University of Virginia Library

17. CHAPTER XVII.

Tales at Home.

Towards the spring of 1778, the British
General became convinced that the occupation
of Philadelphia in no degreee promoted the
subjugation of America. He had now possessed
it for many months, yet the revolted
colonies showed as little disposition as ever to
submit. The folly of keeping a numerous and
well-appointed army, at an immense expense
to the British nation, idly lying in the midst of
a large city, was now apparent, and was beginning
to extort censures from every intelligent
friend to the royal cause. By this time
also, the British ministry had become sensible
of the incapacity of Sir William Howe, to conduct
the war in America, and early in May,
he received an intimation that he should soon
be superseded in the command of the army.

Sir William was a great favourite with his
officers. He had, indeed, been an indulgent
commander. Under his authority, and countenanced

by his example, they had enjoyed a
long season of gayety, joviality, and luxurious
dissipation. When, therefore, the design of
recalling him was made known to them, they
resolved before his departure, to honour him
with some brilliant testimony of their gratitude
and regard. For this purpose, the celebrated
entertainment called the Meschianza was
devised. It was a fete, which has been justly
termed “the most splendid ever given by an
army to their general.” It was a medley of
entertainments, consisting of land and naval
spectacles, and triumphal processions, tilts and
tournaments, banquets and balls, and fire works,
in the most fanciful and imposing style of magnificence
that a luxuriant imagination could
devise, or the resources of a large and tasteful
city could produce, when called into activity
by the great wealth and unlimited authority of
the projectors. The expense was borne by
twenty-two officers, and to two of the most
tasteful and ingenious of this number, the accomplished
Andre and the gifted Delancey, the
devising and arranging of the decorations were
committed. Six marshals and four stewards
were appointed to superintend the processions
and entertainments, and to give order and regularity
to the numerous company which was
invited to the festivity.

At this day, there is to be seen, at the

southern extremity of Philadelphia, on the
western side of Fifth street, a venerable building
of large dimensions, which bears, among
the populace of the neighbourhood, the name
of “Duke Wharton's Castle.” This edifice
laboured long under the evil report of being
haunted by the spirit of some person said to
have been murdered within its walls. It was,
in consequence, for many years uninhabited.
It has lately, however, been taken into the
public service, and now aids the cause of humanity,
as an asylum for destitute and orphan
children.

This is the remarkable mansion which, on
the 18th of May, 1778, was selected to be the
scene of the magnificent pageant and costly
festivity under consideration. It was then,
indeed, a noble mansion, the country seat—for
many a green field, now covered with streets,
lay between it and fair Philadelphia—of Marmaduke
Wharton, Esq. This gentleman was
friendly to the royal cause, and cheerfully permitted
his residence to be used for the occasion.

Between this mansion and the Delaware, a
distance of about three furlongs, the ground is
extremely level, and at the time of the memorable
gala of which we are writing, was far
from being entirely stripped of its sylvan
grandeur. On that day, in truth, it being the

season when forest verdure is in its prime,
many a flourishing and picturesque group of
oaks, and elms, and walnuts, and willows,
which are now no more, ornamented the landscape,
sheltering in their bosoms clusters of
cottages, and skirting the numerous richly blossomed
orchards and sweet-scented meadows that
lay extended between them.

In making preparations for this splendid gala,
the army of Britain was occupied for many
days. The appartments of the mansion were
decorated by the skill and industry of Andre
and Delancey, both eminent scenic painters,
whose taste gave to the whole fabric, the appearance
of an enchanted palace. In front of
the mansion was a beautiful flower garden,
with fresh-trimmed walks, arbours and sylvan
seats, amidst which, the most gaudy of the gay
daughters of Flora, were then rejoicing in
their vernal bloom. Eastward of this garden,
and separated from it by an ornamented
paling, an oblong meadow, of about four
acres of ground, perfectly level, extended itself
towards the Delaware. This was the field appropriated
for the grand romantic tournament,
in which the chivalric knights of “The Blended
Rose,” were to encounter those of “The
Burning Mountain,” in maintenance of the
superiority in beauty and merit, of the ladies
of their choice, over those of their antagonists.

Into this field, which was surrounded for
the occasion, by a strong and high fence of
palisades, there were four entrances—one at
each side—with folding gates. At each entrance
was placed a guard of twelve soldiers,
commanded by a sergeant. The British banner
raised itself loftily from the high posts, to
which the gates were hung. It also displayed
itself at each corner of the field, under the protection
of a suitable guard.

At the eastern gate was a splendid triumphal
arch, inscribed to Sir William Howe. It was erected
on columns of the Tuscan order, and covered
with branches of laurel, among which, various
flowers, and particularly the red and white
roses of England, were intermingled. On the
top, the emblematic lion of Great Britain,
pressed his rampant foot upon a succumbent
globe. The titles of Sir William Howe, the
victories he had gained, and his various civic
as well as military merits, were emblazoned
on the entablature of this arch in letters of gold.

At the western gate, which opened from the
garden already mentioned, another triumphal
arch arose, of a similar structure to the preceding,
but with different emblems. It was
dedicated to Lord Howe, the Admiral. It was
surmounted by a very beautiful miniature ship
of war, and each front was decorated with a
handsome painting of Neptune, with his trident,

ruling the ocean. Inscriptions eulogistic
of Lord Howe's naval exploits, were conspicuously
displayed on the entablature.

In the centre of this field, a portion of
ground, somewhat exceeding half an acre, was
marked off for the lists in which the champions
were to exhibit their prowess. It was of an
oval form, encircled by a range of posts tastefully
painted, and connected by a circumference
of strong net-work manufactured for the
purpose. This area had also four gates corresponding
with those of the larger field. The
avenues leading from these gates crossed
each other at the centre, where, by widening
considerably, they left vacant a large circular
space of green and smooth sward—the spot on
which the gallant knights were to display their
valour in daring tournament.

The sides of these avenues were bounded,
partly by four platforms several feet high, and
partly by palisade fences which connected them
with the circumambient net-work. These platforms
were constructed of wood, and overlaid
with carpets. On each of them were erected
four splendid pavilions furnished with seats,
with cushions covered with richly coloured satin.
Externally the pavilions were adorned
with ribbons and fringes of gorgeous hues, intermixed
with festoons of flowers and evergreens.
They ranged north and south, and consequently

fronted each other east and west.
Those on the west had on their tops, banners of
white silk edged with scarlet; the banners of
those on the east were of orange silk edged
with black. These were the seats prepared
for the fair ladies, in compliment to whose
charms the knightly combat was to take place.

Immediately behind the pavilions on the
north-eastern platform, was elevated a superb
stage, accessible by several steps, and surrounded,
save on the front or western side, by a
handsome row of balustrades. On this were
placed three splendid chairs, the central of
which exceeding the others in magnificence,
was appropriated for General Howe, that on
the left for his brother, the admiral, and that
on the right for Sir Henry Clinton. The residue
of the area within the net-work, contained
numerous ranges of benches and seats for the
accommodation of the large and brilliant company
of spectators and guests who had received
invitation cards from the stewards and marshals.
In the outer field also there were placed
many benches, and high scaffolding on the back
ground, for the accommodation of the promiscuous
multitude that assembled from the city
and adjacent country to witness the exhibition.
To many of these, especially of the juvenile
class, the numerous tall trees then growing in

the vicinity, afforded much facility for viewing
the novel and brilliant scene.

While artists and mechancis of various descriptions
were busily employed in making
preparations for this grand pageant, the sensation
of high expectance, among all ranks and
parties throughout the city, was very great.
Many ladies and gentlemen were invited. Nor
were these invitations, so far at least as regarded
the fair sex, confined to the royalists. Many
of the most fascinating belles of the day, were
professed whigs, and to have omitted these in
their invitations, would have accorded neither
with the gallantry nor the inclinations of the gay
Sir William Howe and his high-spirited officers.
Among the whig ladies thus invited,
we may readily suppose that Harriet Lewis
was included. Her whiggism was not, indeed,
of that obstinate description which would induce
her to deny herself a pleasure of this
kind. Yet she refused both the first and second
invitations she received, because she wished
not to confer any favour on those who tendered
them. The first, from Harris, who
eagerly seized this occasion to ingratiate himself
in her esteem, she promptly rejected. The
second was from a young officer who had,
some time previous, made her an unacceptable
tender of his love, and to whom she was now
unwilling to afford any encouragement. With

such an ornament to their festivity, however,
its projectors were resolved not to dispense.
At their solicitation, Sir Robert Radnor presented
her a card. He was an inmate of her father's
house, he was advanced in life, and an
invalid; and whatever might have been his conduct
formerly, since she became acquainted
with him, it had been such as to merit her approbation
and esteem. She, therefore, with
her father's approbation, consented to attend
Sir Robert, and was immediately appointed
one of the Nymphs of the Blended Rose, Sir
Robert, invalid as he was, having resolved to
become her knight.

The entertainments of the day began with
an aquatic excursion, or “grand regatta.” Soon
after mid-day, the galleys and barges adorned
for the occasion, with splendid streamers and
trophies of naval triumphs, received their joyous
company of fair ladies and gay gentlemen,
from a wharf at the upper part of the city.
Thence, in three divisions, rowing to soft harmony,
they proceeded down the river. The
first division was led by the Ferret galley, having
on board Lord Catheart, General Abercrombie,
Sir Robert Meredith, and many other
officers with their favourite fair. The Hussar
galley which led the second division, contained
Sir William Howe, Lord Howe, and Sir
Henry Clinton, with the officers of their suite,

and their chosen ladies. Then came the Cornwallis
galley with her division, freighted with
gallant officers and the fair they loved. Each
division was preceded by a barge with a band
of music, whose measured cadences and swelling
strains gave regularity and precision to the
strokes of the well-trained rowers, who, with
graceful action, moved them down the stream.

Around this gay assemblage of beauty and
gallantry, armed borges, manned with marines,
lightly floated in all directions to keep off the
throngs of boats filled with beholders that
pressed towards the procession. In this joyous
and brilliant style, they moved forward, on
the smooth bosom of the Delaware, in the
view of thousands of admiring spectators, who
crowded to the wharves, and filled the windows
and balconies of all the houses within
sight of the grand and novel spectacle.

Three ships of war, the Fanny, the Roebuck,
and the Vigilant, with a long line of transport
ships, lay at regular intervals in the middle
of the broad river, highly decorated, their
colours flying, and their yard-arms manned
with the seamen, who, as the “grand regatta”
majestically passed, uncovered their heads, and
waving their hats, saluted it with loud cheers.
But the principal cheering took place when
the central division arrived opposite High
street. Here, at a given signal, the pageant stopped,

and the blithe oars-men rested on their
oars. Each of the war-ships then fired a salute,
and all the bands played, “God save the king,”
which was followed by three distinct cheers
from the seamen, and responded with long and
loud acclamations by the exhilarated mulitude
on shore!

At length, after floating proudly down the
stream for nearly three miles, the galleys came
to the appointed place of landing, at the lower
end of the city, where the republican navy-yard
has since been established. Here from
the decks, the delighted company beheld
the extensive mansion which was to be the
scene of their festivity, with the royal standard
of England waving from its towering roof,
and announcing that it was ready to open its
hospitable gates and receive them to the splendid
entertainments now provided for them
within its walls.

From the landing place to where the triumphal
arch of General Howe, already described,
was erected, a distance of about a quarter
of a mile, there extended a sylvan arcade twenty-four
feet wide. It was constructed of green
branches from the adjacent woods, wearing
their leafy honours, and enameled with flowers
and blossoms in every gay variety that could
be furnished by the genial month of May.

A carpet of green baize covered the whole

length of the arcade; and as the company passed,—for
this was their way to the scene of festivity,—it
was lined on each side within by a
file of grenadiers, and protected without by
several companies of light horse. Another salute
of seventeen guns from the ships announced
the landing of the gallant cavaliers and fair
dames. The bands then struck up “General
Howe's March,” and the brilliant party proceeded
to the “Field of the Tournament.”

To describe minutely the magnificent dresses
of the ladies and gentlemen on the occasion,
would extend this account of the Meschianza
beyond all reasonable limits. A very succinct
notice of the costumes of the Knights of “The
Blended Rose,” and their antagonists the
Knights of “The Burning Mountain,” and of
the dresses of the ladies whom they selected
from among the Philadelphia fair, as the objects
for whom they chose to combat, is all
that can be given.

The White Knights, or those of the Blended
Rose, wore coats of white silk with broad
borders of scarlet, and epaulets representing
white and red roses growing from one stem.
The same device was displayed on their shields,
and their heralds bore it aloft, in the form of
a beautiful boquet embossed on satin, as the insignia
of their order. The motto was “We

droop when separated.” They were seven in
number, and their chief was Lord Cathcart.

The Black Knights, or those of the Burning
Mountain, were also seven in number. Their
costume was black ground with orange borders,
emblematic of a mountain in flames. A
burning mountain was their heraldic insignia,
and their motto, “I burn for ever.” Captain
Watson of the guards was their leader.

The ladies of the Blended Rose were dressed
in Turkish habits of rich and gaudy silk,
on which were embroidered garlands of white
and red roses in many a bright and fanciful
festoon. Their turbans were encircled with
chaplets of the same gay flowers wrought in
silk of the purest white and the gayest scarlet.
In the front of the sash which encircled
her waist, each had fixed the glittering present
with which she was to reward her knight.

The ladies of the Burning Mountain were
also in oriental habits; but the prevailing colours
of their apparel were purple and orange.
They also wore in their sashes the rewards to
be conferred on their knights.

When the company entered the area prepared
for the tournament, the marshals conducted
the ladies to their pavilions. The nymphs of
the Blended Rose were placed on the west
side of the space marked out for the lists.

Those of the Burning Mountain were seated
opposite to them on the east.

Sir William Howe, having ascended his
chair of state, and the marshals having informed
the heralds that every thing was prepared
for the reception of the knights, those at the
southern gate threw it open, and proclaimed
that the White Knights were advancing. Immediately
the sound of trumpets at a distance
was heard, and in about a minute the champions
of the Blended Rose entered, visored,
and, underneath their tunics, vested in glittering
mail, and nobly mounted on grey chargers
richly caparisoned in their chosen colours of
white and red. Each knight was followed by
his squire on foot, in martial attire, carrying
his spear and shield. Three times did they
make the circuit of the lists, saluting the ladies
on both sides, as they passed. They then
took their station on the west, in a line with
their own ladies.

Their trumpeters again sounded a long flourish,
after which their chief herald made proclamation,
in the name of the Knights of the
Blended Rose, that “the Ladies of their choice
excelled in wit, beauty and accomplishments,
those of the whole world, and that they are
ready to enter the lists against any knights
who shall dare to deny the same, according to
the ancient laws of chivalry.” This challenge

being thrice repeated, the herald at the northern
gate threw it open, and announced the approach
of the Knights of the Burning Mountain.
Presently the sound of trumpets was
heard from that direction, and the Black
Knights, preceded by their heralds and trumpeters
soon entered. Their horses were jet
black, but their caparisons displayed the brilliant
flame of the orange: and their black armour
was richly variegated with spangles of
glowing gold. Like their antagonists, each
was attended by his squire bearing his lance
and shield; and like them, they rode thrice
round the lists, each time making their obeisance
to the ladies. They then drew up in
front of their antagonists, while their herald
proclaimed their defiance to the challenge of
the White Knights, in the following terms.—
“The Knights of the Burning Mountain will
disprove, not by words, but by deeds, the vainglorious
assertion of the Knights of the Blended
Rose; and they now enter the lists to maintain
that the Ladies of the Burning Mountain
are not excelled in beauty, virtue or accomplishments,
by any in the universe.”

The chief of the White Knights then threw
down his gauntlet, which the leader of the
other knights instantly ordered his squire to
take up. The trumpeters of each party now
sounded a flourish, during which the squires

handed to their respective knights their shields
and lances. These being fixed—the shields on
their left-arms and the lances in their rests—a
short pause ensued. Then, at a signal from the
chief marshal, the Knights saluted each other
by a movement of their lances, and wheeled
round to commence their career. On their return,
they encountered each other at full gallop,
and their spears were shivered to pieces
against their impenetrable shields. They again
wheeled, and received pistols from their squires,
with which they renewed the attack. The
third attack was with swords, which furiously
clashing against each other, or sounding upon
the shields, produced an excitement and alarm
among the spectators, almost as intense as the
shock of a real battle.

At length, at a signal from Sir William
Howe, the marshals proclaimed a parley, and
each knight resumed his station. The marshals
then, having conferred with the ladies,
delivered their commands that “the knights
should desist from further combat, for that the
Nymphs of the Blended Rose and of the Burning
Mountain, were perfectly satisfied with the
proofs of love and feats of valour they had displayed.”

At that instant, the whole company was
thrown into confusion by one of the champions
of the Blended Rose falling suddenly from his
horse. Miss Lewis was much agitated on

learning that it was her knight, Sir Robert Radnor;
and she was hastening amidst the crowd
to his assistance, when one of the Black
Knights, now dismounted, threw himself in
her way.

“Sweetest Nymph of the Roses,” said he,
“whither fliest thou so hastily?”

“Knowest thou,” she asked, “whether Sir
Robert Radnor be much injured?”

“I know not, fair one,” was the reply.
“But why so solicitous about Sir Robert? Methinks
a melee like this was an ill place for
one so infirm as he.”

Instantly a cry was heard among the crowd,
“He is bleeding—he is wounded!” Quickness
of thought was one of the characteristics of
Miss Lewis, who was now aware that she was
talking with Harris, whose hostile feelings towards
Sir Robert, she strongly suspected.

“Methinks, Captain Harris,” she said, “that
you are not quite ignorant of the cause of this
accident.”

He started, as if stung by an adder, and forgetting
himself for a moment, he exclaimed,
“Beware of what thou sayst! Beautiful as thou
art, such a charge is too serious not to be resented!”

“Resented!” cried a voice behind him.
“Shame to thee, uncourteous and ruffian
knight! Speakest thou so to a lady? Outside

of this thronged enclosure, if thou darest follow
me, I will prove upon thy body, that thou
art unworthy of knighthood.”

Harris turned to the speaker, almost choked
with rage. The countenance was masked,
but the person and voice brought Edward Meredith
to his recollection. “What! a rebel
spy amongst us!” said he. “It would, indeed,
be unworthy of knighthood to measure
swords with a criminal so base. Thou art prey
for the gallows!” So saying, he turned his
eye in search of some subaltern officer whom
he might charge with the custody of Meredith,
for he felt assured of his identity, when a
voice that sent a cold shuddering through his
frame, addressed him:

“Beware! beware!” it said: “Wretch, thy
own doom approacheth!” The speaker passed
near him. It was the awful figure that was presented
to his imagination in all his solitudes
and serious hours. He saw it but for an instant;
but that instant was enough to unnerve his
frame. His limbs shook, and he fell to the
earth with a groan which soon brought round
him a crowd of spectators.

In the mean time, Meredith, having conducted
Miss Lewis back to her pavilion, to which
her father, who had attended as a spectator
of the tournament, now came to take charge
of her, was again mingling with the crowd,

when he became apprized that he was the object
of suspicion to two officers who had over-heard
the words of Harris, and who were
evidently watching his movements with close
and alarming attention. He perceived his danger;
but he lost not his presence of mind, and
he fortunately applied to a source whence he
procured the means of extrication from his
perilous situation, in the manner which shall
be hereafter related.

The wound of Sir Robert Radnor had evidently
been made by the sword of Harris, who
was his antagonist; but it was, even by himself,
imputed to accident. A carriage was soon procured,
and in company with a surgeon, he was
conveyed to his lodging. Harris soon recovered;
but the cause of his disorder remained unknown.
One expression only which escaped
him before he had gained his perfect self-possession,
excited among those who heard it,
much surprise and conjecture. “Friends!”
he cried, “is that fearful spectre gone!” But
instantly recollecting himself, he begged their
indulgence. “I have been in a delirium” he
said, “and I fear I shall become frequently
liable to these fits.” He then artfully inquired
for Sir Robert Radnor, stating that his concern
for the wound he had unintentionally given
him, had been the chief cause of the mental
disorder with which he had been attacked.

But, in truth, Harris, felt no sympathy for
Sir Robert Radnor. He had, as Miss Lewis
plainly intimated, wilfully inflicted the wound.
His mortification at the preference which Harriet
had shown for Sir Robert in accepting his
invitation to the Meschianza, after rejecting
one from himself, was exceedingly great, and
he thirsted for revenge. He accordingly procured
his enrolment among the Black Knights,
knowing that Sir Robert was enrolled among
those of the Blended Rose, with the view of
encountering him during the tournament, and
inflicting on him a mortal wound which might
seem the result of accident.