Jane Douglas (1761)
Jane did not long move in this low sphere, Betty C––s some time after lost her new bar-keeper, who died in an hospital of a fatal disorder which she had brought on herself by to too great an application to business. Suky S––d reminded her mistress of Jane D––s as soon as the other bar-keeper had retired from the management of affairs, and Jane was immediately promoted to that honourable place. She acquitted herself in it in such a manner that the house was frequented more than ever. Many of her acquaintances called every day; and whilst Jane stepped up stairs, the obliging Suky S––d supplied her place at the bar.
Jane discovered such abilities, that she soon became the factotum to Betsey C––s, who finding what her genius was turned to, employed her frequently as a substitute procuress.
In this branch of business she discovered extraordinary talents: In going her rounds, she, by the force, of natural eloquence, prevailed on many young country girls to enlist in the service of her mistress; and as they were new faces, Betsey C––s found herself considerably a gainer by them.
Some of them she passed upon her customers for virgins, by the assistance of certain nostrums, which the sage dames, who carry on the business, should never be ignorant of. Jane quickly learnt the secrets, of which she often availed herself afterwards, as will appear in the sequel.
Our heroine being naturally of an aspiring temper, had not, long lived with Betsy C––s, till the resolved to better herself; and having accidentally made requaintance with Moll J––s, another b––, who had lived under the piazzas, and kept a much better house than Betty. She went to live with her, and greatly found her account by the change.
This house was frequented by many noblemen and gentlemen of considerable fortune, and Jane found her perquisites greatly increased. She still retained her place of bar-keeper, but had often calls to step up stairs, and was better paid than when with her former mistress.
Jenny being thus employed by Moll lived a life of pleasure. She acquitted herself to perfection at the bar, and was frequently called upstairs.
But being naturally ambitious, the could not help thinking that she was able to keep a house herself; and happening one day to have a smart altercation with her mistress, formed a resolution to live with her no longer.
So she had recourse again to street-walking; and meeting accidentally with one of her old masters, went with him to a house near Covent Garden, when she soon became acquainted with the mistress, and made herself so agreeable to all those who frequented the house, that she was reinstated in her former place of bar-keeper, and met with so much respect there, that she formed a resolution never to quit the place.
At Moll J––s's, Jane exerted herself with such uncommon abilities, that she was taken, as it were, into partnership by her new mistress, whose house was frequented more than ever, after Jenny had a hand in the management of it. She every day brought young girls into the service, and as the major part of these were passed upon the customers for maids, Jenny's perquisites became very confiderable. She however once had a troublesome affair upon her hands, having sold a maidenhead to one Captain D––r, a countryman of her own, the Scot, who was a smatterer in physic and surgery, discovered the imposition, and perceived that Polly, who had been put off upon him as a maid, was no more a virgin than his own mother.
The Scot who was of no very pacific temper, made such an outcry, that Jane was obliged to refund the money. But being an industrious, painstaking woman, she soon found means to repair her loss, for a few days after she sold another artificial maidenhead to an Irish P––, who paid her thirty guineas for it, and never once suspected the deceit.
Jane had always a great liking for Irish gentlemen; she was used to say that they spent their money so freely, and were so easily pleased, that it was a pleasure to serve them.
Jane however was not born to be always a substitute, Betsey C––s dying of an inward decay, which she had brought upon herself by drinking that liquor which goes by so many names, though it is generally known by the name of gin; Jane at the particular desire of several persons of quality, took the care of that house upon herself.
Jane soon got acquainted with Moll C––s, an experienced dame, who having gone through all the degrees of debauchery, was at last become one of the ablest procuresses in town.
With her she often took a trip to Ireland, and there furnished herself with fresh girls.
Moll C––s was greatly respected in that kingdom. No sooner did she arrive, but she was saluted by every whore in Smock-alley with, "Long life to you, Mother C––s."
This useful acquaintance Jane cultivated, and by her assistace generally returned from Ireland with five or six new faces. Those she disposed of to the nobility and gentry; and her house soon begun to thrive more than any house of the same kind in England.
Mother D––s, in patrolling one day, accidentally made acquaintance with Mother D––n,
"Great souls by instinct to each other turn."
Mother D––s found so great a sympathy between herself and Mother D––n, that she immediately entered into a sort of friendship with her. Christians, said she, should mutually assist each other; let us lay our heads together, and by acting in conjunction, both our houses will thrive the better.
The league between Mother D––n and Mother D––s proved very advantageous to both, by mutually assisting each other; they both found themselves gainers.
Mother D––n constantly kept a good look out for fresh girls, and so did Mother D––s; and they managed matters so well that both houses were always provided with new faces.
Thus Mother D––s carried on her business with greater success than any of the same trade had done for a long time. But soon after she made a voyage to Ireland with Moll C––n, in order to provide herself with a new supply of girls of the game.
In their passage a storm, which overtook them in the channel, threw Moll C––s into despair; she fell upon her knees, crossed herself, for though a bawd, she was a very good Catholic; but Jane was quite undaunted. She drank flip, and cursed as loudly as any sailor of them all.
They soon after landed at Ringsend, where Moll C––s introduced Jane to her old acquaintance Biddy R––y. After dinner, the three bawds entered upon business; but Mother R––y, with a melancholy air, informed her guests, that there was never a more dead season for business. "As G–d's my judge," said she, "I am afraid I shall be obliged to shut up house. If it had not been for my Lord I should have been ruined before now. But he dealt with me the other day for a maidenhead; so I received twenty guineas, and his Lordship never once suspected that Polly D––-r could not even remember that she had ever been a virgin. To be sure," said Mother R––y, "Polly is a young woman of great merit."
This character so excited the curiosity of Mother D––s, that she desired to see Polly; and having asked her a few questions, perceived, by her answers, that she was very well qualified to set at a bar at Covent Garden. So she proposed carry her to London; and Mother R––y readily consented to part with her, in order to oblige her friend.