The Fallen Regency Woman

A few weeks ago, I dug through many old books and journals, searching for a potential blog post, something that lit up my mind. I found nothing, which usually happens when I go looking. Most of my blog posts are things I happen upon. However, that night, my brain, working like a busy spider, weaved several articles together, and I woke up with a post idea: The Regency Fallen Woman. So, let’s follow this theme through several Regency-era texts.

I begin with a work by Lady Mary Clarke Champion de Crespigny to her teenage son, Letters of Advice from a Mother to Her Son, published in 1803. In my book Wicked, My Love, (<–buy this historical rom-com and support my site.) the heroine, Isabella, writes a straightforward book about investing, which her cousin Judith secretly embellishes with melodramatic tales of woe and ruin before sending it to the publisher. Champion de Crespigny could be Cousin Judith. It’s been over 200 years, yet I’m embarrassed for her son. I wonder if I should author a story about a man so mortified by his mother’s book about him that he is determined to find every copy and destroy it. Hmmm, who could the heroine be? … I digress (as usual).

I know the propensities and vanities of your sex as well as those of my own and I would not flatter those of the one, or conceal those of the other, when endeavouring to investigate the subject for the advantage of a much-beloved son and, I really think, that all the imputed arts and designs of women are not so contemptible as the abominable practice of duplicity which numbers of men are guilty of, in leading an amiable interesting woman, and such will be the most easily led, to believe them sincerely and seriously attached to her, when in reality they only mean to flatter their own vanity or self-importance indifferent to all the consequences their insincerity may give rise to.

Despicable creatures! – were you ever to be of their number, I am sure you would not only incur my resentment but my contempt. But there is a situation in which, were you to be entangled, would particularly wound my feelings; — I trust that you will never suffer yourself to be drawn into it and that I have only occasion to mention my disgust towards it, as a natural sentiment, not as deeming it necessary to guard you against it.

What I mean is the becoming strongly attached to a woman whom you do not choose to marry, living with her, and having a family by her; having a family who would have a right to reproach you for having brought them into a situation in which they must feel continual mortification from the moment they have sufficient powers of reflection.

That a man who acts thus may have many good qualities and calculated for domestic society, there, perhaps, is not any doubt; ́should such a man unwisely form a connection of this nature, the good feelings of his heart, affection, honour, constancy, and pity, prohibit his renouncing the woman, who, perhaps, owes her degradation solely to her affection for him. But, in consequence of the effect such sentiments should have upon his mind, he must have continual pangs, continual remorse, and repentance, when he sees the woman he best loves rendered by himself an object of contempt; scorned, perhaps, by those who do not in reality possess half her merits, shut out from any society with her own sex, except with such of them as, notwithstanding her fallen state, she must from inclination and disgust avoid : in consequence of this he must share her banishment, or renounce her society. And, however indifferent they may both be to the mixed society of the world, there is something in knowing that they cannot obtain it, which makes it more desireable, and, in some dispositions, would be like a gnawing worm at the heart, an eternal cause of misery.

Then the children – how much are they to be pitied! The unfortunate mother, precluded herself from all good society, is necessarily prevented from giving them any introduction to it. The daughters, particularly if they live with her, would find it difficult to procure such introduction the consequences are but by any means; too obvious; they would be, at best, though, perhaps, in many respects accomplished, but half-educated, half-fashioned, and, probably, half-principled and would too surely be apt to blend contempt in their estimation of those characters to whom, by nature, they owe duty and respect.

The sons must likewise be liable to the continual mortification of having their best feelings very often hurt when they consider themselves precluded from the honours they would otherwise have been entitled to from their father see that father condemned by the world- their mother unnoticed their sisters slighted – and the domestic happiness of the family frequently interrupted, if not destroyed.

I own to you that, when a man has unfortunately formed such a connection, and has, in the situation I have described, lived many years with a woman, from whom he has not an idea of parting, and by whom he has a family, I am surprised that he does not marry her. Pride alone must be the obstacle:-it is a great mistake; he may not like that the world should say that man’s wife was his mistress but it is much worse to have it said the mother of that man’s children is his mistress the one never can, the other may, be received.

Perhaps, such a man does not choose to have some very inferior person call him son or brother; it is, however, less exceptionable than the appellations his own heart must give him, and the inconvenience no greater. He would not be compelled to be more in the society of his new relations, nor would his children be more nearly related to them such reasons, therefore, are the offspring of false pride; and, while such a man continues living at open war with the regulations of society, he is much more reprehensible, and, in truth, an infinitely less respectable character, than if, from principle, he endeavoured to make all the reparation in his power to the individual he has wronged, and the society he has insulted. By degrees he would see the good consequences of his entended conduct, in making the woman he loves far more respectable, not only in the eyes of the world, but in those of her family, and even in her own: – which could not fail of giving a very proper gratification to his own feelings, and of adding considerably to his domestic comfort.

I must, however, explain to you that I do not mean, by what I have just been urging, to recommend men in general to marry their mistresses; very, very, far from that is my intention, but, under the particular and interesting circumstances I have just now described, and only under such, I not only think that step may be justifiable, but wise and laudable.

Should there, however, be a probability that an after offspring may be born, which from being legitimate would rob all the others, though of the same parents, and introduce discontent, envy, and discord, in the family; in that case, the marriage I have been recommending would be very improper, and productive of much evil instead of good.

The many fatal consequences which almost certainly attend a connection of this sort, independent of its immorality, will, I trust, make a proper impression upon your mind; and, the subject will lead me … to discuss the horrid vice of seduction.

I KNOW, my Son, that many young men never consider SEDUCTION in any other light than as an affair of gallantry. — Dead to the feelings of humanity, and to the obligations of every moral and religious tie, they scruple not to be the authors of their fellow-creature’s misery; they would shrink, these men of honour would shrink, from the appellation of villain though they act the villain’s part every time they pursue innocence to destruction; to gratify a sudden, perhaps, too, a transient, passion,  they scruple not to involve an ignorant, confiding, lovely, being, in all the wretchedness of guilt and remorse, to bring her to open disgrace, and to such shame as will render her an alien from the respectable part of society. Perhaps, forsaken by the wretch she loves, for whom she sacrificed her all, possibly reduced to poverty, and unable to bear her own reflections, she has no resource but in a broken heart; or, resisting every feeling which best adorns a woman, and yielding to those which most disgrace her, she may too probably mix with a hideous crew of abandoned associates, and pursue such courses as must shortly, in a different way, put a period to her wretched life; a life which more than possibly has been the cause of death to her miserable parents, made miserable by her crimes, and which likewise may have involved innocent sisters in her disgrace. Think not this picture overcharged, believe me, that as bad, or worse than what I have supposed, frequently happens; indeed, it is impossible to foresee all the evils which may be produced by seduction; as a proof of my assertion, I will relate to you some circumstances that occurred a few years ago; the parties were well known, but the names, as I have done before, I shall certainly disguise.

The story she uses to illustrate her points is either based extremely loosely on real people or wholly fabricated by Champion de Crespigny. She did, after all, publish several works of fiction. However, if you are down for a seriously campy melodramatic tale of ill-fated love, you are welcome to read a PDF of her story (warning: rape trigger.)

Moving on…

So, let’s say you fell for a handsome Regency buck. He promised eternal love, deep devotion, and a box seat at the theater. But then he stops sending you flowers and poems and returns your poems and flowers. One evening, you see him at the theater with another innocent thing dangling on his arm! That heartless seducer! It was all a lie. He probably made the same promises and sent the same maudlin poems to all the other ladies he seduced and abandoned.

Now your heart is smashed up, you’ve sullied your reputation, your friends won’t acknowledge you, and you are kicked out of your home (which happened to my Victorian heroine, Sarah Ward, in Amends <–buy this historical drama and support my site.) Don’t distress yourself! You can be reformed at the Magdelene House!

From A Short Account Of The Magdalen Hospital

Its object is the relief and reformation of wretched outcasts from society; and the principle on which it is founded gives it, surely, some title to the countenance and favour of the Public, and particularly of the female sex; and her most gracious Majesty has set the example, by taking this Hospital under her more immediate patronage. And what can possibly be an object more worthy of their care, than the rescuing from the deepest woe and distress the most miserable of their fellow-creatures, leading them back from vice to virtue and happiness, reconciling the deluded and betrayed daughter to her offended mother, and restoring hundreds of unfortunate young women to industry, again to become useful members of that Community in which Providence has placed them?

The Magdalen Hospital was opened in the year 1758. During the period that it has subsisted, more than two-thirds of the women, who have been admitted, have been reconciled to their friends, or placed in honest employments or reputable services. Of this number, some undoubtedly have relapsed into their former errors; but many, who left the House at their own request, have since behaved well; and several of those discharged for improper behaviour have, to the certain knowlege of the Committee, never returned to evil courses. A very considerable number are since married, and are, at this moment, respectable members of society; and, could their names and situations be disclosed, (which, for the most obvious reasons, would be highly improper) the very great utility of this Charity would appear in the strongest light.

A Probationary Ward has been instituted for the young women on their first admission; a separation of those of different descriptions and qualifications has been established; and Apartments have been fitted up in the Lodge for the residence of the Chaplain, the Reverend Mr. PRINCE, and his family; that he may with the greater facility continue to devote his time and attention to the instruction of the women, in the same most satisfactory manner in which he has hitherto performed all the duties of his situation.

Each class is entrusted to its particular Assistant, and the whole is under the inspection of the Matron. This separation, useful on many accounts, is peculiarly so to a numerous class of women, who are much to be pitied, and to whom this Charity has been very beneficial; viz. young women, who have been seduced from their friends, under promise of marriage, and have been deserted by their seducers. They have never been in public prostitution, but fly to the MAGDALEN to avoid it. Their relations, in the first moments of resentment, refuse to receive, protect, or acknowlege them; they are abandoned by the world, without character, without friends, without money, without resource; and wretched indeed is their situation! To such especially this house of refuge opens wide its doors; and, instead of being driven by despair to lay violent hands on themselves, and to superadd the crime of self-murder to that guilt which is the cause of their distress, or of being forced by the strong call of hunger into prostitution, they find a safe and quiet retreat in this abode of peace and reflection. To rescue from the threatening horrors of prostitution such victims of the most base and ungenerous arts, whose ruin has frequently been more owing to their unsuspecting innocence than to any other cause, to restore them to virtue and industry, after one false step, and to reconcile their friends to them, are considerations of the greatest magnitude. The Committee generally give these young women the preférence, because they are almost certain of the best consequences; for it scarcely ever happens but their relations relent, when, by taking shelter in this House, they have given so strong a proof of their determination to quit a vicious way of life.

The method of proceeding for the admission of women into this Hospital is as follows: The First Thursday in every Month is an admission day; when, sometimes, from twenty to thirty petitioners appear, who, without any recommendation whatever, on applying at the door, to the Clerk, receive a printed form of petition gratis, which is properly filled up. Each petition is numbered, and a corresponding number is given to the petitioner herself. They are called in singly before the Board, and such questions are put to them, as may enable the Committee to judge of the sincerity of their professions, and to ascertain the truth of their assertions. If a parent, relation, or friend, has accompanied them, (which, though not necessary, is very desirable, and is very frequently the case) these are also called in separately and examined, with a view to confirm and strengthen, if true, or to disprove, if false, the account given by the women themselves. The Committee take particular pains to select for admission the most deserving; as it often happens that there are but few vacancies. In the next place, they endeavour, to the best of their ability, to assist such other petitioners, as appear thoroughly resolved to amend their lives. Many are reconciled to their friends, by the interposition of the Committee, even without being admitted into the House; and others are supported until a vacancy takes place, that they may not be compelled by want to return to their evil ways. Women, whilst diseased, or pregnant, are not admissible, being objects for other Hospitals.

The treatment of the women is of the gentlest kind. They are instructed in the principles of the Christian Religion, in reading, and in several kinds of work, and the various branches of household employment, to qualify them for service, or other situations, wherein they may honestly earn their bread. The Chaplain attends them daily, to promote and encourage their good resolutions, and to exhort them to religion and virtue. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is administered on the Great Festivals, and at other stated times; when many of the young women, who have been some time in the House, and who, after having themselves expressed their wish to be instructed in this duty, have been considered by the Chaplain as sufficiently informed and prepared for it, receive it with the most serious attention,

The time they remain in the House varies according to circumstances. The greatest pains are taken to find out their relations and friends, to bring about a reconciliation with them, and, if they be people of character, to put them under their protection: if, however, the young women are destitute of such friends, they are retained in the House till an opportunity offers of placing them in a reputable service, or of procuring them the means of obtaining an honest livelihood. No young woman, who has behaved well during her stay in the House, is discharged unprovided for.

The Picture Of London For 1803 includes some stats.

When discharged, they are for the most part UNDER TWENTY YEARS OF AGE!

To enable the public to judge of the real good effected by this institution, and of the great proportion the women reclaimed bear to the whole number, the following correct statement has been extracted from the books of the charity.

I will close on this heartbreaking news tidbit I found in The New Lady’s Magazine from 1786.

On Saturday morning the body of a fine young woman was taken out of the Thames at the end of Strand-lane, where he had drowned herself the preceding night, She appeared to be about eighteen years of age, and was known to have been turned out of doors the day before, by one of those inhuman monsters in the shape of women, who keep brothels in the neighbourhood of Drury-lane. The poor young victim had been brought from her parents at the age of eleven years by the mistress of the bagnio from which she was dismissed, when her face grew common, and the charms of extreme youth and novelty were no longer a temptation to debauched constitutions, and debilitated age. Thus thrown upon the town, penniless, and heart-broken, she did, as too many have already done, from the same causes she put an end to her existence, and trespassed against the commands of heaven, in order to get rid of her miseries on earth. The body was taken to a house in Strand-lane, which is one of those that are used by the constables of the night for the purpose of confining, or rather of fining those miserable objects, which seem. professionally to thicken our footways in proportion as depravity increases, and prostitution multiplies throughout this ill-governed extensive metropolis.