Mrs d'Egville's Establishment In Montmartre

The newspapers are full of advertisements by the enterprising d'Egvilles - I have a very low tolerance of boredom - but when I saw this one I did a cartoon double take. It provokes so many questions.

The Morning Chronicle 9 September 1802
The British Library Board

War with France was the default situation for Britain throughout much of the eighteenth century. The term The Second Hundred Years' War is used to describe the period from 1689-1815 by some historians. The longest interlude of peace lasted from 1713-1740. But on 25 March 1802 Britain signed the Treaty of Amiens and the War of the Second Coalition came to an end. This particular war - along with the War of the First Coalition - had been an attempt by the European monarchies to counter the revolution in France.  

Peace was short lived because Britain declared war again on 18 May 1803. Despite strong anti-French feeling in England France remained a cultural centre. The column also contains an advert for a school in Tournay. Mrs d'Egville doesn't appear to be offering any specific education so the nature of the establishment is unclear. It might almost be a 'bin' for unwanted young women. James d'Egville is certainly the ballet master because this address appears in other adverts at this date.

This was, perhaps, not the carriage's only journey. In the "Fashionable World" column of The Morning Post on 15 April 1802 it was reported that,

The first and only carriage sent to Paris from this country, since the signing of the Definitive Treaty, arrived there a few days ago. It was built by Mr. THOMPSON of Mortimer-street for Madame D'EGVILLE, a French lady of large fortune.

The identities or identity of Mrs and Madame d'Egville are anybodies' guess.