| Citation |
IC.778.039
30 Jul 1778:22,23 (10/519)
Extract of a letter from Philadelphia, dated July 6.
[Letter describing the physical changes in Philadelphia
since the British occupation, and then:] . . . The enemy
introduced new fashions, and made old vices more common; the
former are the most absurd, ridiculous, preposterous you can
conceive; I can give no description which will convey an
adequate idea of them; so far as they concern the gentlemen,
that appear to be principally confined to the hat, which is
now amazingly broad-brimmed, and cocked very sharp. [20
lines, discussing new fashions worn by men and women.] . . .
many people do not hesitate in supposing that most of the
young ladies who were in the city with the enemy, and wear
the present fashionable dresses, have purchased them at the
expense of their virtue. It is agreed on all hands, that
the British officers played the devil with the girls; the
privates, I suppose, were satisfied with common prostitutes.
Last Saturday an imitation of the mis-chianga, with which
General Howe was honored, was humbly attempted; a noted
strumpet was paraded through the streets, with her head
dressed in the modern British taste, to the no small
amusement of a vast crowd of spectators: She acted her part
well; to compleat the farce, there ought to have been
another lady of the same character, (as General Howe had
two) and somebody to represent a British officer.
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