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Discover the Ladies of Eighteenth Century London

From Harris's Covent Garden Ladies (1761-1794)

The Map

One of the interesting parts of creating visuals for my posts is seperating the individual in an artwork from the background. It's not always perfect (I am not an artist!) but it's fun to see where the lines of the person ends and where the background begins. Sometimes it's easy, othertimes not. I've done quite a few now that I think it would make a good stickerbook if I knew how to make one! A fun behind-the-scenes for everyone!

#18thcentury #18thcenturyart

The 1799 Parishes of London! This was an absolute nightmare to make - and even more difficult to decide which street is assigned to which Parish when three or four converge together...

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https://www.coventgardenladies.com/streets-and-buildings

We are live! Check out the map and upcoming indepth profiles on the ladies!

https://www.coventgardenladies.com/

Sneak preview of what I've been working on. 941 Individuals mapped so far... Stay tuned! #coventgardenladies #18thcentury #c18

[1794 Edition] Miss Cr-md-n, 15 St. Albans Street, Piccadilly.
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With thee I’d break through laws divine and human. And think them cobwebs spread for little man, Which all the bulky herd of nature breaks. The vig’rous young world was ignorant Of all restrictions. ’Tis deceit now. Not more devout, but more decay’d and old.
Restrains of reason, ties of blood, marriage vows, and prudential maxims, are all weak barriers when Miss C------appears, opens her arms, and excites to pleasure. Her teeth invite the burning kiss, her feature tall but quite genteel. Her complexion pleases the eye, and her soft plump body rebounds from the close embrace, and demands repeated pressures. Her yielding limbs, though beautiful when together, are still more ravished when separated; and, when properly placed between them, we may cry out with the poet Addison, I’m lost in ecstasy. How shall I speak the transports of my soul? I’m so bless’d, I fear ’tis all a dream. Other beauties, indeed, may give equal joys, but few like Miss C -can continue them; others may forge chains, and put them on their lovers, but few, like her, can rivet them. Her great prudence, uncommon with the sisterhood, keeps her admirers attached to her, and none can quit her but with regret. From strangers (who must be gentlemen) she expects a genteel compliment but, when once acquainted, she abates in her demands, in proportion as she increases in her attachment. She has light brown hair, fine eyes, sings and dances to perfection, and not more than sixteen years of age; has not been in trade more than a twelvemonth, in which short time she has had the good fortune to procure for herself a very good keeper in the person of Major C, whose name she assumes.
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Images: Le printemps – Alexandre Marie Colin (1820-1830), Four Times of the Day: Morning – William Hogarth (1738), Carlton House the Prince Regent's Palace - Richard Holmes Laurie (1818)
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#18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #pallmall

[1793 Edition] Mrs G-frey, 6 Newman Street.
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Here may the brisk, and able pour, An ocean of their liquid store.
This lady may be about thirty, rather plump, she has however, every requisite to make an agreeable bed-fellow, every nerve during the preludes to enjoyment, seem trembling alive to all the refined sensations, and every part about the frame is blessed with that corresponding aptness that cannot fail of producing the most desirable effects, neither has the too frequent use of the most bewitching spot rendered it the least callous to the joys of love; she still feels all that torrent of rapture, the mutual dissolution of two souls in liquid bliss can possibly afford; meets the coming moment with uncommon ecstasy, and asks the speedy return. She is very fond of black, as she pretends to be a widow; her price is one pound one tho' ten shillings and six-pence will do.
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Images: A young widow – Charles Antoine Coypel (1724), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 3] – William Hogarth (1731), The Widow's Tale – John Raphael Smith (1789)
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#18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #widows

[1790 Edition] Miss Wh-tt, 18 Berwick Street.
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Observe the rapture-giving squeeze, The glowing cheek, the sparkling eye, The fault'ring voice, the trembling knees, That speak in silent words—I die.
This beautiful daughter of Venus by Apollo, is supposed to be the natural daughter of a noble lord, late in administration, who has had too many offerings of this kind to shew any kindness or affection to any. During her state of childhood, she received a very good education, and her voice, from being improved, is become exceedingly melodious and pleasing; she is genteely formed, fine blue eyes, with dark brown hair, pretty pouting lips, a good set of teeth, and a breath, Sweet as Arabian gales that ope the infant day.
She is about eighteen, speaks the French language, which induces most of those foreigners of distinction to pay their court to this lady; she takes a singular pleasure in endeavouring to oblige her visiters by singing, and in general succeeds; she visits the side boxes very frequently, which puts it in her power to oblige the admirers of her voice which most of the modern songs. She is good-natured, affable, and kind, and in bed a very comfortable partner; in this situation she employs her tongue and voice in another manner, full as satisfactory as when it emits the shrillest note; in this pleasing duet she performs her part with admirable skill and dexterity, and in such cases chooses the lowest part; she makes no scruple of getting as much as she possibly can from her foreign visiters, but will not refuse five guineas from a British hand, and that only in the absence of her keeper, from whom she has a very genteel support.
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Images: Mlle Heinefetter – Pierre Louis Grevedon (1830), Gin Lane - William Hogarth (1751), John Bull's incubus – Charles Jameson Grant (1835)
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#18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #costofliving

[1789 Edition] Miss T-wns-nd, 15 Stevens Street, Rathbone Place.
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Beauty like mine would warm a hermit’s heart, Remove his calmness, and disturb his rest; Expel religion from his sacred grove, And all his passions soften into love.
The use of the needle first sired this Lady’s imagination with the use of a certain pin. She passed two years before her public entrance into life at a millener’s, in the town of Boston in America. The discourse between the experienced matrons in that dear initiating school, so warmed her naturally wanton heart, that she fell an easy snare to the first male trap, that fell in her way. Her good fortune soon threw her into the arms of an indulgent keeper, with whom she lived for some time, both before and since they have arrived in this country, the cause of her leaving him we are not acquainted with; suffice it to say, we are certain she refuses no visitors, that will afford a couple of guineas and a bottle. She is tall, and genteel made, now bordering on nineteen, dark complexion, dark hair, black eyes, and very amiable temper and disposition. She is a good dancer, and can sing a chearful song.
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Images: Personification of Africa – Rosalba Carriera (1720), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 4]– William Hogarth (1731), State Street, Boston – William Henry Bartlett (1840s)
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#18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #boston

[1788 Edition] Mrs H-w-rd, 14 Moor’s Place, Lambeth
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Her brows are arch'd, and rather full and thin, To shade the dazzling light that dwells therein.
Although Mrs. H--w--rd cannot be more than twenty-six, she has been a true sportswoman, at the cyprian games, for at least twelve years, and has within these late ones contracted such a habit of intimacy with the gin bottle, that unless a person is particularly partial to it, it is almost intolerable, to approach her. At Brighton, this last season, she was the favourite girl at Mrs. John--n's, and had she not, through a foolish fondness, gave the preference to her dear Mr. Sn--m, it is in general believed Mr. W----, the capital Brewer, would have taken her under his own protection; she is rather too short, and too fat, fine dark hair; and eyes and eye-brows that answer very well to her motto; the grove below is well thatched, and ample enough in size to take in any guest; but still she has learnt the knack of contracting it, and a small made gentleman may feel the tender friction. When she elopes from her dear fellow, she is to be met with at Mrs. J--ns--n's, in German-street, and does not turn away any money offered her.
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Images: Miss Macauley – Rose Emma Drummond (1818), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 2]– William Hogarth (1731), Near Regents Square, Brighton – William Daniell (1823)
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#18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #brighton

[1787 Edition] Mrs Nancy W—dg-r, at a Perfumer’s in Rathbone Place
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Is an unexperienced dame, having just left her friends in Hampshire; she appears to be a well meaning girl, has natural sense, but by no means cunning enough for her present profession, for we have always sound it as true as any axiom in Geometry, that the Swains will take as mean advantages of the Nymphs as the latter can of them, which in our opinion, is very much to their disgrace, and needs no argument to prove the truth of the assertion. Poor Nancy is a mere Je vous remercie Monsieur. But however, she must of course, and by fate and necessity, soon learn better; she has very fine red hair, remarkably long, and good teeth; her complexion is particularly fair, and as far as we can judge entirely unassisted by Cosmetics; she dresses neat, but not at all in the stile of a fille de joye, but there is no doubt she will soon mend, unless she should soon fall into the hands of some rational keeper (which we own is a scarce animal) who has sense enough to improve her natural good nature and gratitude, to the improvement of her understanding and his own felicity. She has however, been given to understand that her favours are of the full value of two pounds two.
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Images: Miss Craigie – Allan Ramsay (1741), Strolling Actresses Dressing in a Barn - William Hogarth (1738), Mr Ross's Room, Bishopsgate Street – Ackermann (1816)
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#18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #perfumers

[1786 Edition] Miss L-c-s, 18 Queen Ann Street East
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How strangely checquer’d is the scene of life, Thro’ which the ruin’d girl is forc’d to stray; Now buoy’d by hope, now sinking in despair, And blindly seeking the precarious way.
Was this lady’s soliloquy from the time she left the East Indies, till she ventur’d herself into life in our metropolis; a near relation of a noble Duke gain’d her heart in the East Indies: in that climate he behav’d to her with the kindness of a married man, but being oblig’d to return to England, she eagerly swallow’d the proposal, thinking she had full and close possession of hid heart, and about a year and a half ago made her appearance in town; in this region of beauty her keeper could not be confin’d, he lov’d variety, and soon left her, untutor’d in the ways of life, unhackney’d in the wiles of intrigue, a deserted forlorn girl, who liv’d upon the effects she brought from the East, ‘till it became absolutely necessary to seek some means for support; ‘tis but very lately she put our means in execution, and is at present so exceedingly timid, she cannot reconcile herself to the company of a stranger, unless introduc’d to her by a friend; her conversation is agreeable, and never disfigur’d by the least tint of vulgarity, she has receiv’d a good education, and is of a good family; in her person she is agreeable without being handsome, with dark hair and eyes, and a very pretty set of teeth, a natural good disposition, which, by misfortune, seem’d a little sour’d; but would some good natur’d cit take her under his care, and reserve her solely for his own use, we may dare venture to affirm she will be true and just to him, and her sweetness of disposition would again return; at present she is quite satisfy’d with one guinea per visit.
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Images: Beauty about to bathe – Unknown Artist (Chinese) (18th century), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 1]– William Hogarth (1731), Album of export paintings – Unknown Artist (Guangzhou) (late 18C)
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#18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #eastindiacompany

[1783 Edition] Miss Th-mp--n, at Brown’s Hotel, Goodman’s Fields
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Reclin’d upon a couch the maiden lay, And all her Virgin Charms expos’d to view; I saw them all, unseen, and in her eyes, Read the mad language of untaught desire.
She has a Brown Hotel of her own, situated in the middle of Good-Woman’s Fields: it was formerly at the bottom of Maiden Lane, you now pass down Snow Hill, through Hare Court, immediately into Exchange Alley, then it is impossible to mistake the road. You are no sooner entered the premisses, but the reckoning is call’d for, and so pretty a method has she of demanding it, that what you do spend must be done with pleasure, and altho’ she gives full change always, unless you take particular care, you will find your purse quite empty when you depart. Just arrived at the tempting ripe age of twenty-two, with little sparkling blue eyes; her breasts rather full, but not less firm; very fair, and contrasted beautifully by the blue branching veins which surround every part: apparently light brown hair, but so covered with powder, that the colour is doubtful; good teeth, rather short, of a very sprightly and amorous disposition, and a very warm temper, especially when tempered by Bacchus. I forgot to inform you, although she in general gives full charge, she never gives any out of a guinea.
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Images: L'agreable neglige – Jean-François Janinet (1779), The Four Times of Day: Noon - William Hogarth (1738), Theatre in Great Alie Street Goodman's Fields - William Capon (1801)
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#18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #goodmansfields

[1765 Edition] Miss B-rgess, Charing Cross
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Tall and well made. Her eyes are black. She is generally allowed to be handsome, though she cannot be called a fine woman. She looks extremely well in boys cloaths; and having once assumed that disguise, passed upon a large company of gentlemen for one of their own sex, till she cave them convincing proofs of the contrary.
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Images: Sidney Beauclerk – Rosalba Carriera (1723), Beer Street - William Hogarth (1751), Mademoiselle La Chevaliere D'Eon de Beaumont - Richard Cosway (1787), Hannah Snell - Richard Phelps (1750), The Female Husband! - I.S. Thomas (1829)
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AMAB: Assigned Male at Birth; AFAB: Assigned Female at Birth; GNC: Gender Non-Conforming; FTM: Female-to-Male; MTF: Male-to-Female
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#18thcentury #georgianera #18thcenturylondon #transhistory #draghistory #chevalierdeon #jamesallen #charleshamilton

[1691] Mrs Mary H----n, Smithfield
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A tall, graceful, comely Woman, indebted for two thirds of her beauty to Washes and the Patch-box; she mightily frequents the Raffling-shops, very shy of allowing her Favours; but the present of Silver Furniture for her Chamber may mollifie her, which will cost you but 20l.
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Images: A young woman – Martin Schongauer (1646), Femme de qualité déshabillée pour le bain – Jean Dieu de Saint-Jean (1685)
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#stuartera #17thcentury #williamandmary #17thcenturylondon

[1794 Edition] Miss God-ry, 55 Charlotte Street, Portland Place
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Reclined upon a couch the maiden lay, And all her virgin charms exposed to view; I saw them all, unseen, and in her eyes, Read the mad language of untaught desire.
Here now is a blooming piece, and only seventeen, of a middling stature, very pretty face, fair complexion, and has hot kept a warehouse, for the reception of goods, properly entered, above twelve months. She is certainly a fine handsome girl of a delicate make, with beautiful blue eyes, which beam languishingly the sweetness and willingness of her disposition, and in their wanton glances indicate the sensibility of the parts into which you introduce, or are introduced. This lady had a child about two months ago, by whom we do not know. Any gentleman wanting to cast anchor in this lady’s port, will find as secure a harbour as ever plummet fathomed. One pound one will not be refused for entrance money.
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Images: Portrait of a young woman – John Hoppner (1758-1810), Four Times of the Day: Morning – William Hogarth (1738), Oh! Dear! What can the matter be! Johnny has been at the fair. – Thomas Prattent (1793)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #soho #18thcenturypregnancy #18thcenturyabortion

[1793 Edition] Mrs Harris-n, Next door to the Shoe-makers Shop, Cleveland Street, New Moulton Street.
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Let the present hour be mine.
A pompous heroic girl, without either wit or humour, but fancies herself clever without any person acquiescing with her whomsoever. She is of the red-haired kind and very vicious, too fond of the male kind for her business, which is the cause of her not succeeding as she should do. Her person is extremely well made, good eyes, fair skin, and incomparable fine hair; never so happy as when in bed with a pretty fellow, altho' the gets nothing by him—like the giddy girl, thinks of nothing but the present, leaving all future events to chance. She left an elderly man, who would have given her five guineas, to bed with a young fellow who had not a single sixpence, and having herself just one guinea thought it sufficient to defray the expense of the night and the following day, leaving herself without a farthing for the sake of a few hours indulgence with this favourite. Whatever money she receives from her indifferent customers she holds in a kind of contempt, and longs for an opportunity to throw away upon her favourite man—generally one who is penniless and glad of even a dinner. This lady lives in the first floor, was lately in keeping with a young banker, but since with another gentleman.
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Images: Lady Hamilton as a Bacchante – George Romney (1785), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 3] – William Hogarth (1731), Cleveland Street Workhouse – Unknown (1930s) courtesy of knowyourlondon wordpress
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#georgianera #18thcentury #soho #clevelandstreet #clevelandstreetworkhouse

[1790 Edition] Miss Charlotte B-lm-r, 31 Wardour Street, Soho.
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She wants no art to give her greater charms, And sure ‘tis heaven to die in her arms.
This lady is tall and rather lusty, she is remarkably fair, which we take to be the gift of nature, as we believe she is an utter stranger to pearl powder. Her eyes are a fine blue, and her lovely tresses of a sandy cast; in a word, she is a bewitching girl when she does not laugh, and by pursuing Lord Chesterfield's rule, of never going beyond a smile or a simper, she may always be sure of conquest; but when she unguardedly gives loose to a hearty laugh, she destroys all the force of her charms, by too visibly displaying she has not in time applied to Ruspini for his professional aid. She is about twenty three, and has been training for amorous delights about three years. It is said she was brought up a clear starcher, and it must be owned she seems still to retain a proper knowledge of that vocation, as few ladies of that profession are better qualified to stiffen and get up small things to the highest perfection. One pound one is the usual fee of this female chamber counsel; but two pieces will afford her much greater satisfaction, and give her such a flow of spirits, as induce her to make uncommon exertions, which have produced incredible effects. Lord V--- often visits her, and though his reputation has long since been established in the annals of amorous gratification, Miss B—r by dint of extraordinary abilities, often makes him believe he affords her the highest gratification. This lady was lately in keeping by a gentleman of the name she now assumes, who left her merely from being so immoderately inclined to extravagance.
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Images: Miss Mangeon of Drury Lane Theatre – Rose Emma Drummond (1817), Gin Lane - William Hogarth (1751), Chesterfield's Principles of Politeness – Samuel Collings (1791)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #soho #lordchesterfield

[1789 Edition] Madame Dev-ll-r, 20 Leicester Street, Golden Square.
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Here come, no freedoms I deny, Indulge the tempting dear delight, Drink transports from my liquid eye, And spend in bliss the peaceful night.
If fame speaks true, this lady has been the once happy mistress of a French nobleman, in her own country, from whence she has but lately arrived; however, her reign in that exalted sphere was only three months, a sufficient time to stain her young mind with that kind of pride, a once exalted state generally creates in a female breast; nevertheless she is a desirable girl, and whilst her paramour continues the gentleman, he will find in her presence every enjoyment a true sensualist can desire; her affable temper, and natural good disposition, has secured her a genteel circle of male acquaintance, and if a smart elegant figure, fair complexion, blue eyes, and a good set of teeth, are, in the eye of our reader, worth two or three guineas, we would recommend him to visit the amorous Madame Dev-ll-r.
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Images: Mrs Robinson – Sir Joshua Reynolds (1785), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 4]– William Hogarth (1731), A faut esperer q'eu se jeu la finira bentot – Anonymous (1789), La chute du despotisme. The downfall of despotism - Frederick George Byron (1789)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #frenchrevolution

[1788 Edition] Miss Br-wn, 8 Castle Street, Oxford Market
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Give me plenty of bub, From the large brandy tub, And I'll spend the whole night in your arms, I'll expose every part Of my brown apple cart, And stifle, quite stifle the boy in its charms.
I hope none of our readers will proves a Mr. L-d-tt, who, about six months ago, from a mere silly quarrel with this his favourite fair, thought it convenient to finish his existence in the leaden way; she does not possess either youth or novelty sufficient to tempt many, to act in that way, having been at least seven years a trading nymph to our knowledge; she is tall, and genteelly made, with a fine skin, and beautiful flaxen hair, but is too fond of the brandy bottle to give that sincere delight, that mutual interchange of souls so necessary to stamp the extatic rapture; she may, however, prove to those that will drink a glass with her, and has no objection to become as merry as herself, a desireable piece, as she is neither extravagant in her demands, or nice in the choice of her admirers.
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Images: Lady St Aubyn – Joshua Reynolds (1788), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 2]– William Hogarth (1731), Marriage A-la-Mode, Plate VI - William Hogarth (1745)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #castlestreet #historicalmentalhealth

[1787 Edition] Miss M-nst-n, 80 Queen Ann Street, East
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O what a rapture did my frame surround, When first I clasp’d her body close to mine! ‘Twas more than rapture all, ‘twas all divine! Such joys I knew, as words want power to tell; Joys, which the feeble reach of thought excel. My soul surpris’d at that excess of joy, (Still ever pleasing, and could never cloy) Unable to sustain it, wing’d away, Whilst all intrac’d and extacy’d I lay.
This lovely fountain of transport is tall and fair, melting and generous, with light hair, and light and sparkling eyes. She indeed knows her value, and expects no less than three guineas and a supper; for she is averse to short skirmishes, and nothing but a whole night’s engagement will please her. She was born in Edinburgh, and was daughter to a bookseller, who married her at sixteen to a young printer; as he perceived, though very young, she was ready for the press, and wanted some one to open the leaves of her duodecimo. Her mother also was of opinion, that she had better smart than itch. But whether her husband did not make a proper impression; or whether she though him too religious, and whilst he constantly said a long grace before meat, and as long a thanksgiving after every delicious meal ‘till his food grew cold; she left him about twelve months since, and came up to London with a young officer. But he was soon appointed to another regiment, through national interest, and left Moggy to shift for herself. She knew she was quite lovely; and felt she was loving; and tho’ she had quitted the printer’s balls and frisket, she had no doubt but she should find as good, She had saved some money, had good cloaths, and made a respectable appearance. She assumed the name she now bears, was noticed by some men of consequence, and has now sufficient employment.
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Images: Nelly O'Brien – Joshua Reynolds (1762), Strolling Actresses Dressing in a Barn - William Hogarth (1738), L'accordée de village - Jean Baptiste Greuze (1770)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #queenannstreet #18thcenturymarriage #scottishmarriage

[1786 Edition] Miss Chr-stm-s, 5 New Street, Fetter Lane
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When fishes leave their element And swim upon the wind, When birds the watry ocean seek And leave the air behind, When tides forget their ebb and flow And not till (could I have life); Would I leave of the thrilling sport, But never, never, be a wife.
The first cause for sin in this daughter of love was, (what is in general believ’d a very common one) the ill usage and abuse of a wicked step-mother, and the careless unheeding disposition of a foolish mistaken father, who grown blind to the tender throbs of paternal affection, and ridiculously enamour’d with this second wife, suffers the quarrels, which pass between her and his own children, to go unregarded, or rather taking his wife’s part; this was the cause of her quitting Birmingham (the place of her nativity); this was likewise the cause of her visiting this metropolis, and this is also the cause of out being able to present to the world a very desirable handsome girl, who no longer ago than last Christmas made her first entrée into the sportive field of love; she is tall and genteel. And every limb in exact proportion to the more attracting parts, a light blue eye, captivatingly swimming in the soft fire of love, Around her neck of make divinely fair, Does glossy ringlets play of dark brown hair, which in a lovely manner tenderly and loosely overshade two panting promontories, and grand dairy of love and pleasure, and add fresh grace to every welcome rise. Her temper is unexceptionable, and cannot avoid pleasing, and should her visitor seem shy, she tenderly embraces him, enfolds him in her wanton arms, and print the balmy kiss with all th’ ecstatic raptures of a lover; press forward the pleasing business, throw open her floodgates of delight, and drain to the last drop the spouting enginge, at the very convenient price of ten shillings and six-pence.
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Images: Portrait of an unknown young woman – Leonard Charles Wyon (1845), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 1]– William Hogarth (1731), The Cruel Stepmother - James Catnach (1835)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #wickedstepmother

[1765 Edition] Miss D-y, Spring Gardens
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This celebrated heroine, though little in stature, but great in fame, deserves, by birth as well as merit, to appear one of the foremost in our List, being the supposed daughter of a gentle of first fashion in Ireland, (famous for his illicit amours) by his lady’s waiting-woman; who, ‘tis said, by her violent raptures in the action of love, used to so shake, disturb, and drive about the helpless foetus in her womb, as, by repeated shocks, to lessen the tender compages in its first efforts of expanding itself into the dimensions allotted it by nature; and that her epitomised and curtailed form hath been even since the unhappy consequence. Miss D-y’s, lowness of stature hath been however productive of extraordinary vivacity, and uncommon quickness of invention, when disposed to allure and please her gallants. By what fatality she came on the public, is as yet a secret; but she seems to be entirely devoted to the pleasures and private amusements of the genteel and gay of the other sex, and may be seen often in the Park, in company with two or three officers of the Foot-guards. She seems to be a lover of gaming; and even when engaged in a party at play, she still has an eye to business. If she is at any time unfortunate, she repays her debts of honour, by yielding up her person.
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Images: Catharina Helena Stöberin – Johann Esaias Nilson (1775), Beer Street - William Hogarth (1751), Owen Farrel the Irish Dwarf - Hubert François Gravelot (1742)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #historyofdwarfism #dwarfism #achondroplasia #ghd #littleperson

[Individual Highlight] Jane Douglas, The Empress of the Bawds 1698-1761
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For the first time in Covent Garden Ladies history, I can finally have the images actually be of the woman I am talking about! How exciting! I was looking through various brothel madams and English courtesans when Jane caught my eye. Particularly how she was styled as the ‘Empress of the Bawds’ and how she had her own memoirs. Those memoirs which held a subtitle of, “Audire est operæ pretium, procedere recte - Qui mœchis non vultis.” Or “To listen is the price of the work, to proceed rightly - You who do not want adulterers.” A warning that her life’s story, as written by the anonymous author, should be listened to and learned from.
Her memoirs can be found online and they’re a short and easy read. There’s so much detail that I omitted for the sake of brevity here but is fully fleshed out in the text. How much of it is true? Who knows, but its rare to have a document that someone of her standing likely had a say in writing and how she wished to be remembered after her death.
The second image of Jane found in William Hogarth’s Enthusiasm Delineated is an interesting one as it exists as a proto-drawing to his more well known work Credulity, Superstition and Fanaticism, where Jane is replaced by Mary Toft, the subject of a hoax wherein she ‘gave birth’ to rabbits after a miscarriage. I’ll likely do a post on Toft in the future, even though she has nothing to do with prostitution. Her situation, agency and memory are still a matter of contention, and she is a very interesting person to remember.
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Images: Detail from The March of the Guards to Finchley – William Hogarth (1750), Enthusiasm Delineated – William Hogarth (1760-1762)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #janedouglas #motherdouglas

[1793 Edition] Miss S-wyn, Chelsea and Ranelagh
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Hail beauty, such is thine electric touch, It fill the veins and animates the pulse, Of all who but beheld thee!
This lovely female is rather tall, but elegantly made with a most enchanting bosom, a fair complexion and excellent features, her mouth is small, but looks when closed like a rose when it begins to bud, fine expressive blue eyes and beautiful teeth; dresses most elegantly, and is just turned of sixteen; she is the natural daughter of an Officer, who died about twelve years ago in the East-India, and is now kept by a friend of her father's, who had her educated at a boarding school, and who took her from it about two years ago; this gentleman took for her a lodging on the King's Road, just by a lazy nursery, and like the celebrated R—s, is very fond of hair combing preparatory to the amorous conflict; and as soon as the hair-dresser is gone, he generally begins his operation, and combs with a tortoiseshell comb her beautiful tresses, which are always highly perfumed with the most odoriferous scent; [cut] white seems the most voluptuous dress; her hair elegantly dressed and highly perfumed; the head-dress adorned with large feathers, but an indispensable article in the dress of a young woman, is, a very large nosegay of natural flowers, or artificial ones well scented, and which she should wear on the left side of her bosom, as high as the ear; [cut] but to return to our charmer, a ten pound bank note will have its due influence if properly presented, and considering the inexpressible pleasure received in the arms of this young and delicate female, we think she deserves it. She is frequently to be noticed in the green boxes of the Theatres, and in the season at Ranelagh; generally dressed in white with a profusion of feathers, and seldom without a most enormous bouquet in her bosom; she keeps a chariot, and a negro servant always attends her.
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Images: Head of a Young Woman – Gilles Demarteau the Elder (1722 - 1776), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 3] – William Hogarth (1731), View of Ranelagh - Samuel Wale (1766)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #chelsea #ranelaghgardens

[1790 Edition] Miss N-nn, 15 Compton Street
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The golden locks that shade those killing eyes, In wanton folds embrace her snowy neck; The yellow mantle fixt between the thighs With envious ringlets Venus's altar deck.
This lewd piece of gigantic love, (being full six feet high) has figured away in a very prosperous line these last nine months, nor does her amorous appetite seem in the least abated, she looks to be only about nineteen. If carrot locks create lewdness (as is believed by some) we need not wonder at this lasses fire, she is so amply stored with it both above and below; below its great use is immediately pointed out; for did not this impervious armour shade the font of life, the battered premises would often want repairing, now it stands unshocked at the fierce attacks. During your engagement with this piece of wanton fire, you should be particularly cautious just at the coming in of the heat, not to suffer her teeth to come in contact with any very tender part, we have known a case where a gentleman lost part of his tongue upon the occasion. As she is in good keeping by a nobleman of Grosvenor Square, you cannot value her favours at less than three guineas.
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Images: A lady with light coloured hair – Charles Beale (1632-1726), Gin Lane - William Hogarth (1751), Grosvenor Square - Thomas Malton (1800)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #grosvenorsquare

[1789 Edition] Miss Betsy Con-s, 82 Charlotte Street
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Sure in forming thee heaven took unusual care; Like its own beauty it design’d thee fair; And form’d thee by the best lov’d angel there.
This lady is tall and elegant in person; her face remarkable pretty; her conversation pleasant and vivacious. Betsy is about twenty, with light hair, and fine blue eyes, had very good teeth, and a fine leg and foot. She might be stiled a real beauty, would probably often pick up the handkerchief in the Seraglio, were she there properly introduced. She is the daughter of a clergyman, who was obliged to support himself and family upon a scanty living, and at his demise, poor Betsy had a wide world to range in, having nothing but her person and mental accomplishments, which were well cultivated, to recommend her; and she might justly urge, ‘If poor weak women chance to go astray; Their stars are more in fault than they.’
This lady has an eye to the main chance, and no one Thais upon the town knows the value of a guinea better than herself, a sum, however, she seldom accepts, being more accustomed to yield her embraces for double and treble that amount.
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Images: The Choice – William Ward (1786), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 4]– William Hogarth (1731), A peep into lady W!!!!!Y's seraglio - James Gillray (1782)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #seraglio

[1788 Edition] Miss K-lp-n, Ludgate Hill.
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We cannot pretend to say where this curious oddity lives, that being a circumstance she carefully conceals; and what is more extraordinary, she never can be prevailed on to go into taverns or other houses with a gentleman. If you walk on the right hand side of the way, from the corner of Cheapside along St. Paul's Church Yard, and thence to the bottom of Ludgate Hill, just after sun set, and meet with a beautiful woman about twenty, tall and finely shaped, with fine black eyes, and hair of the same hue, that floats in curls down her back, and worn without powder, and a be witching dimple in each cheek, you may give a shrewd guess you have found Miss K-lp-n.
We have not said she will deny entering one of them with you; that is if she likes your person and conversation. And here let us add, no frothy coxcomb, no male adonis, conceited of his own dear person, no shoe stringed effeminate puppy, no insipid empty chatterer, can hope to succeed with her.
We have rather enlarged on this lady, on account of the singularity of her disposition; and what will add to your wonder is, that she never will receive any money, but take the offer as an affront. These circumstances make us conclude that K-lp-n, the name she has assumed sometimes, is not her real name, and that she is not a woman of the town, but some married city lady, who takes this method of getting home deficiencies supplied abroad, and, as she is cautious of her character, uses these precautions. We have been told that the undulating motion of the coach, with the pretty little occasional jolts, contribute greatly to enhance the pleasure of the critical moment, if all matters are rightly placed.
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Images: Miss Smithson – Rose Emma Drummond (1819), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 2]– William Hogarth (1731), Trade card of T Bryan - William Newman (c. 1800), Interior of a stage coach - William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #hackneycoaches #hackneycarriage

[cut of length - posted below]

[1787 Edition] Miss L-nf-rd, 11 Glanville Street.
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Love’s power’s too great to be withstood, By feeble human flesh and blood: Twas that which brought upon his knew, The hect’ring kill-cow Hercules; Transform’d his shaggy lion’s skin, T’ a petticoat, and made it spin; Seiz’d on his club, and made it dwindle, T’ a feeble distaff and a spindle: Twas that made emperors gallants, To their own sisters and their aunts; Set popes and cardinals agog, To play with pages at leap-frog.
None can dispute the power of love, and none can dispute Miss L-nf—d’s abilities to excite that passion, or quench it when excited. She is of an agreeable person, though not pretty, her hair is dark, and she has good eyes, her teeth are white and even, and she is of a most affable temper. She strains hard to keep within the bounds of decorum, and makes him who enjoys her imagine he is the only favoured swain. For this purpose she does not make use of the common arts of incitement, nor wishes to be taken for one of the sisterhood. Her chief rendezvous is in the Green Park, where she always walks with a little girl in hand, in order to pass for a prudent matron; who may have her desires indeed, but is not to be approached with effrontery, or taken by storm, but rather with respect, and seems to surrender to merit only, though she has the address to get money with her merit.
She has been for some months (off and on) kept by J---- L----, Esq; who has no less than three different times conveyed or consigned her home to her friends and relations – however all will not do, for she is determined not to submit to a bare existence, while she can live in gaiety and pleasure.
She is tall and genteel, and her age is not exceeding three and twenty years.
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Images: Ann Lynn – John Everett Millais (1852), Strolling Actresses Dressing in a Barn - William Hogarth (1738), Spencer House from Green Park - Thomas Malton (1800)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #greenpark #stjamespark

[1786 Edition] Miss T-rn-r, 11 Little Titchfield Street.
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From durance vile I late am freed, And now again can pad the hoof; No locks can now my trade impede, No Turnkey now beneath my roof. I’ve learn’t the different ways to please, Am up to all their tricks and fun, And for one crown will lie at ease, Or tickle till the sport is done.
This Lady, we must acquaint our Readers, is up to a thing or two; the jail birds, in that delectable school for infamy (Newgate) has made her, as she thinks, better acquainted with the world; if any of our good friends therefore should fancy so amiable a lady, we only recommend him to be on his guard, and remember two ancient lines. “He that a watch would wear this must do, &c.”
She has been a public teacher in the School of Love two years, is tall, and well stored with flesh; her complexion was once fair, and her hair is now a light brown; her eyes are a heavenly grey, and perfectly conversant in the leer, the lure, the wink, the approve, the disgust, &c. and, in short, she is mistress of every mode of insinuation, and as her price is what she can get, depend on it she’ll get all she can.
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Images: Mrs Hughes – George Perfect Harding (1802-1853) after Margaret Hughes - Sir Peter Lely (1680-1704), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 1]– William Hogarth (1731), Newgate - Thomas Malton (1799), Newgate - N Thomas (1782-1800)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #newgate #newgateprison

[1765 Edition] Miss B-rrows, Holborn.
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A fine woman; tall and genteel in her person, in her face handsome: if she is not a first-rate beauty, yet she does not much fall short of it. Her complexion is fine, and her eyes and hair black, which colour, in the opinion of the ancients, surpassed all others. An adventure of somewhat an extraordinary nature once befell her. An elderly gentleman offered her something more than the usual price for the favour; but when they were retired to an apartment by themselves, he took out one of those instruments which are used at School for another purpose, and desired her to lay on hastily, which she did; this exercise was repeated three times, and excited such a titillation in the feeble old gentleman’s blood, that he three times renewed the assault. The whole scene of lechery, however, was seen by a third person thro’ a chink in the partition; and the story coming to the ears of many of Miss B-r-ws’s acquaintance, she has sometimes been rallied upon it, and has always peremptorily denied the fact without being disconcerted. The old gentleman, not being able to shew his face after the affair became public, left the kingdom, and has never been seen since.
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Images: Hannah Horneck – Sir Joshua Reynolds (1759), Beer Street - William Hogarth (1751), The Cully Flaug'd - Marcellus Laroon II (1674-1702)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #devianthistory #nottokinkshamebut #safesaneandconsentual

[1793 Edition] Mrs R-ssell, 17 Fludger Street, Westminster.
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Is a fine plump girl, at the age of twenty-eight, rather dark hair and eyes, she keeps a house, and sometimes sports a chariot. This lady has been some years in the service, in London, where she was much in vogue with the bucks and bloods of the town, who admired her more for her vulgarity than anything else, she being extremely expert at uncommon oaths, and, at her first commencing a lady of pleasure, she threw off all restraint, so that her modesty was never offended: her readiness to reveal all the secrets, which the delicate part of the sex think proper to conceal, brought her a number of clients among the youth, who are fond of beholding that mouth of the devil from whence all corruption issueth. These she took care to fleece sufficiently; so that by her economy, she is now enabled to keep her country house and receives visits from only a few, and has in some degree left off her habit of swearing. This lady being a very good pen-woman, and much out of town, has a good opportunity of displaying her talents in that line to her lovers.
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Images: Miss P. Glover – Rose Emma Drummond (1822), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 3]– William Hogarth (1731), Mrs Elizabeth Cobbold - George Frost (c.1815), Helen Maria Williams - Ozias Humphry (c.1790), Maria Edgeworth - John Downman (1807), Ann of Swansea - William John Watkeys (1835)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #18thcenturyauthors #femaleauthors

[1790 Edition] Mrs R-ss, 8 Little Ryder Street, St. James's.
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This lady's complexion is dark, as well as her eyes and hair. Her teeth are regular and white. She is very affable and engaging in her disposition, and calls forth all her powers to give delight, with uncommon success; her age is eighteen, and her entrance into life is about eight months. She is a great dreamer, and frequently entertains her friends with her reveries, which are generally romantic and whimsical. She has been for sometime wavering with respect to religion, and a certain methodist preacher has taken great pains to make a convert of her, but a Roman Catholic priest, who visits her a la sourdine, countermines in the evening all his rival's operations in the morning; so that between Methodism and Popery, she is a skiff upon the ocean tossed, and cannot find a safe port to anchor in. She is however pretty well known to be in keeping by a clergyman, who is dotingly fond of her, and in whose absence only, is she comeatable, at the moderate price of two or three guineas.
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Images: Miss Campbell – Rose Emma Drummond (1818), Gin Lane - William Hogarth (1751), The Idle 'Prentice Executed at Tyburn - William Hogarth (1747)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #littleryderstreet #stjames

[Individual Highlight – Doctoress] Cuba Cornwallis, Port Royal, Jamaica.
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After posting the entry for Miss T-m-s on the 13th October, I was introduced to the amazing Cuba Cornwallis in my comments. I promised myself that once I set up a space for special characters or highlights of certain individuals, I would honour her and brettappraisals by including her. She’s been on my mind a lot recently, and even though she is not one of my ladies, I think she is worth remembering. Like many women of the age, and even more so as a black woman who was previously enslaved, there is precious little about her life that is not linked to the white men who interacted with her. What we can see, however, is how incredible and intelligent she was. I would hope, in future, that she is remembered on par with Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale.
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Images: Free Natives of Dominica – Agostino Brunias (1810), Caribbean men and women dancing - Agostino Brunias (1810), His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence - Sir William Beechey (1806), The Honble Captn. William Cornwallis - Daniel Gardner (1780), Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson - John Hoppner (1839)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #jamaica #jamaicanhistory #blackhistory

[1787 Edition] Miss M-rsh-ll, 44 Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square.
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Here native elegance was made to dwell, With Beauty seated in her rosy lap, Mingling their sweets with such a tasteful hand, That full-blown art grows pallid at the sight, Such then her parts exposed – her hidden gifts, Claim just pre-eminence – since void pf these, Superior sense ungratified remains.
This blooming actress, whose beauty and elegance so justly correspond with her taste, has been initiated on the stage of Love only nine months, her history we are not fully acquainted with, but from the knowledge we have of her present connections, we imagine she must have received a genteel education. Some little time back she was to be met with at almost every public place of entertainment, and was indeed a sort of fixture at a noted house of intrigue in Margaret Street, at this time, she never stoops below the polite man, or the man of fashion: amongst her then numerous votaries, Mr H---y seemed to shew her the greatest partiality, nor did her affection for him seem less; he grew at length tired of her, and we presume she of him. She is an excellent good companion, although of rather a hot temper; singing appears her delight, in which she does not want ability; but in her offerings of love she indulges her wanton appetite to its utmost scope, nor feels satiety so soon as many of the sisterhood: her willing paramour will ever find her arms open to receive the repeated embrace, and whilst he retains the power of giving pleasure, she is sure to possess the same in return.
Pressing with burning lips the quick return, Or, with enraptured folds fresh bliss invite.
Her person and figure is remarkably elegant, a good complexion, and lively hazel dark auburn hair, good teeth, and but nineteen years of age. If you have two or three guineas to spare you may be always sure of a most agreeable companion in this lady.
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Images: Rosa Alba Carriera – Francesco Bartolozzi (1778), Prodigal Son with Harlots - John Faber Jr, Strolling Actresses Dressing in a Barn - William Hogarth (1738)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #historyofacting

[1788 Edition] Miss W--d, at a Hairdressers, Windmill Street, Tottenham Court Road.
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Fair, As May morning rising from the east, Or day dismounting from the golden west.
This young charmer is of the middle size, and the resplendent black of her lively eyes is finely contrasted by the fairness of her complexion and lightness of her hair: her teeth are good, and her temper complying. She is really a delicious piece, and her terra incognita is so very agreeable to every traveller therein, that it hath ceas'd to deserve that name, and is to become a well known and much frequented country; freely taking in the stranger, raising up them that fall, making the crooked straight, and although she does not pretend to restore sight to the blind, she'll place him in such a direction that he cannot mistake the way; and for one guinea will engage he returns the same way back without any direction at all.
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Images: Portrait of a young lady – Michael Dahl (1659-1743), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 2]– William Hogarth (1731), Livre de différents caractères de têtes - Antoine Watteau (1734), A woman half-bust - James Delegal (1789)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #historyofhair

[1789 Edition] Miss D-v-np-rt, at a Biscuit Shop in Tottenham Street, Tottenham Court Road.
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In all the sex some charms I find, And love to try what’s all mankind.
Miss D-----t is very different from the rest of her sisterhood, for being of a very amorous disposition, about twenty six, she cannot resist the importunities of the Beaux Garcons, whom she often gratifies gratis. She is an agreeable girl, tall and thin, with light hair and fair complexion, a little pitted with the small pox, and though she cannot be pronounced a regular beauty, she possesses expressive eyes, though but indifferent teeth; and as complexions are easily fabricated, she cannot be a disagreeable female. It is added, upon good authority, that she is a very good bed-fellow, and gives a Rowland for an Oliver any time in the night. She expects half a guinea for a night’s lodging, and indeed, she well deserves it, for besides her being a very expert disciple of the cyprian queen, her well furnished apartment is worth Bagnio or Hotel price; so that the money is not all lost; if it were only for temporary accommodation. She is besides a very decent behaved woman, and never gives offence to decency by her conversation; though when she is between the sheets, no devoter of the Cytherian goddess expresses her sensations with greater ardour.
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Images: A young lady – Carl Fredrick von Breda (1796), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 4]– William Hogarth (1731), Trade card of T. Rogers, Baker (c.1800)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #18thcenturybaker

[1786 Edition] Mrs J-nn-ngs, 1 Linden Street, near Fitzroy Chapel.
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The parents of this now so much admir’d girl, never thought their daughter’s ambition would soar to so high a pitch, an education such as their low circumstances would admit of, she received; and when she arrived to an age capable of doing something for herself, she became a retailer of nose-gays, through the most frequent parts of the town; at length she fixed her abode near the Haymarket, and confined herself solely to the spot, and its environs for the disposing of her ware; a lucky moment brought Mr. F---, a merchant in the city, to the theatre, in the road to which he first beheld this lady, in the dress and occupation of a flower-girl, her figure and person struck his eye, and after a little conversation, found the way to a more formidable part; in short, he became at once so fond, and she so willing, that he remov’d her immediately; robb’d her of her trade, and oblig’d her to shut up on shop, that was attended with a vast deal if hardships and trouble, and open another, in the execution of which trade, she does not at present find so much inconvenience, and a vast deal more pleasure: Now she lives elegantly, and sports such a figure, the first woman about the Court need not blush to own; and never makes her appearance in any manner public without her livery’d footman. One year has passed since this great change of fortune, her keeper seems satisfied, and she perfectly happy; but it cannot be imagined, that such a delectable piece, is kept for the sole use of a city Merchant, if he imagines so he is certainly mistaken; but as she soars at present so lofty, whoever presumes to visit must be properly provided, and not less than five guineas will answer the purpose; she is tall, perfectly genteel, and, what envy must allow, a truly beautiful face, and a complexion as fair as Hyperborean snow; her hair a light brown
[Cut for character count]
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Images: Mrs Harbert – John Linnell (1826), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 1]– William Hogarth (1731), Opera House, Haymarket – Charles John Smith (1840)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #haymarket

[1765 Edition] Miss Sym-nds, near the Temple Gate, Fleet Street.
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Has good features, though not exactly regular; she is something above the middle size, her eyes are blue, and her hair of a fine light brown. Few women of the town have gone through more scenes of life, that the above heroine. It is said of her, that she was debauched so early in life, that at present she does not know the name of her first betrayer. She sold nosegays and rings at Bath about seven years ago, and upon her first coming to town, she was so low in the world as to be obliged to sell oranges, wine, coffee, &c. at the play-houses and the opera-house. She did not, however, continue long in this sphere of life; for Sir James W---, whose taste was something capricious, discovering in her a something which was overlooked by everybody else, took her into keeping, and she went by his name. Sir James W--- dying in a short time after they became acquainted, the importance she had acquired by being his mistress, soon procured her another keeper. W—R--, Esq; succeeded the Baronet, and dying soon after likewise, gave rise to a report, that her tenement was mortal, and mist in a short time prove destructive to every incumbent. This report prevented her being taken again into keeping, and she now submits to the drudgery of plying between Temple Bar and Somerset House. We should not have mentioned her in our List, but at the request of some of our friends, by way of caution.
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Images: Mary Evelyn – Robert Nanteuil (1818), Beer Street - William Hogarth (1751)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #temple

[1790 Edition] Miss B-r-n, 14 Castle Street, Oxford Market.
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Indeed sir, says she, you play sweetly this flute, You ravish my sense, tho? your instrument's mute; Before that I’d hear the noisy ton'd flute, I'd give all my treasures to gobble the root, Of your's, &c.
The father of this funny girl was a tabor and pipe player, at the fashionable hops in town, and in his daughter's early years instilled into her principles the use of the flute; but not having an ear for music, and fearful of disobeying her father, altho' she threw aside the use of one, by a more natural instinct she much sooner attained the use of another, and can play any strain, without much straining, in two flats, which she thinks is a very natural key, and there is no one a greater proficient at double tonguing the flute, or stopping in tune. She is now about nineteen years of age, a fair complexion, fine dark eyes, and is of such a size, as to be able to do the business in any position you would wish to place her, sitting or landing, a table or a chair, a bed or a carpet, is very indifferent to her, and she will mount St. George, rather than not subdue the dragon; a single air is half a guinea, for a nocturnal rondo, she expects four times the sum.
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Images: A Scene in the Recruiting Officer – Philippe Mercier (1739), Gin Lane - William Hogarth (1751), Danse Villageoise - Sigmund Freudenberger (1784-1829)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #travellingmusic #folkmusic

[1793 Edition] Miss V--ghan, 23 Upper Newman Street.
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Under how hard a fate are women born; Prais'd to their ruin, or exposed to scorn! If they want beauty, they of love despair, And are besieg'd like frontier towns if fair.
This lady was a few years since, a servant to a gentleman's family, near Holborn: in which capacity she used frequently to walk for the air, with her little ward, in Gray's Inn Gardens. A certain gentleman of the law, perceiving a very fine girl, which she was at that time, often in the walks, took an opportunity of conversing with her, and soon after persuaded her to come and make some tea for him in his chambers. The sequel, it were needless to relate: she was debauched, and soon after deserted by her betrayer. The consequence of which was, having lost her place, and being destitute of a character, she was obliged to have recourse to her beauty for a subsistance. She took lodgings near Red Lyon Square, and had a number of successive admirers. She was, at this time, not above twenty; tall and well made, with a fine open expressive countenance, large amorous eyes; her other features in due symmetry; her mouth very agreeable, and her teeth regular; in a word, she was at that time one of the finest women upon the town, and, accordingly, made one of the best figures from the emoluments of her employments. She was same time after taken into keeping by a man of fortune, with whom she made a summer excursion into the country; but, upon his demise, her finances being exhausted, she was compelled to have recourse to a more general commerce, in which the has not been so successful, as before; and chagrin added to the usual irregularities accidental to her profession, has diminished those charms which were before so attracting; her face is now rather bloated, and she is grown somewhat masculine in her person; she may, nevertheless, still be pronounced a very good piece, and a desirable woman.
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Images: Mary 'Perdita' Robinson – George Romney (1781), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 3]– William Hogarth (1731), A governess - James Gillray (1771-1785)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #governess

[1787 Edition] Miss Esther Sp-nc-r, 31 Goodge Street.
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This lady has carried on, with the help of a tolerable person, a very good trade for some years past. In her earlier days she had a fashionable education; that is to say, she has been taught to dance and study the Graces, &c. but with respect to any useful instruction, has not the least knowledge; but however, notwithstanding, there is a pretty nothingness in her conversation, which makes her a very agreeable companion for an hour or two; she has but indifferent teeth, dark hair, a fine forehead, and a very good leg; is about twenty six years of age, and though tall and lusty, is very fond of the blackamoors hops.
Mr. B---, a Confectioner, not far from Bond Street, is said to be her particular favourite. As to her terms, she varies according to the circumstances of the case, just as it may happen.
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Images: Priscilla Maden Watts – Alfred Edward Chalon (1834), Prodigal Son with Harlots - John Faber Jr, Recreations of a confectioner’s window from Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #confectioners #foodhistory

[Individual Highlight - Procuress] Mrs Eliza Walpol, 1 Poland Street.
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Eliza is the notable procuress and madam of no.1 Poland Street, running a brothel of high class girls from 1788 to 1794. She does not have her own entry or description in any of Harris’s List’s but a small amount of information about her can be gleaned from the entries of her girls. Her girls include: Miss Douglass (1788), Miss Roofs (1788), Miss Mackay (1789), Mademoiselle (1789) – who I have already featured in my post on the 17th November, Miss Bromley (1790), and Miss Porlock (1794).
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Images: Portrait of a lady – Richard Cook (1784-1857), Marriage A-la-Mode [Plate 3: The Inspection] – William Hogarth (1743)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies

[1788 Edition] Miss Harriet J-n-s, St George’s Hotel, opposite Virginia Street, Wapping.
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For lips to lips, and Tongue to Tongue, Will make a man of sixty young.
Yes, 'tis Harriet, the fair, still blooming Harriet, whose eyes are molded for the tender union of souls (let them but borrow a little fire from Bacchus) "by Heaven's, shoot Suns" whose nectar-distilling lips pour sweetest balm; whilst the soft silent lingual intercourse shoots powerfully through all the frame, and awakes each dormant sense. When naked she is certainly Thomson's Lavinia.
For loveliness, Needs not the foreign aid of ornament, But is, when unadorned, adorned the most.
A beautiful black fringe borders the Venetian Mount, and whether she pursues the Grahamatic method from a practical knowledge of its increase of pleasure, from motives of cleanliness, or as a certain preventative we will not pretend to say; but we well know it makes her the more desirable bed-fellow, and after every stroke gives fresh tone and vigour to the lately distended parts; her legs and feet claim her peculiar attention, nor do their coverings ever disgrace their owner, nor their actions under cover ever do injustice to that dear delightful spot they are doomed to support, protect, and pay just obedience to; the eager twine, the almost unbearable press at the dye away moment, with all love's lesser Artillery, she plays off with uncommon activity and ardor, and drinks repetition with thirst insatiable. Half a guinea, and a new pink ribband to encircle her bewitching brows, is the least she expects for a night's entertainment. There are three or four more ladies of our order in the house, if this lady should not exactly suit.
But being blest with beauty's potent spell, Must from her other sisters bear the bell.
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Images: Sophie Potocka – Anton Graff (1775-1813), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 2]– William Hogarth (1731), Gun Dock at Wapping – Thomas Hosmer Shepherd (1850)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #wapping #ratcliffhighwaymurders

[1789 Edition] Miss All-s-n, 4 Glanville Street.
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No swain who courts Su[sa?]n, needs ever despair, She’s wantonly vicious, though she’s quite fair.
This young lady is now just in her prime, and if old Lig---r were now alive, he would give a bushel of money for her to keep his feet warm. She is rising seventeen; has not been in great practice above six months; but she is as pretty a titt as ever entered a Bagino; and can trot, amble, and even gallop, if required, being of a very patriotic disposition, and having a great veneration for St. George, our tutelar Saint. She is perfectly well calculated for this pleasurable exercise, being light, and delicate, but proportionably made. Her face is rather delicate than captivating; her mouth is engaging, as her two rows of ivory teeth within. She is not rapacious in her price, and is too apt to give credit, especially to the gentlemen of the army, with one of whom she eloped about six months ago from her mistress, a chamber milliner, where she was an apprentice. She was supposed to be an excellent hand in that branch, and she has since proved herself capable of turning her hand to anything. A quill-driver near Chancery Lane, offered her marriage a short time since; but she prudently declined the honour he proposed her, having discovered that he was in debt with his taylor, and could no longer make both ends meet upon fourteen shillings a week.
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Images: Anne Rushout – Andrew Plimer (late 18thC), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 4]– William Hogarth (1731), A Ladies Maid Purchasing a Leek – Michel Vincent Brandoin (1772), The labourer's luncheon - George Morland (1797)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #glanvillestreet #18thcenturyeconomics

[1786 Edition] Mrs W-t-rs, 86 Charlotte Street.
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A brighter nymph sure ne’er the silver moon, Lead blushing to the bridal bed.
Had Col. C----b remain’d in England, we could not, perhaps, have ventur’d to enlist this lady; but quickly after he set sail for the West Indies, her vessel was soon mann’d for the land of delight. The Colonel has allowed her three guineas per week since he left her, but she cannot think that a sufficiency to enable her to appear in public places; she, therefore, seldom visits those places without transacting business in the private way.
It is two years since she first, Bath’d her fervent limbs, In the refreshing stream of love.
Her size and figure makes her an excellent winter’s bed fellow: she is handsomely featur’d , with a lily complexion, and a pretty light cerulean eye, pretty pouting lips, and a pair of bubbies whose whiteness might bid the lily blush, and whose firmness may bid defiance for manual pressure to indent. The parts below are of a darken hue, ever ready to receive the amorous assaults of Britons looser sons; for a whole night’s bombardment she expects two pounds two, which is just eighteen shillings more than her age.
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Images: Lady Maria Throckmorton – John Downman (1785), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 1]– William Hogarth (1731), Charlotte Street, Tallis's Views of London – John Tallis (1838)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #charlottestreet #fitzrovia

[1765 Edition] Ms Poll J-hn-son, Russell Street.
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A delicate plump girl, and seems to have a violent passion for the opposite sex, especially when elevated with negus.
We would advise our friend Poll to lie by a little, being apprehensive she is too much worked, few women of the turf being rid so often, which shews her fondness for the game, and readiness to oblige her friends. She has various prices, from ten shillings to five guineas, according to the pocket of her cull.
Her principal trade is with petty sea-officers, some of whom have paid handsomely for their frolic; one in particular, lately remonstrated to her on this head, by saying, “D-mn you, Poll, the last time I had an affair with you, you gave me a swinging cl-p:” “Indeed, replied she, I must beg your pardon; for you bought it at the small price of a guinea.”
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Images: La vielleuse – Sébastien Leclerc II (1743), Beer Street – William Hogarth (1751)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #historyofmedicine #stihistory

[1790 Edition] Miss S—lly B-ck—tt, at Mrs. Windsor's, Kings Place.
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Here native elegance was made to dwell, With beauty seated in her rosy lip, Mixing their sweets with such a tasteful hand, That Venus's self might almost envy A form so graceful and a face divine.
This genteel pretty filly is not above seventeen, she is tall and elegant, with red hair, fine blue eyes, and good teeth. She is the daughter of a respectable tradesman at Chelsea, and received an education suitable to the line of life she was destined to move in. About two months ago she received the addresses of a certain gentleman, who professed the strictest honour, Miss B 's ambition was fired at the thoughts of a chariot, and she implicitly believed all he told her. She had concealed this amour from her father, who, nevertheless, suspected all was not going right, as she displayed many trinkets, which he knew was not in her power to purchase. Suspicions being once entertained, he had his daughter's motions watched, and she was traced to the place of her rendezvous with her lover, at a millener's near Bond Street, Mr. — — now took her to task, and upbraided her with her conduct; but, alas, remonstrances came too late, for her seduction was compleated. No sooner had her father made this discovery, than he turned her out of doors, and she has since been necessiated to take such refuge as her present situation affords, being quite deserted by her seducer. Finding herself thus abandoned, she is now compelled to barter her charms for a support. In this predicament she has been for a short time, but comports herself with great decorum, and on every occasion manifests the gentlewoman, and that she has been betrayed by her credulity and ambition. Her visiters are all in the genteel line, behave with great politeness to her, and constantly make her very genteel presents, that enables her to figure with éclat whenever she appears in public.
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Images: The Fortune Teller – John Hoppner (1782), Gin Lane – William Hogarth (1751), James Christie's 'Great Room' – Charles Warren (1803)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #stjames #stjamessquare #pallmall

[1787 Edition] Miss Br-wn, 2 Little Chapel Street.
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Beware the magic of her eyes, For there the artful cupid lies.
This young lady has not been above two years a convert to her present profession, and is said to have received her first instructions from a near relation, who is since gone to Ireland, of which country he is a native. She is about eighteen, short and thick, has red hair and light eyes, good teeth, fair skin, pretty face and blooming cheeks. She is very fond of singing, and has a good voice, is very earnest in her pursuit after the sport, and dresses very gay. One thing is greatly against her, and may possibly reduce her sooner than she may imagine, that is, she is too fond of a glass of strong water. Her expectations are very moderate.
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Images: Youth – Ozias Humphry (1784), Prodigal Son with Harlots - John Faber Jr, Trade card of Edward Brown – Anonymous (1840)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #littlechapelstreet #sheratonstreet #soho

[1793 Edition] Miss Ric-s-n, 14 Titchfield Street.
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Her heaving breast with rapture lies, And love her every with supplies.
The constraint put upon the inclinations of most young girls, proves very often an irresistible enticement for them to indulge them—Miss R— is an instance of this, her mother, by endeavouring to control her, raised the fire of desire in her breast, and she soon became a convert to love and libertinism—She is fond of the sport to excess, and, by her own account, has never yet been bless'd with a satisfying meal of manhood. She never consults the person of a man, for she cannot like him without he has [his?] extraordinary powers, which are the only credentials by which a person can recommend themselves to her. She is about twenty-four, has a fair skin, and good eyes; is very full breasted, and has an agreeable lisp in her speech; she has genteel and good clothes, but dresses in a style peculiar to herself.
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Images: Aspettare – Jean Baptiste Bernard Coclers (1790-1800), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 3]– William Hogarth (1731), Is this my Daughter Ann? – Samuel Hieronymus Grimm (1774)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #youth #teenagers #18thcenturyyouth

[1786 Edition] Miss R-ch-rds, Drury Lane Theatre.
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So have I seen ‘midst dreadful doubts, The tender virgin lye, fear paled her cheek, Whilst in her hand the length’ning wonder stood; With swimming half clos’d eyes and closing thighs, At length by love and kind intreaties wrought, Unlock each charm, and thrust the hero home.
Amorous dalliance is what this lady is very fond of, and always wishes it to precede enjoyment; for this reason we would not wish the sportsman to be too eager for the game, even when in view; but to let desire be sufficiently rous’d on both sides, which, by tender pressings, soft and melting kisses, is with her soon brought about, and then she mutually enjoys the inexpressible bliss; she is rather short, but every limb is form’d in very just proportion, and perform their offices in a very good-natur’d indulgent gentleman, who thinks he cannot do much for her, and there ho is right, for the world may soon be convinced that he cannot do enough for her, which is the chief reason for her so often visiting Quin’s, where she hopes some good gentleman or other will do a little more for her; her eyes and blue, and her hair a light brown, and she is by the fire-side very diverting company; her age is now twenty-two; a pound over one figure, and an s. the other, tells you what she expects at parting.
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Images: Self-portrait – Margaret Sarah Carpenter (1817), A Harlot’s Progress [Plate 1]– William Hogarth (1731), Old Drury Lane Theatre – John Thomas Smith (1794)
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#georgianera #18thcentury #coventgardenladies #drurylane #drurylanetheatre

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Covent Garden Ladies is a site dedicated to the lives and experiences of the women found within the lists of Harris's Covent Garden Ladies. As of November 2025, we have mapped 1274 women from the various Harris’ List of Covent Garden Ladies. This map includes the 1761, 1765, 1773, 1783, 1786, 1787, 1788, 1789, 1790, 1793 and 1794 editions.

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Devlog 6

I have been working on transcribing the 1771 List. As of right now I hope to have it finished by the end of the week! As well as that my goals for website development this week include: Creating pages for the 1766, 1771 and 1779 editions that have just become available to me Creating baseline pages for the 'Eighteenth Century London' sections. So far the subsections will include Parishes, Streets and Locations All parish pages to be updated Life and Living Conditions Homes (r