The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-10-27

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The a news fro M the brardywtne
cleared out tho last Of the rich Wings. There
remained behind in Philadelphia those men
who were loyalists by COW lotion and u
considerable number Of people who had no
convictions NJ all. It'll wa arrived" said
an Officer Of the British Guards. Il believed
IL was o very populous city, but at present
IL is very thinly inhabited. and that only
by the canaille and the Quskers." Our
author dwells upon the striking proof Of
tho prevnlence Of education and OF the
strength Of pubic spirit in an American
colony furnished by the fact that In two
years the population OF Phils delphia had
been reduced from thirty thousand TO
twenty thousand. For every native bred
OF either ser over the ago OF 10
years at least one Royal soldier was now
quartered within the city. II. then. the
attempt to heal political maladies by the
remedy OF military occupation could sue
coed anywhere IL must have succeeded In
IL 10 further to be borne in mind that
the British Commander In Chief. Sir Will
Howe. although he failed to restrain
tho excesses Of his German auxiliartes.
was himself . kindly. honest gentleman:
and the Earl Of omwallls. who inspired
the energies and kept the conscience OF
tho British army. was then. AZ always.
tho incarnation OF chivalry and humanity.
The circumstance 10 recalled in the book
before Us that after he entered Philsdel-
phia the town mansion of q rioh merchant
had been appointed for his headquarters;
but when the lady Of the house represented
him that It would DO i'm possible for her
70 remain under her own roof with 90 large
q company of soldiers and ervan Corn
wallis courteously expressed his unwilling
ness TO cause her annoyance and he be-
himself that very afternoon to other
The courtesy was not excep-
tional. A great majority Of the British
officers treated their civilian hosts with
and friendllness. 1t is true
that certain men OF fashion and title who
had ccne straight from Ministerial circles
In London were prepared to be rude and
brutal in their dealings with the
native population, but they we're kept in
by the u~nconcealed disapproval Of
their comrades.
Delegates to the Continental Congress
had been s~candalized by what seemed to
them the luxury and extravaganza which
prevailed in the capital Of Pennsylvania.
Richard Henry Lee Of Virginia called the city
"an attractive scene Of debauch and amuse-
and TO james Lowell OF Massachu-
sstts IL was before everything else "a
place Of crucifying expenses Philadelphia
in both respects more than retained it's
character during the memorable winter
when il lodged Sir William Howe and his
army. After the Delaware River was uu-
by the surrender Of Fort Miffiin
the materials for hospitality poured into
the town and the local magnates wished
for nothing better than TO see redcoats
at their tables. There was great store Of
Madeira In the cellars and the wine was
grudged or spared. The younger
ofaoers found ample and varied amusement
In the weekly balls Of the City Tavern.
the South Street Theatre. the ~racecourse.
for which room had been made within the
Of the forts; -the cockpits in Moore's
Alley. the wild suppers at the Bunch OF
Grapes and the club dinners. late and
long. In the rooms OF the Indian Queen"
We are told that tho unmarried ladies' Of
had never known 30 brilliant
a scene. Each Of them had her individual
preferences for scarlet or for blue or
but few among them were indif-
ferent 10 a uniform. 80 long as IL was worn
by q man OF honor and proves. When
4 beautiful girl was likewise an enthusiastic
there we're no bounds to the adj
which she excited in royal officers
Of every grade from the Commander in
Chief downward. As seen from the outside
by Tory husbands and fathers who had re-
manned in the rural districts in order to
their landed estates from going
to rack and ruin, Philadelphia appeared
TO be an elysium of felicity. James Allen.
a member Of a noted loyalist family. sadly
compared his own lot with that OF his
who stayed behind In the city.
bent on pleasure and we'll supplied with
coined money. whereas he had to put up
with republican paper currency. There
he wrote. everything 10 gay and happy.
md Il IL like to prove a rolicking winter.
The city is filed with goods and the pro-
visions are plenty. though dear
As might have been expected. the merry
Of Pennsylvania were r~eproached
levity and heartlessness by sober
men ON both sides Of politics. The stories
Of cold and hunger. disease and death.
all through the winter Of i777-7s
arrived from tho exposed and dreary up
whore Washington's soldiers were
doing their best TO keep body and soul
aroused the compassion even
Of strong loyalists; and tho American
in general were panied and shocked
by the contrast betwe cen the suffering al
Valley Forge and the luxury and ostenta-
ton which ran riot within the city OF Penn.
It was remembered how. toward the be-
Of the Revolution. when the Phila-
delphians had proposed to compliment
Mrs. Washington by a public hall. Samuel
Adams and President Hancock had begged
her 10 discountenapce the open pursuit of
amusement during a great crisis in the for
tunes Of the country, and how earnestly
she had assured the two statesmen that
their wishes were in entire agreement nth
her .own sentiments.
On May "a. I;7s, Sir William Howe re-
the command Of the British
,ovoa~ a., Apaor,oa e. A,r uaex, YI,.kz.S