Chapters (28)
This rather odd behavior might be explained by a twenty-first-century discovery, made when what were assumed to be Pulaski’s bones were removed temporarily during a renovation of the monument—and said bones were discovered to be those of (apparently) a woman.
Well, stranger things have happened; vide the recent stir when the lead coffin of (presumably) Simon Fraser, the Old Fox, was opened and proved to contain the body of a young woman. In this instance, though, it’s possible that the feminine-appearing bones may really have been those of Casimir Pulaski, as recent DNA analysis appears to indicate that the bones belonged to an “intersex” person or hermaphrodite.
If the bones are indeed Pulaski’s and if he was in fact intersex or female, that’s a very good explanation for why he wanted to be taken aboard the Wasp, rather than being treated by an army physician ashore, where his secret would have been discovered and made public.
Haym Salomon—“The Financier of the Revolution.” A Polish Jew with a talent for banking, Salomon was one of the most important contributors to the success of the American Revolution, as time after time he succeeded in obtaining loans that kept Washington’s army afloat.
St. John’s Island—Was later named “Prince Edward Island,” as it’s called today. This is where Jocasta MacKenzie Cameron Cameron Cameron Innes and her fourth husband, Duncan Innes, moved after the beginning of the Revolution.
The City Tavern was an actual tavern in Salisbury and was actually called “City Tavern.” (For the benefit of sharp-eyed readers who will be thinking to themselves that “city tavern” shouldn’t be capitalized …) The Salisburyites were apparently a pragmatic lot, given the names of local attractions such as “Town Creek” and “Old Stone House (1766).” “Great Wagon Road” is about as romantic as it got in that neck of the wood—and Salisbury didn’t name the road, just abutted it.
Colonel Johnson of the Southern Department (Indian agents)—There were two Johnsons who headed the department, one succeeding the other, though I don’t think they were related.
Non-English Figures of Speech
a vos souhaits / a tes amours—The traditional French Canadian blessing upon hearing someone sneeze. Translated literally, it means “to your dreams / to your loves.” (A little more graceful than “Gesundheit” or the onomatopoetic “Blesshu” perhaps …)
stercus—“Excrement” (Latin).
filium scorti—“Son of a bitch” (Latin).
cloaca obscaena—“Obscene sewer” (Latin).
“tace is the Latin for a candle”—This is a common tag in eighteenth-century conversation among the upper classes (who spoke Latin). “Tace” is the imperative meaning “keep silent,” and the candle is symbolic of light. Ergo, the expression means (essentially) “keep it dark”—in other words, “be discreet and don’t say anything regarding what we’ve been talking about.”
pozegnanie—“Farewell” (Polish).
Gáidhlig phrases and figures of speech are defined in the text.