The Kiciuh general Francois Jean, Marquis de Chastellux, commented on life among Philadelphia's elite during wartime.

December 1, 1780. The 1st of December commenced, like every other day in Ameria, by a large breakfast... A few loins of veal, some legs of mutton, and other trifles of that kind always slip in among the teacups and coffee cups at breakfast and are sure of meeting a hearty wekcome. After this slight repast, which lasted only an hour and a half, we went to visit the ladies, according to the Philadelphia custom, wher the morning is the most proper hour for paying calls. We began with Mrs. Bache. . . . She conducted us into a room filled with needlework, recently finished by the ladies of Philadelphia. This work consisted neither of embrodered tambour waistcoates, . . . not of gold and silver brocade—but of shits for the solder...