| Citation |
PP-P.779.017
6 Mar 1779:12, 13, 21
[Extracts from a letter by a foreigner to a gentleman in
Philadelphia, describing the celebration of the alliance
with France, by the gentlemen of the Army at Pluckemin on
February 18]
Near Middlebrook Camp, February 22.
His excellency the Commander in Chief arrived form his Head-
quarters about three o'clock in the afternoon. Mrs.
Washington was in a carriage, accompanied by that steady
friend to the rights of mankind, Mr. Laurens, the late
president of Congress.
. . . [14 more lines]
I had, till now, only seen the outside of the academy. It
was raised several feet above the other buildings, and
capped with a small cupola, which had a very good effect.
The great room was fifty feet by thirty, arched in an
agreeable manner, and neatly plaistered within. At the
lower end of the room was a small enclosure, elevated above
the company, where the preceptor to the park gave his
military lessons. This was converted into an orchestra,
where the music of the army entertained the company.
. . . [24 lines on the dinner and fireworks]
When the fire works were finished, the company returned to
the academy, the same room that had served to dine in served
to dance in; the tables were removed, and had left a range
for about thirty couple, to foot it to no indifferent
measure. As it was a festival given by men who had not
enriched themselves by the war, the lights were cheap and of
their own manufacture; . . .
The ball was opened by his Excellency the General. When
this man unbends from his station, and its weighty
functions, he is even then like a philosopher who mixes with
the amusements of the world, that he may teach it what is
right, or turn trifles into instructions.
As it is too late in the day for me to follow the windings
of a fiddle, I contented myself with the conversation of
some one or other of the ladies during the interval of
dancing. I was particularly amused with the lively sallies
of a Miss *****, asking her if the roaring of the British
lion in his late speech, did not interrupt the spirit of the
dance? Not at all, said she, it rather enlivens; for I have
heard that such animals always increase their howlings when
most frightened.
. . . and were it not too late, I should wish to lead down
the remainder of the dance with so sweetly vivacious a
partner. But, alas! my dear friend, you will soon find that
sixty is a better security against the hot-spur passions of
man, than those beautiful isicles that Shakespeare tells us
are curled of purest mow, and hung up "on Diana's temple, "
for the benefit, we may suppose, of her chaste attendants.
I do no recollect that I have ever been more pleased on any
occasion or in so large a company: There could not be less
that sixty ladies.
. . . Through the whole, there was a remarkable stile of
looks and behaviour, undebauched by British manners or
British entertainments.
. . . You have obliged me so often, during the course of my
little tour through the Eastern states, with histories of
city feasts, city balls, and city entertainments, that I
thought I could do no less than send you a description of
one, at which I enjoyed so much rational pleasure. You will
say, I have divested myself of my national character to find
amusement in huts and among woods: be it so-- I expected the
compliment.
. . . [7 more lines]
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