| Citation |
MS-W.782.019
23 May 1782:33 (577)
Extract of a letter from South Carolina, dated March, 1782.
Not long since, the British officers had a ball in
Charlestown; this they called an Ethiopian Ball,
at which were present the officers of the Army (and our
female slaves only!) who these shameless tyrants had drest
up in taste, with richest silks and false rolls on their
heads, powdered up in a most pompous manner; These chaps who
call themselves gentlemen, waited on those wretches in
carriages to carry them to the ball, which they drove
through the streets in pomp alongside of them. Many of
those wretches were taken out of houses before their
mistresses faces, and escorted to the ball by these British
tyrants. In closing I send you a, copy of a card wrote to
one of those shameless Brutes by the managers of the ball
which were three Negro wenches; it was held at a very
capital private house in Charlestown, and the supper cost
not less that 80 L sterling; and these tyrants danced with
the slaves until 4 o'clock in the morning.
Charlestown, Jan, 1, 1782
[The card:] My Lord, you are invited to a ball on Thursday
evening, at 99 Meeting Street; the ball to be opened at
eight o'clock. [signed] Hagar Roupell, Isabella Pinckney,
Chloe Fraser, [addressed] to Lord Fitzgerald.
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