Soon I hope, with arms in my
hands, I shall fly on the wings of liberty and victory to fight
and die for the nation, the law, and the king.” This petition
was interrupted by repeated bursts of applause, ordered to be
honourably mentioned in the minutes, and referred to the mi-
litary committee : but it seems to have procured for the Che-
valier nothing but these unsubstantial honours.
After his last return to England he resided in a most re-
tired manner, partly in a house occupied by Colonel Thorn-
ton, on the Surrey side of Westminster bridge, and latterly in
Millman Street, Foundling Hospital, at the house of Mrs.
Cole, to whose kindness and attention he was indebted for
the principal comforts of his latter days. For the last twp
years he had been in an infirm state of health, and had been
attended by the Pere Elisee, who, during all that time never
suspected him to be a man.
On the night of May 21, 1811, about ten o’clock, he died,
and the Pere coming next day, ascertained by accident his
real sex. Struck with the discovery, he requested some En-
glish surgeons to assist next day in opening the body. Ac-
cordingly, on the 23d, the body was examined and dissected
by Mr. T, Copeland, in the presence of Mr. Adair, Mr.
kirby’s wonderful museum.
sword in processions in the streets of Paris, and wished for
nothing but actual service; war nobly made, and courage-
ously supported. “ In my eager impatience,” continued this
curious document, “ I have sold every thing but my uniform,
and the sword I wore in the last war, which I wish again to
wear in the present; of my library nothing remains but my
shelves, and the manuscripts of Marshal Vauban, which I
have preserved as an offering to the National Assembly, for
the glory of my country, and the instruction of the brave ge-
nerals employed in her defence. I have been the sport of
nature, of fortune, of war and peace, of men and women, of
the malice and intrigue of courts. I have passed successive-
ly from the state of a girl to that of a boy; from the state of
a man to that of a woman. I have experienced all the odd
vicissitudes of human life. Soon I hope, with arms in my
hands, I shall fly on the wings of liberty and victory to fight
and die for the nation, the law, and the king.” This petition
was interrupted by repeated bursts of applause, ordered to be
honourably mentioned in the minutes, and referred to the mi-
litary committee : but it seems to have procured for the Che-
valier nothing but these unsubstantial honours.
After his last return to England he resided in a most re-
tired manner, partly in a house occupied by Colonel Thorn-
ton, on the Surrey side of Westminster bridge, and latterly in
Millman Street, Foundling Hospital, at the house of Mrs.
Cole, to whose kindness and attention he was indebted for
the principal comforts of his latter days. For the last twp
years he had been in an infirm state of health, and had been
attended by the Pere Elisee, who, during all that time never
suspected him to be a man.
On the night of May 21, 1811, about ten o’clock, he died,
and the Pere coming next day, ascertained by accident his
real sex. Struck with the discovery, he requested some En-
glish surgeons to assist next day in opening the body. Ac-
cordingly, on the 23d, the body was examined and dissected
by Mr. T, Copeland, in the presence of Mr. Adair, Mr.