The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-07-01
WHICH?
A MAN IN woMAN's DRESS.

n MAN IN WOMAN'S DRESS.
THE STRANGE LIFE OF THE CHEvALIER
D9OE-How HE FOR YEARS PERsoNATED
WcsAAG-HIs CASE IN THE CoURTs-SUR-
MIsES AS TO HIS REASONS.
A few weeks ago, remarks the Milwaukee
Sentinel, there was printed in these columns
an account of a woman who had for years
been driving cab in London, without any
suspicion arising as to her sex. There have
been many remarkable instances of similar
concealment-notably one which came to
light in England few years ago.
at the death of an assistant inspector gen.
eral of army hospitals, by name Barry.
The history of that extraordinary per-
son will, in all probability, never be
known, and the causes and early circum-
stances of her extraordinary career are al
most beyond conjecture. One fact, however
about her was beyond question-that she
continuously had friends in very high places.
Barry, who had always shown herself ready
to fight duel, and permitted no Jokes as to
her feminine appearance, displayed the ut
most anxiety up to the very last to conceal
her sex, and made the attendant on her last
hours promise to bury her just as she then
" as. But an examination was insisted on.
These, however, are cases of women person
ating men. Let us turn to one more re-
markable, that of man personating wo-
mantle Chevalier D'Eop. Charles D'Eon
de Beaumont, advocate of the parliament
of Paris, and Censor General of
Bellies Lettres and History in that city,
was born in Burgundy in l727, of
highly respectable parentsge received a SUI
perior education, and was called to the
Partisan bar. In 1755 he was introduced to
Louis XIV. by the Prince de Cont, aud it is
said that thenceforward he maintained
secret correspondence with that sovereign.
On this mission he went for the first time in
female attire The object of the visit was to
approach the Empress Elizabeth with the
view of putting an end to the ill-feeling be
tween tue French and Russian courts, and
more especially to promote the private in
terests of his patron, the Prince de Cont,
with the empress. The next year he went
to ST. Petersburg as secretary of embassy
During the next two years he was actively
employed in intrigue and negotiation. Mean
while he had been appointed a lieutenant of
dragons; in 175S he was made captain; and
few years later distinguished himself in
several engagements. In l761 he was ap-
pointed secretary of embassy to the Due de
Nivernois, who cauoe to England as embas-
sador extraordinary, to conclude peace,
and certainly brought an extraordinary Sec
rotary.
THE CHEvALIER's TROUBLES,
which he attributed to the jealousy OF
Madame Ponpadour when she discovered
his secret correspondence with the King,
now began. Walpole mentions D'Eon COM
ing to breakfast at Strawberry Hill with a
large party of French people in May. 1853.
Not long after this Nivernols was recalled,
and Count de Guerchy appointed in his
place. In the interval between the depart
ure of the one and the arrival of the other,
D'Eop, who was appointed plenipotentiary
bile, conducted himself in a surpris-
ing manner. The temporary position of
Enbassador seemed to entirely turn
his head. "D'Eon," writes waipole to
Lord HertfOrd, in November, 1868, sis
still here; know nothing more of him but
that the honor of having hand in the peace
overset his poor brain This was evident
on that fatal night at Lord Halifax's.n
(Where he behaved in a most violent man
ner in the presence OF M. De Guerchy)
''When told him his behavior was breach
of the peace, he was gu to distracted, think
ing it was the peace between this country
and his" When Count De Guercby arrived
and brought letters to recall D'Eon he de-
clined to accept them, alleging them to be
forged, and refused to vacate the Office.
Presently, TO crafty his rage, he published
pamphlet rejecting on eminent Freshmen.
more especially the Count De Guerchy, and
this nohleman, in 1764, prosecuted him
for libel, and obtained conviction.
Walpole comments amusingly on this to
Mann: "D'Eon's book will divert you ex-
other day that Mime. De Guerchy (who is
remarkably plain), is going to Paris to take
Mime. De Pompadour's place. We do not
hear that il is seriously filled up; i mean
the cabinet, for in the bed chamber it has
long been executed by deputies" D'Eon's
next move to obtain notoriety was to assert
that the French government intended to
carry him of privately by force, and he
wrote to complain of this to Chief Justice
Mansfield, Lords Butte and Temple. and Mr..
Pitt, and in March, 1894, bill of Indictment
was, on his allegation, found against the
Count de Guerchy, for conspiracy against
the chevalier's life, a circumstance, which, in
the case of an ambassador, much perplexed
the government. Further proceedings
were evaded. In June, 1865, as he had failed
to come up for Judgment, in the libel suit, he
was
DECLARED oUTLAwED,
and. on May 20, 1771, caveat was entered
at Doctors Commons against his goods, he
being supposed to be dead, as he had been
advertised for in vain. But not long after
the Chevalier turned mp, refreshed himself
with duel or two, and it was a wound re-
ceived in one of these which led to the seri-
GUS suspicion that he was woman. Out of
this arose trial which amazed all London.
The cause came on before Lord Mansfield on
July l, 1777 The plaintiff was Mr.. Hayes,
a surgeon, who brought the suit, for tue re-
covery of e700, against Mr.. Jacques,
broker, the said Jacques having, about six
fifteen guineas per cent, for every one of
which he stood engaged to return 100
guineas whenever 1t should be proven that
the Chevalier D'Eon was actually q woman.
The counsel for the plaintiff was Mr.. Bull
lere after ward lannon's "A iudpe WIN said