But after 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 forementioned Moody, 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.
Now upon 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 of Cumberland, 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 Colonel Napier, 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 of Chelsea College, to which she is entitled.
Now, notwithstanding this our Heroine has at sundry Times appeared upon a publick Stage since her Return to England, 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 a Pamella, &c. no, her Virtues have displayed their Lustre in the remotest Corner of the World, the once fam’d Asia. It was here she performed such noble Deeds, as will cause her Name and Fame to be revered to latest Posterity: Here is the real Pamella to be to found, who in the midst of thousands of 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 that James Gray was Mrs. Hannah Snell. See her making for fair Asia’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 romantick Pamella, I own I am mistaken, and shall leave them to the Judgment of the impartial Reader. This is a real Pamella; the other a counterfeit; this Pamella is 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 shall conclude 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 upon her 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.
The Adventures of this Female Soldier, as the like is not to be parallelled in History, should never be forgot by our British Ladies, but whenever satirized by any of the Masculine Gentry, they should always have this Repartee ready, Remember Hannah Snell.
I shall now 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.
As this Treatise was done in a Hurry from Hannah 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.