| Citation |
NHG-P.782.018
27 Apr 1782:31 (26/1330)
Extract of a letter from a gentleman of character to his
friend in this town, dated at Gen. Greene's head-quarters,
near Charlestown, Feb. 20. . . [18 lines]
Not long since, they 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. Inclosed 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 'till four o'clock in the morning. . . [6
lines]
[The card:] My Lord, you are invited to a ball on Thursday
evening, at No. 99 Meeting Street; the ball to be opened at
eight o'clock. [signed] Hagar Roupell, Isabella Pinckney,
Mary Fraser, managers.
Charlestown, Jan, 1, 1782
[addressed] To Lord Fitzgerald.
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