Last week a young recruit appeared at the Rotation-office in Bow-street, to be sworn into the service of the East-India company, when a gentleman present observed, that from voice and features he suspected the recruit to be a woman; on a more particular observation, every one present was of the same opinion, and two women were desired to examine the party in an adjoining room.
On returning into court, and declaring her to be a woman, the recruit burst into tears, said that her motives for this action were, her having a husband, whom she dearly loved, at that time in India, that her life was miserable without him, and nothing should prevent her in her resolution of going there.
Every one present was affected with her tears; and on her consenting to return to her parents, who live in reputation in Southwark, Sir John Fielding humanely promised her, that if she continued in the same mind, and her happiness depended on it, he himself would speak to some of the directors, and procure her a passage to India, in character of a lady's maid; the poor creature was melted with his kindness, which she acknowledged in the most grateful terms. She is a very agreeable young woman, and seems about 18 years of age.
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