Louisa: a Narrative of Facts, supposed to throw light on the mysterious history of "The Lady of the Hay-Stack." Translated from a French work, published in the Imperial Dominions, A.D. 1785. The third edition.

GLASSE, G.H.

Published by Sold by F. and C. Rivington [and others]. 1801, 1801

About this Item

[5], vi-xxxii, 111, [1], 16pp Postscript. 12mo. Contemporary mottled calf, gilt borders, decorative gilt bands, red morocco label; sl. dent to rear board. Signature of Charles Hanbury to inner board with bookplate for George Hanbury, of Kelmarsh Hall, Northampton pasted over. This third edition is recorded at BL, Cambridge; Waterloo. The first edition was published in 1785, under the title: A Narrative of Facts. Translated from the anonymous French work L'Inconnue, Histoire Veìritable (ESTC T146567 ). A second edition under the present title was published in 1801 (printed by P. Norbury and sold by W. Cobbett). The advertisement to the second edition, here reprinted, notes Louisa's death, as well as additional documents received from Hannah More which 'that excellent lady, suffered to be printed at the end of this little work, on a condition which the Translator eagerly accepts; that of affixing his own name to the present edition'. The work, dedicated to Hannah More, attempts to prove that a mysterious refugee at Bristol was identical with Felix-Julienne de Schönau, otherwise known as Mlle. La Frëulen, who declared herself to be the natural daughter of Emperor Francis I. She became known as the 'Mad Maid of the Haystack', of Bourton near Bristol, where she decorated the haystack, surrounding trees and bushes with trinkets. It emerged that the woman had initially been taken to St Peter's Hospital, Bristol but had been so miserable that various local women, along with the poet Hannah More, raised a subscription and bought the haystack, thus allowing 'Louisa' to return there. The More sisters later arranged for her to be taken to Mr Henderson's Asylum, Hanham. It was rumoured that Louisa was actually the illegitimate child of Emperor Francis I. Hannah More wrote the pamphlet A Tale of Real Woe to raise money in her support. The events sparked much public interest, notably that of Queen Charlotte, and John Wesley. Louisa was later moved to St Luke's Hospital, then Guy's, London, where she died in 1801. More continued to contribute to her care to the end. A catalogue of the Hanbury library survives at Bryn Mawr.

Seller Inventory # 95441

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Louisa: a Narrative of Facts, supposed to throw light on the mysterious history of "The Lady of the Hay-Stack." Translated from a French work, published in the Imperial Dominions, A.D. 1785. The third edition.
• Publisher: Sold by F. and C. Rivington [and others]. 1801
• Publication Date: 1801
• Binding: Hardcover