LIBRARY ILLUSTRATIVE OF SOCIAL PROGRESS.
FROM THE ORIGINAL EDITIONS
COLLECTED BY THE LATE
HENRY THOMAS BUCKLE,
AUTHOR OF
"A HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION IN ENGLAND."
No. 1.
EXHIBITION
OF
Female FLAGELLANTS
IN THE
Modest and Incontinent World.
Proving from Indubitable FACTS,
That a Number of Ladies take a Secret Pleasure,
In WHIPPING their own,
And CHILDREN committed to their care ;
and that their PASSION
for EXERCISING and FEELING the
PLEASURE of a BIRCH-ROD,
from objects of their CHOICE,
OF BOTH SEXES,
is to the full as PREDOMINANT,
as that of MANKIND.
Now Firft Publifhed,
From Authentic Anecdotes, French and English, found in a
Ladfs Cabinet,
LONDON:
Printed for G. Peacock, No. 66 Drury Lane.
mdcclxxvii
I
V.I
EXHIBITION
o f
Female Flagellants, &c.
MERE fiction (fays Clariffa, clofing the Fafhion-
able Lectures, which flie had been iuft read-
ing), ridiculous nonfence!—What, my dear ? faid Flir-
tilla, turning round from her toilet. Is it poflible, my
dear, faid the firft lady, that men delight in being
whipped by a woman? Very true, indeed, faid
Flirtilla; and what you may think as extraordinary,
many of your own fex take as great delight in whip-
ping children ; and when they are not in the way
they make each other feel the tingling pleafures of a.
birch rod.
If you doubt my affertion, I will bring you proof
pofitive—and the very lady will be of our tea-party
this evening. If you fhould not credit her testimony,
my
( 6 ]
my affertion fhall be ftrengthened by that of two
ladies—old practitioners in this mode of pleafure.
This paffion, or whim, in woman, is of older birth
than you can imagine; and as the fair hand and arm
of a lady is a principal object in the fcene, I fhall
turn to Mrs. Behn's glowing defcription of one of her
favourite ladies :—" The beautiful colour and propor-
tion of your arm is inimitable, and your hand is
dazzling, fine, fmall, and plump! long-pointed fingers
delicately turned ; dimpled on the fnowy outfide, but
adorned within with rofe, all over the foft palm. O,
Iris ! nothing equals your fair hand—that hand, of
which Love fo often makes fuch ufe to draw his bow,
when he would fend the arrow home with more fuccefs ;
and which irrefiftibly wounds thofe, who poffibly have
not yet feen your eyes: and when you have been
veiled, that lovely hand has gained you a thoufand
adorers! and I have heard Damon fay, without the
aid of more beauties, that alone had been fufficient to
have made an abfolute conqueft o'er his foul. And
he has often vowed it never touched him but it made
his blood run with little irregular motions in his veins.
:-Jr
his breath beat fhort and double, his blufhes rife, and
his very foul dance !"
There,
r 7 ]
There, my dear! there's a charming defcription for
you ! What magic in every fentence! What genius
could foar beyond it ? Is there a heart exifting but
would bound with rapture on feeing fuch a hand
exercife a rod ? Blefs me, faid Clariffa, you talk as
if you were as fond of the fport as the moft enthu-
fiaftic of them. I confefs it freely, faid Flirtilla, I am
fond of it to excefs, when the object inflames my
blood and adminifters it with irrefiftiblegrace! Grace!
grace! faid Clariffa; I proteft I cannot comprehend
your meaning. Know, then, thou filly girl, there is a
manner in handling this fceptre of felicity that few
ladies are happy in: it is not the impaffioned and
awkward brandifh of a vulgar female that can charm,
but the deliberate and elegant manner of a woman of
rank and fafhion, who difplays all that dignity in
every action, even to the flirting of her fan, that leaves
an indelible wound. What a difference between high
and low life in this particular! To fee a vulgar
woman, when provoked by her children, feize them
as a tyger would a lamb, rudely expofe their pofteriors,
and correct them with an open hand, or a rod more
like a broom than a neat collection of twigs elegantly
tied together; while a well-bred lady coolly and de-
liberately
[ 8 ]
liberatcly brings her child or pupil to tafk ; and when
in error, fo as to deferve punifhment, commands the
incorrigible Mifs to bring her the rod, go on her
knees, and beg, with uplifted hands, an excellent
whipping; which ceremony gone through, fhe com-
mands her to lye acrofs her lap, or to mount on her
maid's moulders; and then, with the lovelieft hands
imaginable, removes every impediment from the
whimpering lady's b-e; who, all the time, with
tears and intreaties of the fweeteft kind, implores her
dear mother or governefs to pardon her; all which
the lovely difciplinarian liftens to with the utmoft
delight—running over with rapture, at the fame time,
thofe white angelic orbs, that in a few minutes fhe
crimfons as deep as the fineft rofe, with a well-exer-
cifed and elegantly-handled rod !
Mifs B—ge—n, a corpulent but handfome woman,
with whom I patted many pleafant hours at Briftol
Hot Wells, was pamonately fond of this exercife..
Her ftory has fomewhat very fingular in it.
She had been addreffed, under the age of five-and-
twenty, by an officer of Cavalry, who, when he had
brought
[ 9 J
brought matters to a clofure, boafted of favours fhe
had granted him, of iuch a complexion, that fhe
renounced him and all his lex for ever. No woman
can hold the monfter, man, in greater abhorrence, and
fhe has the moft fingular mode ot retaliating upon
the fex you have ever heard 01. It made me flare
with aftonifhment
Sitting with her one evening, a fmart youth, her
nephew, between twelve and fourteen years old, and
too big, as I imagined, for chaflifement from a woman,
entered the room crying, with a complaint againft his
fitter, who was a great favourite with the lady: fhe
brought them face to face, and it clearly appeared he
was the aggreffor. Mifs B. difmiffed the young lady,
and rifing from her chair, fhe brought a rod from a
drawer, and, with the utmoft coolnefs, commanded
him to ftrip. The boy, well acquainted, we may fup-
pofe, with her temper, ufed no entreaties for pardon,
and though I imagined he could, from his fize, get the
better of her in a flruggle, yet he never ufed any, but
with feeming pleafure unbuttoned his breeches; and,
walking undaunted up to her, fhe pulled them down
to his heels, and inftantly flretched him along the
fopha,
r io j
fopha, where fhe whipped him with a feverity I had
never feen before; and what amazed me was, the boy
would not acknowledge himfelf in error to the laft;
and arofe with more pleafure in his countenance than
anguifh.
As foon as he had gone out of the room, I told her
my furprife at his intrepidity ; and fhe affured me
Jhe
could never get a tear from him, though he had been
feverely whipped once or twice by his fchooimafter,
and cried even on his return home. Depend upon it,
faid I, this boy is fond of being whipped by a woman.
She faid fhe could not think fo, for fhe had whipped
him with fuch feverity at all times, that it muft have
given him more pain than pleafure. Why, yes, replied
I, from your manner of exercifing the rod, I am con-
vinced you whip with feverity; and I think, at the
fame time, you take a very particular pleafure in this
bufinefs.
I have been now ufed to it for fome years, faid fhe;
and what will furprife you, my dear girl, I got fuch
applaufe from a lady not long ago, who had been
prefent at a fimilar fcene, that as foon as the boy left
the
I II J
the room, fhe embraced me, and preffing my hand
with tranfport, begged I would fuffer her to reprefent
my niece.
I could not conceive what fhe was at till fhe
dropped on her knees, implored, with flreaming eyes
(for fhe abfolutely cried), forgivenefs from her dear
aunt for infulting her, and declaring fhe would never
offend me again. All the time fhe was on her knees
fhe was kiffing my hand with greater ecftacy than it
had ever been kiffed before. Still I thought fhe
imitated the child, and was in jefl, till fhe—finding
me tardy, or rather, ignorant of her meaning—bounced
away to the table where I had placed the rod, and,
putting it into my hand, begged forgivenefs in the
fame lunatic manner.
She had gone too far now for me to be ignorant
any longer of her meaning; fo I inftantly got up, put
on an air of aufterity and paflion; raifed her clothes
above her waift; and, having flretched her along the
fopha, I made her caper under the rod for full ten
minutes, with fhort intermiflions, which arofe from her
frequently feizing hold of the rod, kiffing my hand,
looking
I » J
looking up to me with tears, begging earneffcly for-
givenefs, and every other extravagance that children
ufe in the fame fituation.
As foon as fhe was done, and when I thought fhe
had recovered her fenfes, I importuned her to tell me
the firft rife of fuch an extraordinary whim.
She told me fhe was placed under the tuition of a
beautiful French Governefs a fhort while after her
arrival from the Weft Indies (for fhe was a Creole),
and this Gallic lady frequently exercifed the rod on
her, but in fuch a manner that fhe abfolutely grew
fond of it; and ere fhe had been her pupil one year,
they admiftered it almoft every day on both fides;
and Hie could never fee a woman of elegance, with a
hand and arm fhe liked, without wifhing and feeking
the pleafure from her.
Upon my honour, Mifs B., faid I, you muft then
have been one of her firft favourites, for you are not
only bleffed with one of the moft bewitching perfons,
and the fweeteft expreffion of feature, but you may
challenge the female world, and come off the victor,
1 n
t n ]
in exhibiting your fnowy hand and arm, and the
plump beauties of your bofom!
Do you really think fo, my dear ? faid fhe, with a
magic fmile, looking at her hand, and turning a beau-
tiful brilliant ring which fhe then wore.
To convince you I am ferious, I will efteem it a
particular favour to tafte the fame felicity from your
hands this moment.
Heavens ! my dear, you jefl.
No, upon my honour, I do not; and to convince
you I am ferious, I will go into the next room—from
which place you muft bring me to the fopha (finding
me idling there), and ufe me as you did your nephew
juft now.
And were you mad enough, faid Clariffa, to go
through this torture ?
Rapture! Rapture! my fweet girl—call it by no
other term. The moment I faw her enter the room,
where
where (he caught me romping by myfelf, and felt her
foft angelic hand catch hold of my arm to bring me
to the fopha, my blood mantled within me as if I had
been in a fever: but there was another charm about
her that enraptured me, which was her drefs : for
drefs certainly heightens this pleafure with both fexes.
This evening we were both engaged to go to a ball,
and fhe had dreffed herfelf in a very elegant manner.
To be brief, my dear girl, I was whipped by this lovely
woman, not only then, but feveral times fince, in fuch
a charming manner, that I fhall never think of her but
with the utmofb delight; and there is not a lady who
was afterwards of our fociety, or whipping academy,
but was delighted with her manner; and fhe herfelf,
before fhe had whipped me a third time, took a liking
to the fport from my hands, and was as much in love
with it.
She had the prettied manner of tying a rod, and
felected the niceft twigs that ever you faw. And now
that I recollecl, I protefl I can fliew you one of them
fhe gave me to remember her, the very laft time I had
the happinefs of being in her company.
Here it is, faid Flirtilla, tied, by her own magic hand,
with
C is ]
with a pink ribbon ; and now, that I am in the humour,
you mail exercife it on me !
You are a fine fhowy girl; and I think this lovely
hand of yours would do honour to the rod ! Come,
my dear Clariffa, don't refufe me.
I am afraid I mall be a bungler, faid the blufhing
charmer; I never whipped any one in my life.
Come, then, faid Flirtilla, you mall turn up; and
from the fpecimen you tafte.from my hands, you will
know how to act.
O fie! faid Clariffa, upon my honour you fhall not
lift my clothes—indeed, faid the fair one ftruggling,
you fhall not.—For Heaven's fake, Flirtilla, let me
alone ! I won't be whipped, upon my honour.
Then you muit prove yourfelf the flronger of the
two, faid Flirtilla, who had by this time not only
carried her into her bed-chamber, but had her flretched
upon the bed.
Upon my honour, faid Flirtilla, I'll only tickle you
as
[ 16 ]
as if you were a child—fo keep your legs (till till I
raife your petticoats.
You fhan't raife them! laid ClariiTa, plunging. I
will raile them, faid Flirtilla, I am refolved; and with
a little more ftruggling, the whole profpect was as
much in view as Eve's in the garden ot Eden. You
fee, faid Flirtilla, I am as good as my word, and your
pretty a—e fhall feel, too, what a flep-mother can do
to a bold girl! yes, my pretty Mifs, you fhall, I am
determined. Flirtilla exercifed the rod, with fome
paufes and admonitions, for a full quarter of an hour,
which Clariffa bore with feeming pleafure; and rofe to
take it in hand perfectly well pleafed.
She inflantly, by defire, affumed the character of
Flirtilla's Governefs, and having flretched her, with
fome feeming reluctant flruggles on the part of Flir-
tilla, on the bed, fhe uncovered to the waift the plump-
eft, faireft, and mod beautiful pofteriors that ever
charmed mankind. Clariffa herfelf flood entranced at
the lovely view, and fufpended the rod, till Flirtilla,
impatient for the delightful combat, cried out like a
terrified child, O, my dear, lovely Governefs, forgive
me!
me! Don t wnip me this time, pray don't! you'll
find me an excellent girl in future; and I'll never
defervc a whipping from your lovely hand ! Indeed,
I won't.-In this manner fhe continued to implore
forgivenefs, kicking and plunging the whole time, till
Clariffa was almoft weary tickling her with the rod.
She tnen got up, embraced her, and vowed fhe
would not reft till fhe introduced her to her whipping
intimates, as fhe had proved herfelf an excellent dif-
ciplinarian with the rod.
That evening, faid Clariffa (from whofe manufcripts
and converfation thefe anecdotes are collected), Flir-
tilla introduced me to Lady Caroline, who received
me with every mark of high-breeding, and infifted on
my fupping with her. There were but four of her tea-
party remained to fupper—viz., Flirtilla, Lady Caro-
line, Mademoifelle Boc-e, and myfelf.
We had not been half-an-hour by ourfelves, when
Flirtilla, with an archness peculiar to herfelf, intro-
duced me to Lady Caroline as her ftep-daughter jufl
arrived from a boarding-fchool; and, looking fignifl-
cantly
h
[ 18 }
cantly at Ma'emoifelle, You are in future, faid fhe,
my dear woman, to fuperintend and finifh her educa-
tion. I have had her under my care fome time, and
affure you fhe is an excellent girl, particularly after a
good whipping, which I have given her fometimes.--
My dear Lady Caroline, I hope you will excufe me.
She is now under your dominion: I have complied
with your requeft in bringing her home, and I doubt not
but the young lady will find a tender and an affectionate
ftep-mother in you. I fhall treat her according to her
deferts, I affnre you, faid Lady Caroline. I have held it
an unpardonable crime, when a girl deferves chaftife-
ment, to withhold the rod ; and I affure you, upon my
honour, it gives me particular pleafure to exercife it
on unruly boys and girls. I am to the full as fond of
whipping bold children as the lovely Mrs. E--.
She has a mofl bewitching manner indeed, faid
Ma'emoifelle, and I know none but your ladyfhip
that excels her.
Pardon me, my lovely woman, faid Lady Caroline,
you leave all our fex at a confiderable diftance when
you have an object you admire under correction.
How
[ 19 J
How have I feen my little brother, your pupil, wnom
you confefs to be palTionatcly fond of whipping, gaze
on you with rapture, during the many ftruggles you
have had, letting down his troufers! Who could
behold unmoved the brilliancy of your eyes, the
lovely caft of your features, the fall of your fhoulders
and the rifing of your bofom, elegant as a Grecian
Venus! You remember my compliment when you
firft charmed me with the rod in the character of a
.governefs—
All things around with beams of beauty mine
And rofes fpring beneath your feet divine;
What awful luftre lightens from your face !
Which proves thee, charmer, of celeflial race
Very pretty indeed, faid Flirtilla, and admirably
well applied. But, pray, who is this Mrs. E- you
mentioned jufb now; I never heard of her before ?
Mrs E- was bred in a convent. Her parents
were Roman Catholics, and having no daughter but
her, they foolifhly imagined a convent education far
fuperior to any this country could boafl. There fhe
lived till fhe had gained her five-and-twentieth year,
at which time her father died, and fhe found herfelf
in
b 2
[ 20 ]
in poffeiTion of twenty-five thoufand pounds. At
the importunities of a »ond mother, who went to
fee her once every year, fhe vifited England, and
being a girl of good fortune, it is not to be wondered
at that fhe had a crowd of admirers. In her vifits,
(he was very much taken with that part of a widower's
family that in general is iound mod difagreeable, at
lead to young ladies,
his dindren. She obferved
they were indulged by a weak father in everything,
and were confequently very disobedient and unruly.
Upon this gentleman, though verging on forty, the
fixed her affections, and being a woman of un-
governable fpirit. fhe was happy to find him an eafy
pufillanimous creature. The match was icarcely men-
tioned when it was concluded on, and in a lew days.
after, fhe found herfelf in the ieat of empire in his
home. She had fix little lubjecls to govern, three
of which were then at fchool in Hereiordfhire, which
were inftantly ordered home, as fhe laid fhe would
undertake to ilnifh their education, which, indeed, was
in her power, for fhe was a very fenfible woman ; but
that was not her intent altogether. It was the boys
that were ordered from fchool, who feemed very happy
in leaving a place fo iridome to youth in general; but
they
t « ]
they had only efcaped a male for a female flageHator.
As foon as fhe was married, fhe difcharged all the
(errant?, and hired a fet of her own choofing; and
among the reft, fhe took care to engage a French
lady for her own woman, whofe difpofition fhe knew
would jufl fuit her.
Mrs. E-was of the firfr. order of beauty; had a
noble perfon, fine turned limbs, good fkin, fine blue
eyes, as brilliant as Venus', and when not ruffled by
paffion, was certainly very captivating. If fhe but
ftepped acrofs the room, fhe discovered uncommon
dignity and elegance, and every motion expreffed that
Je ne fcai qiwi an elegant French woman is fo idolized
for. In fhort, my dear, I never think of her without
exclaiming with the Poet—
O, with what bloom, what flower of youth fhe fhone!
How her cheeks blum'd a colour
all her own—
A genuine red, like rofes newly blown !
With her what woman could pretend
to vie
A whiter forehead, or a lovelier eye ?
Whofe frame was like the world, an eloquent foul
Spoke in each part, and fparkl'd thro' the whole;
Each liaab did wanton Loves and Graces bear:
There
lodged their arms, their bows and arrows
there.
Though this whipping paffion was inextinguifhable
within
[ 22 J
within her, yet fhe was never obferved to take
the rod
in hand without fome offence to
occafion it She was
convinced where there was fuch
a number of children,
and they ungovernable, many bickerings would arife,
which would give her an opportunity to amufe herfelf
with the rod. The firft that gave her
occafion to
handle the rod
was a boy of
feven years old, who was
fo flupid at a lefton fhe gave him, that fhe was re-
folved to try the effects of birch on his pofteriors.
Her French woman was ordered to bring an excellent
rod, which fhe had no sooner done, than fhe proceeded
to exercife it; but fhe found the boy too flrong for
her. The maid inflantly whips off her garters, and,
with the affiflance of her miftress, ties his hands be-
hind him; and then they found him manageable
enough. They inflantly unbuttoned his breeches, and
let them down to his knees ; and, having placed him
acrofs his mother's lap, and the woman holding his
legs, his mother whipped him till the twigs flew about
the room.
This was the rirll fample of her feverity with
the
rod fhe gave fince fhe was married ; and it made
fuch
an impreffion on the reft of the children, that
they
trembled
[ 23 ]
trembled in her prefence. A few hours after the boy
was complaining, with tears, of her treatment to his
-eldeft fifter, who advised him to burn the rod the firft:
opportunity. This was overheard by the maid, who
informed her lady of the affair. The young lady was
fummoned to the parlour, where fhe denied the fact,
was comronted by the maid, and horfed by her in an
inftant. The lady made as free with Mifs's lovely
b-e as with her brother's; and convinced her fhe
met with a mother fond to excefs ol exercifing the
rod.
Wherever this lady vifited fhe was called by the
children the fchool-miftrefs, and they dreaded the
fight of her.
In my vifits, faid Lady Caroline, I had heard
much talk of this lady, and was fo pleafed with what
I heard, that I foon got not only into her company,
but formed a friendship that has continued to this
day.
The firft time I had the pleafure of beholding this
lovely woman at the exercife we are fo fond of was at
her
her country-houfe, where I fpent the happieft month
of my life. A lovely girl, her ftep-daughter (whose
beauties
I firmly believe fhe envied), made her an
impertinent anfwer as we three fat at work in the
faloon. The mother did not fay a fentence in reply,
but inflantly left the room, and returning in lefs than
a minute, with a neat rod in her hand, fhe commanded
Mifs to lie acrofs her lap, who inflantly, with difdain
pictured in her countenance, complied.
I fat diredlly
oppofite the young lady's poflerior profpe6l, and pro-
tefl to you, upon my honour, when her mother lifted
her clothes to her middle, and difplayed the feat of
beauty,
I think I never beheld anything fo lovely.
She whipped her very fmartly, and
I affirm no eyes
in the world could fparkle with more tranfport than
the lady's during the whole of the punifhment.
This obfervation led me to think this lovely woman
one of us
in the highefl fenfe, and the inflant Mifs left
the room, which was in a few minutes, I requefled ta
know if I was right
She denied it for fome time, and blufhed exceed-
ingly. I
am certain, faid I, my dear creature, if I was
one
I 25 1
one of your daughters, you would tell me another
ftory, and I could read in your eyes during your
whole proceeding with Maria what I affert. You are
afraid to truft me with the fecret, I plainly perceive,
but I will truft you with as great a one on my part.
Know then, thou angelic woman, faid I, kifling her
lovely hand, it would be my higheftt felicity to be
whipped by you this moment!
Are you really ferious? faid fhe.
Do not procraftinate this blifs, for heaven's fake,
my charming friend, but alTume the character of my
offended governante inftantly.
To be brief, my dear girls, this beautiful woman
that moment confeffed her paffion, and I never was
fo enraptured as through the whole of her punifh-
ment, which fhe told me fhe would inflict pretty
fmartly, and every ftroke of which convinced me of
the truth of her affertion.
I remember fhe told me a remarkable ftory of a
lady fhe was intimate with, who was an excellent
hand at exercifing a birch-rod.
The
[ 26 ]
The late Lord L-, when very young, was io
pleafed with the exercife of the rod, that he courted
the felicity from the hands of his mother's maid
repeatedly. This giddy girl happened to mention
this circumflance to a baronet's lady (her late mii-
trefs), who was of fo avaricious a difpofition, that fhe
inflantly conceived a notion of adding fomething
considerable to her purfe, by taking proper notice of
this fecret.
Flufh with the idea, fhe managed to have an inter-
view with him that evening at her house, by fending
for him to fpend the evening with her daughter.
When he arrived he was furprifed to find none of
the family, above thofe of the kitchen, at home.
The youth was about this period twelve years old,
and the lady about thirty. She was by no means
handfome, yet fhe poffeffed thofe requifites whipping
gentlemen and ladies idolize fo highly. She was tall,
and very lufly, had a quick black eye, a neat; plump,
white hand and arm, and was in her nature as well
as appearance as proud as any woman the lovers of
birch would defire to exercife the rod.
He
[ 27 ]
He had not fat ten minutes when fhe handed him
a book to read to her: it was Milton's Paradife Loft,
which at that age he could read but fo fo. She took
the book out of his hand, and looking full in his eyes
with an air of aufterity, told him if he was her fon
fhe would inftantly let down his breeches and whip
him welL
At that moment (as he exprefled himfelf after to
her) the blood boiled in his veins, and he felt himfelf
in a blaze. She faw his fituation, and taking him by
the hand, afked him how he fhould like to be under
her tuition? He replied in the negative. Come,
come, faid fhe, feating him on her lap,
I know you
would like it vaftly, I can read it in your eyes! Con-
fefs now, you bold boy, would not you like to fee me
take the rod in hand, make you go upon your knees
and beg a whipping, and then let me ftrip your
breeches to your heels! Her manner of enforcing
this confeflion was fuch, that fhe declared he inftantly
difclofed the fecret. He frankly owned the whole,
and fhe immediately conducted him to her drefling
room.
When fhe got him in ike locked the door: then
made
[ 28 ]
made him bring a rod fhe had in readinefs, which he
put in her hand. She then held a long converfation
with him on his knees, on his many crimes, and de-
liberately let down his breeches to his heels ; fhe then
laid him acrofs her lap, and after removing his fhirt
above his waift, made ufe of all the tricks fhe had
heard gentlemen were fond of who loved the rod, fuch
as fettling him on her knee, handling his b-e, at the
fame time pulling his breeches lower, tucking in his
fhirt, and talking of the ladies who fpare the rod and
fpoil the child, bidding him at the fame time prepare
for Something very delicious from her hand, for nothing
was half fo pleafing to her as exercifing a rod on a
bold boy's b-e. She then held him fall with one
hand round the middle, and whipped him with the
rod fo Severely that he was obliged to cry aloud. She
gave him a dozen Strokes every fpell, then argued with
him, and never remitted of the Severity of her whip-
ping the whole time, which was about a quarter of an
hour.
-
It is an undoubted fa£l, that that woman who ufes
the rod with mod Severity, keeps her culprits down,
and every way treat them as tho* they were in facl:
bold
[ *9 3
bold children, not only gives the moft pleafure, but
makes fuch an impreflion, that they have the higheft
veneration for them; and ladies who have exercifed
the rod moft, like a levere mother, governefs, ftep-
mother, &c, have retained their lovers as long as they
have poffeffed any charms of face or perfon; while
thole, however beautiful, who are not as deep ikilled
in the myftery, never keep a lover for more than
two or three whippings at moft. This lady was deep
in the lecret, and fhe profited by it, for his lordfhip
was very liberal to her to the day of his death.
I am certain, ladies, you agree in what I have ad-
vanced ; I am not the onlv perfon that has made this
declaration.
You are very right, my dear, faid Ma'emoifelle ; it
is a very general obfervation, believe me; and, I am
fure, all my pupils will bear teftimony to my conduct
in this.
I will, for one, upon my honour, faid Lady Caro-
line ; and I for another, faid Flirtilla.
But, now I think of it, faid Lady Caroline, turning
to
[ 30 ]
to Flirtilla, and putting on an air of authority, pray„
Mils, do you know this letter ? (pulling one from her
pocket), No, indeed, Ma'am, faid Flirtilla, feemingly
much embarraffed. Are you certain of it ? faid Lady
Caroline, taking her by the hand and looking full in
her eyes. Yes, upon my honour, my dear Mamma,
faid Flirtilla.
' Well, faid Mademoifelle, you are the moft confident
little baggage I ever knew.
I found this feal in your
own room, and it correfponds with the imprelTion on
the letter. You have been ftriving for fome time to
breed a quarrel between Mifs Bloom—d and your
Mamma; and you would have effected it if I had not
been fortunate enough to fecure this abufive letter this
morning in your own room.
Very well, Mifs, faid Lady Caroline, rifing from her
chair with great
liaiiteur, and leaving the room.
My dear Ma'emoifelle, faid Flirtilla, dropping on
her knees, pray get me pardoned this time, and I'll
love you while
I live.
No, faid Ma'emoifelle, I will not interfere, I affure
you;
[ 3i ]
you ; you deierve to be well whipped, and I hope ihe
will not fpare the rod. I wifh (he would deliver you
over to my correction. I promife you I would make
an excellent ule of the rod.
At the expiration of about ten minutes, Lady Caro-
line entered with the inftrument of pleafure in her
hand. But it was not that that detained her fo long.
Flirtilla, who idolized Lady Caroline's hand and arm,
could not bear to fee it hold the rod without the orna-
ments of pearls, bracelets, a wedding and diamond
rings. Her bofom and neck were fet off in the fame
manner ; and her legs and feet, which were elegantly
formed, were as beautifully embellifhed with the
neateft filk fhoes and brilliant buckles of the firft
fafhion. But the following is the belt, picture of this
bewitching woman:—
Her front like marble fmooth, like lilies white
Fair Cynthia luftred o'er with filver light;
Upon her cheeks
Aurora Rofes fpread,
And dy'd 'em in the Morning's brightefl red!
Venus the fweetly charming fmile impreft,
And her foft lips with balmy pleafures bleff'd;
While love, the god himfelf, o'er all the mafs, )
Dancing delightful fhew'd his heavenly face, >
Led on the laughing Joys, and every filler Grace.;
Come,
[ 32 3
Come, Mifs, faid Lady Caroline; come here to me
this minute, till you and I fettle accompts. It is fome
days
fince you tailed a rod from my hands; and,
I
remember, you then promiled me you would not
deferve a whipping as long as you'd live.——Horfe
her this moment, Ma'emoifelle; and, I am fure, this
good lady will take a particular pleafure in holding
up
the clothes of fo bold a girl.
O, Mamma ! O, Ma'emoifelle! my dear, dear Ma'e-
moifelle, don't horse me! Upon my honour, I'll be
a good girl in future, faid Flirtilla, repeatedly. Keep
her up tight, Ma'emoifelle, faid Lady Caroline ; I have
her expofed now to my wifh, and fhe fhall feel the rod
pretty fmartly.
By this time, faid Clarilfa, witn my affiftance, fhe
had pinned the tail of her fhift to her moulders ; and,
having placed a low ftool under her feet, that fhe
might be no great burthen to Ma'emoifelle, fhe took
the rod in hand.
What Flirtilla felt that moment might be read in
ler eyes, which fparkled with ecftacy I Her entreaties
were
c 33
were of the tendered kind ; and the motion of her
lovely
alabafter profpect would have tranfported an
anchoret to madnefs.
Lady Caroline was throughout the fcene the moft
falacious woman I ever beheld.
Her manner of ftanding, and motions, were grace
and dignity itfelf! The haughty manner of deliver-
ing her lecture, was fuch as I had not heard from Flir-
tilla ; nor have not heard to this hour from
any other
woman.
How Flirtilla could bear the whipping amazed me,
as Lady Caroline exercifed the rod with fuch feverity,
that that profpect, which a few minutes before could
emulate the lily, now excelled the rofe.
Though after repeated frolics in this way with Flir-
tilla, I muft confefs I was pleafed with it; yet I could
not be reconciled to the feverity I was a witnefs of
from the hand of Lady Caroline; but I foon under-
ftood fhe carried her paflion to greater lengths with
others—particularly Ma'emoifelle B., who has been
whipped
t 34 ]
whipped by her till the blood has been near ftarting;
and fhe would not condefcend to whip any of her inti-
mates unlefs they would fuffer her to act as she thought
proper.
A few days after we were invited to the country-
feat of Lady Carmine, who is in poffeffion of a greater
fund of anecdote in this way than any lady living.
Among many very Singular whims, fhe related the
following, which from her own knowledge fhe affirmed
was authentic
As the account would be much better in her own
words than any other, I fhall give every particular in
as concife and perfect a manner as my memory can
dictate,
I had the honour, faid Lady Carmine, with many
ladies now in this country, to be particularly noticed
in Paris, fome years ago, by the Duchess of-.*
* We hope the authorefs will excufe us, but we cannot
men-
tion real titles or names throughout this work.
This
[ 35 ]
This lad)'', then verging on forty, carried this whipping
whim to very unlimited lengths.
She had a chateau a few miles from Paris, in which
was a room of ftate, fitted up in the moft fplendid
manner imaginable.
It was evening when I was conducted to this place,
where I found the Duchefs dreffed in the habit of a
girl from head to foot. She told me I was like the
Dauphinefs,* then just arrived, and whom (he loved
to diftraction ; that fhe would, now fhe was acquainted
with my paffion for exercifing the rod, be highly de-
lighted with the pleafure from my hands. Here, my
dear, faid fhe, are fome written inftructions, which I
beg you will look over with attention, and then I will
conduct you to the dreffing-room.
Thefe inftructions will appear through my ftory.
As foon as I had folded the paper, fhe led me to
her dreffing-room, where fhe had the richeft dreffes I
* Now Queen of F
ever
pip. t 'HP^aHn
ever beheld. Out of thefe fhe felecled what was
agreeable to her paflion, and helped
to drefs me, and
in about an hour I found myfelf bending under a
weight of filk, jewels, and every other ornament that
could add a charm to beauty. As foon as
I was
dreffed fhe led me to a room, where her fifter, fix
other ladies, and a lady who had the appearance of a
full-grown girl, were fitting, who, on my entrance,
arofe, and paid their refpedts in the fame manner as
though I had been a Queen. The truth is they fancied
me fuch.
Being complete miftrefs of my inftrudtions, I chal-
lenged the girl about telling lies, who denied the ac-
cufation, and was proved criminal by the ladies, one
of whom inftantly put a rod into my hand and begged
I would make a proper ufe of it. She was inftantly
horfed by the Cometefs of-, a very flout woman,
and I whipped her to her own fatisfaclion, and to that
of thofe around me.
As foon as I had done, I enquired for her fifter, who
I underftood, by my inftruclions, was a greater culprit,
and who had left the room as foon as
I had done (this
was
[ 37 1
was no other than the Duchefs). I was told fhe was
not to be found. I difpatched three of my attendants
after her, and with the remainder I repaired
to the
room of ftate.
This was the moft fplendid room I ever beheld. The
canopy and chairs of Itate were of the moft magnifi-
cent kind, and in the chandeliers and girandoles there
could not be lefs than five hundred lights.
According to my inftructions I took my feat on the
throne, with my maids of honour on each fide, and in
a few minutes my bold ftep-daughter was brought in
in tears.
Her entreaties were of the moft extravagant kind,
fuch as kiffing my hands and feet, and embracing me,
all which I was inattentive to, and inflantly ordered
my maids of honour to hand me the rod.
A frame was rolled before the throne, made Hoping
like a desk, on which was a large white fatin cufhion,
and on which, with the affiltance of a little ftool, fhe
was extended and held down.
It
[ 38 ]
It was now, according to my directions, my bufinefs
to unveil the feat of pleafure, which, with fome ftruggles
on her part,
I inftantly did, and I think I never beheld
pofteriors more beautiful! They were the largeft,
plumpeft, and whiteft, that ever felt a rod from my
hand.
The burthen of her fupplication, looking back at me
the whole time, was, " My dear Mamma, my lovely
Queen Mamma, pray pardon me! Indeed you'll find
me a moft excellent girl in future, and I proteft to
you, upon my honour, I never will provoke you to
take the rod in your beautiful, angelic hand agam!
I'll blefs the hour you married my Papa, my lovely
fvveet Queen, and love you the longeft day I live, if
you will forgive me this time!" Such was the langu-
age fhe made ufe of in reply to my lecture, which con-
tinued for full ten minutes, in concert with the rod,
which (as inftructed) I made excellent ufe of, I affure
you. As foon as I found fhe had enough, fhe was let
down by my directions, and fhe retired crying.
I continued in the apartment, chatting with two of
the ladies (for the remainder went out with her) for
about
I 39 ]
about an hour, when fhe entered in full drefs, and
looked divinely.
As foon as (he entered, fhe cried out in a great
paffion for the rod, which, fhe recollected, was taken
to another room.
While flie was in purfuit of it, one of the ladies told
me fhe meant to perfonate the Emprefs of R., and
that I must drop my own character, and take up that
•of her daughter.
I complied with the deflre, and inlefs than a minute
fhe entered with great dignity, having her train fup-
ported by two ladies.
She charged me with abufive exprelTions I had
dropped concerning her beauty; and without giving
me time to reply, fhe took me by the arm, and led
me to the feat of chaflifement, where, with the alTilt-
ance of her maids, I was extended.
After fhe had raifed my clothes above the fmall of
my back, it was full a minute before I felt the rod.
She
I 40 J
6he put herfelf in the greateft paflion imaginable,
ftamped, and called to one of the ladies for the inftru-
ment with which fhe was to wreak her vengeance. I
had taken notice while I whipped her, that fhe bawled
. and roared with very little intermiffion during the
whole time, which led me to fuppofe it eafed in fome
meafure the fmart, which fhe convinced rne of in a few
minutes, for fhe whipped with great feverity, throwing
herfelf into the moft wanton attitudes I ever beheld.
Indeed, I was obliged to bawl in good earnefl, for I
had never received anything like the punifhment be-
fore. She took care not to put this into the inftruc-
tiens fhe gave me, elfe I would not have undergone it.
I muft own I like it as well as any lady prefent, but
not with fuch feverity; that I leave to the men, many
of whom I have read lye under the lafh till they bleed.
Y©ur ftory, faid Mifs V., has much whimficality in
rt, indeed more than ever I heard. The only anecdote
that ever I heard that approaches it is that of Mifs G.
Mifs G. was a woman paflionately fond of whipping
boys and girls. She was the daughter of an officer,
and received a very polifhed education: add to this,
me
L 41 J
fhe was in poffeflion of every requifite to make an ex-
cellent fchool-miftrefs. She was tall, well made, very
fair, exprefTive blue eyes; fhe had alfo that haughty
and fevere look that men delight in who are fond of
tailing the rod from the hand of a woman. Her
father and mother dying when fhe was about twenty,
and leaving her without fortune, fhe came to London,
and went as an affiflant in a diftinguifhed young ladies'
boarding-fchool. Here fhe gave a loofe to her paffion,
for there was fcarce a day fhe did not whip half-a-
dozen young girls,* some of them fourteen years old.
Lord-going one day to fee a coufin of his who
was a boarder at that fchool, faw this lady by chance,
and was fo captivated with her beauty that he offered
her a carte blanche, which fhe clofed with, and the
connexion lafted during his life.
Paffmg one day through St. James's Park, fhe met
Mifs C, an eminent milliner (from whom I had the
* We believe the authorefs is in error here, for it has been
affirmed by many who have feen her manufcript, that there is
no birch difcipline ufed
in any boarding-fchool. Of this the
ladies are bell judges.
[ 4? ]
tale). As they had been very intimate fchool-fellows,
Mifs G. after a few turns alked her to dine with her,
which fhe accepted.
Lord ...... being then at Paris, they dined alone.
While they were talking about the fafhion, Mifs C.
perceiving in the corner of the room a large birch-rod
hanging from a nail, afked for whom it was intended ;
fhe fmiling told her if fhe would come the day after to
drink tea with her, fhe would tell her the ufe of it
Mifs C. did not fail to come. She found Mifs G.
dreffed in a very fplendid manner, as fhe intended to
go to the Pantheon that evening. Her hair was
dreffed in the extreme of the fafhion, exceflively large
and low behind, and ornamented with a panache of
black and white feathers of the largeft fize.—Very
high on the left fide of her bofom fhe wore an enor-
mous bouquet of natural flowers, which had a beauti-
ful effect. After dinner fhe rung the bell for her maid,
and defired the two young ladies might be fent down
from the nurfery. In a few minutes, two fine girls,
one about thirteen and the other eleven, made their
appearance.
Well,
I 43 ]
Well, ladies, faid Mifs G., who pafled for their ftep-
mother, fhew me your work.—On finding it badly
done, fhe boxed their ears very well.—Let me fee now
if you can fay the leffon I gave you this morning in
the grammar. Finding the youngefl very deficient
in it, fhe flew into a violent paffion, bounced away
directly for the rod, and protefled with great paffion
fhe would whip her feverely.
Mifs C. pretended to fave the young culprit, but in
vain;—the difciplinarian made fome apologies for
whipping her before her, but the minx was fo very
indolent and bold, fhe muft abfolutely whip her well.
#
Turn up your petticoats this moment, you little idle
hufley (faid fhe, brandifhing the rod); I'll teach you
this time to mind what I fay! Come, come, higher
ftill, and lye down acrofs my knee.
Oh, mother, mother, my dear lovely mother! faid
the little creature (as the lady was expofing her
pofteriors to the rod), upon my honour I'll be a moft
excellent girl in future; try me but this once, and if
ever I give you this trouble again I will give you
leave to cut me to pieces.
No
[ 46 ]
lighted with her exquifite manner of handling the rod.
I own, faid Mifs G, I take a very particular pleafure
in whipping children when bold; and fince the age of
fifteen, that an aunt of mine made me whip a little
girl about nine years of age, who lived with us, this
paflion has been predominant in me. This little girl
was the daughter of my nurfe, and one of the moll:
ftubborn little girls
I ever met with. The old lady
made me whip her, fhe faid, to teach me how to whip
children when
I fhould have fome of my own.
I took fo much pleafure in whipping that little girl,
that there were few days I did not take the rod in
hand, having many opportunities, as I taught her to
read and write.
I grew fo fond of it, I really would be unhappy now
if I had not fome children under my care on whom I
could inflict this punifhment: though I declare to you
I would not take the leaft pleafure in it in cold blood ;
I mufb be provoked to it, and they muft deferve it
fairly.
Mifs C. had ieveral young apprentices, on fome of
which
[ 47 ]
which fhe inflicted the punishment of the rod. She
was not forry when they gave her an opportunity of
handling this inftrument of pleafure and pain. Among
her apprentices was a flip of a girl, addicted to thieving,
and though fhe had whipped her very often for it with
feverity, the girl did not amend in the leaft. One day
as fhe was going to whip her for ftealing fome ribbons,
one of the working women, who had been in Paris for
many years, told her, if fhe was to dip the rod in
vinegar, as fhe had feen it done in France, it would
fmart her the more. Mifs C. followed her advice,
dipped the end of a new birch-ro4 in a veffel full of
vinegar, and whipped the girl with it with the utmoft
exertion of her arm; and it fmarted fo fore that fhe
never pilfered after.
Mifs C vifited Mifs G. pretty often. Having ob-
ferved that Mifs G. wore conftantly an enormous nofe-
gay, fhe afked the reafon of it, and if the flowers did
not give her the head-ache ? Not at all, faid fhe,
I
am paffionately fond of them—their fweet perfume
excites in me the moft exquifite fenfations. She told
her Lord-was as fond of them as fhe, and de-
lighted in feeing her dreffed with a very large one.
She
[ 48 ]
She knew many gentlemen who were equally as fond
of them as his lordfhip, and delighted in feeing their
favourite ladies dreffed with them; that the larger
and fuller they are, the greater their influence, efpe-
cially when worn very high on the left fide, the luxu-
rious mode of wearing them. Wearing them in the
centre, as fome ladies do, is very inelegant; but on
one fide, as the French do, gives not only a grand but
a voluptuous air to the wearer; and it is looked on
now in the fafhionable world as one of the greateft
incentives to the joys of Venus. Some people even
look upon them as great a provocative as birch itfelf;
and that, not only phyficians on the continent, but
many in this country, prefcribe for fterile* men and
women. Indeed, a certain doctor affured the world,
that in order to get beautiful children, men fhould
* The following anecdote, to illuftrate this paffage, is a
fact:
—A country gentleman, of large fortune, had been married for
many years to a very beautiful, and feemingly fruitful, woman.
The want of children was the only thing that made them un-
happy. When the lady arrived m London a few winters ago,
fhe patronized a very fenfible and beautiful opera-dancer, to
whom, in a private converfation, fhe expreffed her uneafinefs
about her flerility, or her hufband's incapacity. The Italian
lady told her nothing was fo efficacious as whipping the pofte-
riors of her hufband (if the fault lay in him) during the amorous
enjoy
[ 49 ]
enjoy women in their full drefs, or any drefs they
liked beft, or as they were when they fell in love with
them ; not forgetting to have them highly perfumed,
and with large bouquets of the moft odoriferous
flowers in their bofom—their fecret influence being
aftonifhing. The ladies on the continent are feldom
feen without very large nofegays, which they always
wear on the left fide, as high as the ear.
A young lady of my acquaintance, who was lately
in Lifbon, being invited to a dance given by a lady
on her name's-day, which anfwers to our birth-day, all
the ladies came dreffed with enormous nofegays ; not
only their left bofom, but their faces were covered
with them. However, when they were dancing it had
a pretty effect. Thofe large nofegays, I have been
engagement with her; and to prove her affertion true, fhe re-
peated the phyfician's anecdote from the Philofophical Therefa,
and flrengthened it with affuring her fhe herfelf affifted in a
fimilar fcene. The lady pondered on it, related it to her
hufband, and prevailed on him to go through the operation.
The lady was engaged at a high price to adminifler the rod,
which fhe did in that opera-drefs that pleafed him moft ; and,
in less than a month, and by the time fhe had whipped him a dozen
times (each fpace of which he was in an amorous engagement
with his wife), the lady, to her great joy, found herfelf pregnant.
told,
I 50 ]
told, are very ufeful in hot countries, where perfpira-
tion is very great.
Your obfervations on the flowers are veiy juft, faid
Lady C. I am well acquainted with many of the fame
difpofition.
Mr. D., a gentleman of fortune, exceffively fond of
feeing the rod exercifed, and of feeling it too, adver-
tifed for a governefs to inftruct his three daughters,
their French governefs having returned to Paris.
Mifs F., a young Irifh lady, very pretty, and very
much reduced (having made a
faax-pas with a young
officer), applied for the place.
Mr. D., finding her a great advocate for the rod,
engaged her immediately. She was the daughter of
Mrs. F., a fchoolmiftrefs in Dublin. Educated under
fuch a mother, Mifs F. was complete miftrefs of birch-
difcipline, and as paffionately fond of it as any woman
in England.
A few days after fhe had been at Mr. D.'s feat, as
fhe
5
fhe was going early in the morning to take a walk in the
garden, Mr. D. perceived and followed her. She was in
a half-mourning drefs, with a large French nightcap,
her hair very large and low behind. Their conversa-
tion chiefly turned on the fweet perfume of the
flowers; the gentleman propofed to make a nofegay
for her fweet angelic bofom, and in few minutes pre-
fented her with one as big as a broom. Mifs F. was
quite delighted with it, and inflantly tied it very high
on the left fide of her bofom, for fhe was very well
acquainted with their influence.
Mr. D. paid her many compliments—faid fhe looked
divine, and called her his angelic governefs!
She thought it was now high time to introduce the
favourite fubject. She informed him that one of his
nieces had been very bold, and that fhe intended to
whip her. Mr D. fqueezed her delicate hand, and
apologized for the trouble fhe would be at. Don't
talk of that, my dear Sir; I like to whip bold girls—
and bold boys too (giving him a very fignificant look),
efpecially when I can get a good birch-rod. Mr. D.
conducted her to the fhrubbery, where there were
"everal
D 2
I 52 ]
feveral birch trees. She immediately made two
excellent rods, and of a large fize ; for fhe was very
fond (as many ladies are) to whip with large rods, as
they make a greater found on the b-, a found
very pleafing to the votaries of whipping, and gives a
woman a fevere air; befides large rods don't hurt fo
much as fmall ones that cut fhockingly. As foon as fhe
came to the houfe, fhe went to the working-room, and
calling the young culprit to her, a girl about thirteen,
Here is, Mifs, making her big rod, fomething that
will make you good! Come, come! up with your
frock and petticoats! I muft fee all; come, kifs the
rod, and beg a good whipping. Then holding her
upon her lap, fhe whipped her for full ten minutes.
Mr. D., who was in an adjacent room peeping through
a hole, was all the time in a kind of ecftacy! He
had never feen a woman whip with fo much grace f
Her drefs, efpecially her monftrous bouquet, which
fhe was fmelling all the while, made her look moft
charmingly! As foon as fhe had done, he flew to
her, and fpent with her a moft delicious hour. This
lady ufed to affume with him the character of a
fevere aunt. While fhe whipped him, he held him-
felf in such a manner, that he could fmell the
bouquet
[ 53 1
bouquet all the time. I have been told that a
great many men do the fame, their pleafure being
much heightened by it.
Mifs L., another votary to birch-difcipline, was
the daughter of a clergyman, who kept a fchool
at -. Her mother dying when fhe was about
thirteen, her father, as fhe was very clever, and
very tall for her age, gave her the care of her
fillers; as they were very giddy, fhe got leave from
her father to whip them. She grew fo fond of the
birch, that fhe found means to get other young
girls to inflru£l, and on whom fhe adminiflered,
very often, the rod. Her father dying when fhe was
about two-and-twenty, fhe came to town, opened
a young ladies' boarding-fchool, and in a few years
got a very large fchool. She then gave a loofe to
her favourite paffion, whipping fometimes a dozen
girls a-day. As fhe was an experienced hand at
whipping, fhe feldom difmiffed them till their pofte-
riors and thighs were as red as fearlet. Her plea-
fure was to cut them, and generally whipped till
the blood would come. She continued that practice
till they were at leafl fifteen. Many mothers ap-
proved
f 54 1
proved of her conduct very much. She had a clofet
full ol birch-rods of different fizes, curioufly bound
with ribbons of different colours.
She took a lingular pleaiare in choofing the long
flender twigs of the bzrch with buds on them, and
binding them up in rods; (he Lever ufed the rod
twice, nor any birch but what was cut lately. The
fmell of new birch railed in her the moft pleafing fen-
fation. After fhe had whipped a girl, fhe always
made her wear the rod in her bofom as a noiegay for
two or three hours.
The Hon. Mr. S., at the age of feventeen, had a
Deautif ul fifter a year younger than him. She married
Lord-. Their father and mother being dead,
they lived with an old aunt. Mr. S. was then at Ox-
ford, but came to town very often. He had taken
notice of his fifter
whipping very often a pretty coufin,
a girl about ten years old, who was under her care.
One day as he was reading in his fitter's room a
French book about women being fond of whipping,
which he had found on her toilet, he heard her coming
with her coufin, who was then crying; fufpecting fhe
[ 55 ]
was going to whip her, he hid himfelf behind the cur-
tain of the bed: he was not miftaken; his fifler im-
mediately entering with a good birch-rod in her hand-
Petticoats, &c, were all foon removed. After whip-
ping her very feverely, and lecturing her all the time,
as an experienced fchool-miftrefs, fhe fent her down
flairs, and foon went herfelf as if nothing had hap-
pened.
Mr. D. declared to a friend of his that he never faw
anything fo pretty, his fifler being dreffed that day
all in white, with a large pink fafh round her waifl;
her hair, which was not yet turned up, wantonly
flowing on her fnowy bofom, which was heaving all
the time; a pretty hat on one fide of the head, full of
large white oflrich feathers, and a beautiful bouquet
of a moft enormous fize, made of mofs-rofes, carna-
tions, pinks intermixed with large bunches of myrtle,
jeffamy, and minionet, which fhe wore on the left-fide,
up to the ear. The exquifite perfume of it excited in
him fuch agreeable fenfations that after that he would
never bear his fifler or any young lady of his acquaint-
ance without a monftrous one. The waving of the
feathers, the making of the flowers of the nofegay, the
found
[ S<5 i
lound of the birch, and efpecially the exquifite per-
fume which the bouquet exhaled, had fuch an effect
on him that he remained for an hour in a fort of
ecftacy. He had a garden entirely laid out with the
moft beautiful fweet flowers imaginable. He ufed
to fend out of it to his female acquaintance large
bouquets that he might have the pleafure to fee them
drefs well at the public places where he knew he
would meet with them; to tie himfelf a nofegay for
the bofom of a lady was a delight to him. His feeing
one day a lady at the Pantheon, the beautiful Mifs
W., with a moft enormous fide-bouquet, whofe pretty
face could fcarce be feen among the flowers, he fell in
love with her, and married her about a month after;
fhe was but fourteen then, and just out of fchool.
On the Continent, where whipping is fo fafhionable,.
it is one of the chief amufements of the Nuns, for they
not only whip one another for their pleafure, but will
whip with fhocking birch-rods their boarders, with fo
much feverity, that fometimes fome of them are
obliged to keep their beds for two or three days;
this is a fact, and many young ladies who have been
educated there would affert it.
I was always fur-
prized
[ 57 ]
prized not to meet with any book which would lay
open the incontinency of the Nuns; for fome Nuns
take as much pleafure in whipping a pretty girl, with
the help of a certain curious inftrument,
as they would
almoft to deep with a man, and have almoft the fame
pleafure.
Your anecdote, faid Mrs,-, brings to my recol-
lection a particular whim of Lady Dowager-.
This woman, who had been confidered one of the
tfirft. beauties of her time, fell defperately in love with
a lady's-maid, where fhe had been on a vifit, at a time
when the fire of youth might be fuppofed to be in a
great meafure extinguifhed, for fhe had paffed her
fiftieth year. She had tafled the felicity we have been
fpeaking of from numbers of her confidential friends,
and took as great pleafure in adminiftring it as any
lady exifting.
This Abigail enflamed her the inftant fhe beheld
her, and fhe loft no time to fecure her to herfelf, which
fhe did at a great falary.
I
t 5« 3
1 have heard her ladyihip declare no fchool-miftrefs
upon earth could exercife the rod with more bewitch-
ing feverity than this woman. It was her ladyfhip's
whim to be whipp'd by her in the neat habiliments of
an upper fervant
Sometimes fhe would defire her to enter her apart-
ment with a neat ftraw hat, fet off with a vaft quantity
of pink or green ribbon, a pretty flowered gown, and
her legs and feet as neatly attired. She ufed to acl
at fuch a time as her mother's-maid, and whip her
ladyfhip for telling tales of her while fhe had been
abroad.
Her ladyfhip being a very fat woman, it was next
to an impoffibility for her to lye acrofs her lap (though
that is what fhe delighted in), but fhe commonly
refled her hands on a fopha or chair, but oftener
would have herfelf whipped in bed for not getting up
early, which I take of all others to be the pleafanteft
way, as we can then bounce and plunge about, ftruggle
and caper under the rod, and prolong the felicity for
a confiderable time.
No
[ 59 ]
No youth, though ever fo enraptured with his
charmer, could idolize her more than her ladylhip did
this woman.
I have heard her dwell upon the beauty
of her hands, and the heaving of her plump fnowy
bofom, till fhe Las been loft in excefs of blifs. She
died in her ladyfhip's fervice, and fhe often declared a
great part ol her happinefs died with her.
A Duchefs in Paris, who has tafted of this felicity
from the hands of a vaft number of ladies of her own
complexion, took an uncommon liking to a beautiful
Weft-India negro woman, who had been brought ta
Paris by a naval officer, from whom fhe was purchafed
at an high price by her for this purpofe. As foon as
flie was in poffeffion of her fhe fpared no expence in edu-
cating her, and clothed her in the most elegant manner.
When fhe fancied fhe was polifhed at all points for
her purpofe fhe broke the matter to her, and, with the
affiftance of a number of books and prints on the fub-
ject, inftructed her perfectly. She often declared to
a female confidante, nothing could equal the pleafure
fhe felt when this lovely negro ftripped her or took
her out of bed; to feel her velvet hands run over her
thighs and pofteriors when fhe was fettling her on her
knees,
[ 60 1
knees, and immediatly after the rod fmartly exercifed
by her, was to her the height of human pleafure.
This woman, ftrange as it may appear, had fuch an
afcendancy over this illuftrious lady, that fhe was in
a fhort while miftrefs of her affection and fortune.—
I have been well affured a gentleman now in London
has a pretty negro maid-fervant, and his greatefl de-
light is to fee her whip his children.
The fpirit of flagellation, faid Mrs. W., was never
carried to fuch an high degree as it is in a particular
fchool this day in London.—I never heard of this
fchool before, faid Mifs T., pray where is it ? It is
kept by Mademoifelle G-who lives in-ftreet,
B—y— Square. This lady about twelve years ago
made her appearance in this kingdom, and was re-
commended to the Countefs of -, who in-
ftantly patronized her.
At one of their nocturnal meetings, when her lady-
fhip's whipping party were all prefent, and were all
running out in raptures on the graces and lovely
manoeuvres of Ma'emoifelle while whipping each, the
Countefs propofed a Angular affair which every lady
inftantly
61 ]
inftantly fubfcribed to. It was no other than Ma'e-
moifelle's fetting up a day-fchool to teach genteel
children French. They opened a fubfcription inftantly
for the Parifian lady, enabled her to take a houfe, and
furnifhed it for her in an elegant ftyle. Not one of
the party were feen in this bufinefs ; their only patron-
age was a heavy purfe, for a very fubftantial reafon
that will appear in its proper place. The lady had
not opened fchool three months when fhe found her-
felf at the head of a pretty fet of children, many of
whom were full grown. A fhort while after ihe
opened this feminary one of the whipping party ap-
peared as a fub-governefs, in which capacity ihe in-
dulged herfelf to her wifh, exercifing the rod as fhe
thought proper. The other ladies were engaged by
Ma'emoifelle to fill the fame character alternately.*
What a treat in this feminary for the idolators of
* One of the party, lately deceafed, obferving extraordinary
figns of manhood in a boy, as he lay acrofs her lap capering
under the rod, was fo fmitten with the profpecl, that fhe had it
in view as often as Ihe could, and ere the youth had gained his
fifteenth year fhe made him ample amends for the whipping he
received from her hands, by an offering of the moft fublime
mature in the chapel
of Venus.
the
I 62 ,
the pofterior flirine! To fee in the courfe of a day a
number of b-s blufhing under the rod, exercifed
by a woman of fupereminent charms!
It muft be the fublime of felicity indeed, faid Mifs
T., and almoft equal to what I tafted from the hand
of Lady-a few days ago.
I know, faid Mrs. W., her ladyfhip is charming in
the extreme with a rod in hand. Pray let us hear
how fhe captivated you ?
I happened to pay her a vifit in my military habit,
which fo pleafed her that fhe propofed to take the
rod in hand and whip me for endeavouring to rival
her, my flep-mother, by drelTing in fuch alluring
habiliments.
Her fifter, Louifa, happened to be prefent, who
feconded the motion, and I inftantly ran up flairs to
the room where I knew fhe kept her horfe. They
both followed.—Louifa, at the head of the machine,
held my hands, while her ladyfhip, with her ufual
manoeuvres, expofed what fhe idolized fo much to the
rod
[ 63
rod, and indeed I felt the full force of her jealoufy (by
my endeavouring to outdo her in drefs) while fhe exer-
cifed the bewitching twigs. In brief, my dear ladies,
I think no woman in the whole circle of beauty has it
in her power to captivate like this lovely creature;
everything that has been faid by the poets in praife
of female charms, falls far fhort ot what I fee in her t
Her admirers may well exclaim—
What thought can paint that fair perfection?
Not fea-born Venus, in the courts beneath,
When the green nymphs firft kiffed her coral lips,
All polifhed fair, and wafh'd with orient beauty,
Could in their dazling fancy match her brightnefs.
Her legs, her arms, her hands, her neck, her breafls,
So nicely fhap'd, fo matchlefs in their luftre,
Such all perfection !-
She is the child of love, and fhe was born in fmiles !
To hear the mufic of her voice while correcting me
was fomething more than human. I fhall never for-
get her " Well, upon my honour, it is to me furprizing
how fome mothers will fuffer their forward daughters
to eclipfe them, while there is fuch a rod as I hold to
be found. I have heard, Mifs, you put on this drefs
to captivate Colonel G-; but I'll teach you to
confult me in future about what you fhall wear!
Your
[ «4 i
Your pretty b-e fhall feel my refentment before I
have done with the rod, I promife you! You may
caper as much as you pleafe, but you'll find me exer-
cife it well! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! you forward
minx!"
Stop, my dear, for heaven's fake, faid Mrs. W.,
elfe you will fo tranfport us that we fhall rufh like
lunatics to her ladyfhip for a sample of what you
I called to fee our lovely brunette, Mrs. C, a few
mornings ago, and found her bufily employed with
the rod. Her nephew and niece were found wrang-
ling together by her, and fhe fettled their difference
with giving each an excellent whipping.—I have heard
this charming Creole proteft fhe would be very
unhappy if fhe had not some children to divert her-
felf with in this way. She has declared to me when
fhe was in Jamaica, fhe used to amufe herfelf almoft
every day with whipping pretty young negroes of
both fexes. She has ever given the preference to
whipping boys under eight years old.—I remember
an anecdote of this lady that made me laugh heartily
at
[ 6$ ]
at the time, One day, while fhe was at her brother's
country house, a beggar woman came into the yard with
two children, who folicited her charity. She ordered
them into the houfe, and relieved them. They had
fcarcely left the houfe when a fpoon was miffed, which
was found on a girl of twelve years old. She was brought
back, and by her order was brought on the moulders
of a flout maid-fervant into the parlour. Her brother
was prefent, who applauded her highly for her fpirit.
In lefs than a minute fhe removed the poor girl's
rags, and expofed to his view as fair and as plump a
bumfiddle as Venus herself could exhibit, which in
a few minutes the lady left in weals, with a rod exer-
cised with the utmost feverity. But think how great
this lady's furprife muft be to have pointed out to
her in Covent Garden Theatre, within these three
months, this very girl, who has been in keeping with her
brother from the day of her being whipped to this.
As to mankind being fond of this pleafure from
the hands of a woman, it is too well confirmed to be
contradicted. I have read the fafhionable Lectures,
and a number of French anecdotes relating to this
paffion, and I think I can communicate from my
own
E
[ 66 J
own knowledge a more ftriking one than any I have
ever read or heard.
Come, difclofe, difclofe, my dear, faid half-a-dozen
ladies at once.
To be brief, ladies, faid Mifs T., that libidinous
gentleman, Mr. K., who is known to many in this
room, is fo paffionately fond of birch from a lady,
that his
Wards, who live with him, exercife it when-
ever they want money, elegant clothes, or fee pleafure.
He has a room remote from the noife and interruption
of his domeftics.—Here, whenever he refufed what
they requeft, he is led by thefe fpirited and whimfical
girls; and here they ftrip and whip him, turn about,
till he promifes to comply with their requeft. When
the eldeft of thefe pretty girls difclosed the affair to
me, I would not give it credit, nor would I to this
hour, if I had not ocular demonftration, about three
months ago, when they concealed me in a clofet, in
the room, from a peep-hole in which I beheld the
whole discipline.
Here ends the anecdotes of this lady, which many
will
[ 67 ..
will think written with fpirit and elegance: this, with
their originality, will fecure them a diftinguifhed re-
ception among thofe who idolize, with a degree of
religious enthufiafm, the beautiful back fettlements
of Venus.
FINIS.