NOTES TO BOOK 1. 63

) “ Philadelphia, May 23, 1778.

“ That our sentiments might be the more universally known, it was resolved amongst us, that we should give General Howe as splendid an entertainment as the shortness of the time and our situation would allow us. For the expenses the whole army would have most cheerfully contributed; but it was requisite to draw a line somewhere, and twenty-two field-oflicers joined in a subscrip- tion adequate to the plan they meant to adopt. I know your curiosity will be raised on this occasion, and I shall therefore give you as particular an account of our ‘ mischianza’ as I have been able to collect. From the name, you will observe it was made up of a variety of entertainments; four of the gentlemen subscribers were appointed managers,—Sir John Wrottesley, Colonel O’Hara, Major Gardiner, and Montressor, the chief engineer. On the tickets of admission, which they gave for Monday 18th, was engraved in a shield a view of the sea, and on a wreath the words, ‘ Luce discedens, aucto splendore resurgam.’ At topwas the general’s crest, with ‘ Vive vale I’ All round the shield ran a vignette; and various military trophies filled up the ground. A grand regatta began the entertainment. It consisted of three divisions; the first was the Ferret galley, having on board several general-officers, and a num- ber of ladies. In the centre was the Hussar galley, with Sir William and Lord Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, the officers of their suite, and some ladies. The Cornwallis galley brought up the rear, having on board General Knypthausen and his suite, threc British generals, and a party of ladies. On each quarter of the galleys, and forming their division, were five boats lined with green cloth, and filled with ladies and gentlemen. In front of the whole were three boats, with a band of music in each; six barges rowed about each flank, to keep ofi' the swarms of boats that covered the river from side to side. The galleys were dressed out in a variety of colours and streamers, and in each boat was displayed the flag of its own division. In the stream, opposite the centre of the city, the Fanny man-of-war, magnificently decorated, was placed at anchor, and at some distance a-head lay his majesty’s ship Roebuck, with the admiral's flag at the fore-topmast head. The transport ships, extending in a line the whole length of the town, appeared with colours flying, and crowded with spectators, as were also the open-