| Citation |
NJG-T.778.005
8 Apr 1778:41 (1/19)
Amongst those who left Philadelphia on the approach of the
enemy to that city, a Gentleman, who had with him a portable
printing-press, took refuge somewhere near Egg-Harbour. By
means of a well-conducted correspondence with a friends in
the city, he obtained constant and authentic intelligence of
the most minute occurrences there provided, he, for the
amusement of himself and a few friends, publishes a paper
every fortnight, which he calls Pasquin, or the Minute
Intelligencer.
As these papers are not for sale, and but a few copies
struck off, they do not circulate and are but little known.
Being an old acquaintance, he constantly sends me one of his
curious performances. As a specimen of the work, I have
selected the following articles.
It is said the English ministry, having no hopes of
subduing America by force of arms, whilst the inhabitants
retain their native virtue, have instructed the officers in
their army to try a more certain method of success, by
debauching the morals of the men, and seducing the virtue of
the women. For this purpose playhouses are opened, gaming-
tables established and balls promoted, in a city languishing
under a scarcity of the necessaries of life.
His Excellency General Howe, ever attentive to the
health of his army, took the advantage of some fair weather
in December last, and determined to give his troops an
airing, of which they stood in great need. For this purpose
he ordered the whole of his forces out, and heading them
himself, took a walk into the country. His benevolent
intention was to proceed as far as Reading and Lancaster,
but finding the roads about Edge-Hill much infested with
armed rebels, he thought proper to return to the city; which
he did with considerable precipitation, being apprehensive
of an approaching storm. Some think he might have forced
his way through the banditti, but he was too prudent a
General to expend his Majesty's powder and shot on such a
ragged crew.
We have the pleasure of assuring the publick that the
disputes respecting the arrangement of The Royal African
Regiment are now at an end, his Excellency having determined
that arrangement in the following manner:
Quaco, Colonel
Sambo, Lieutenant-Colonel
Cuffey, Major
Toney, Captain
Cudjoe, Captain
The contest for pre-eminence between Quaco and Sambo was
long and obstinant: it is evident that Sambo had the
thickest lips and the whitest teeth, but his Excellency's
partiality is in favour of Quaco, as he has honoured him
with his company; and at the entertainment lately given by
the officers of the Royal African Regiment, his Excellency
opened the ball with Colonel Quaco's Lady, and danced very
gracefully to the music of a full orchestra of banjoes and
hurdy-gurdies. - How far the superior beauty of Colonel
Quaco's Lady may have contributed to his promotion, is
uncertain.
We hear that general orders have issued for having the
Royal African Regiment shorn every three months; in order to
supply the Ladies of the Court of Great-Britain with wool,
sufficient for the present fashionable head-dress.
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