Provenance:

A Philadelphia Collection.

Note:

Sarah Tallman ( B.1740) married Joseph Wharton Jr.(1733-1816) a Philadelphia merchant in 1760. Joseph was the son of successful merchant and prominent Quaker Joseph Wharton, Sr.

The Wharton Family estate Walnut Grove was the sight of Colonial America's most extravagant party -the Meschianza-

Organized by British officers to honor General William Howe-retiring Commander of British land forces, and his brother, Admiral Richard Howe- Commander of British Naval forces, the Meschianza was costly and controversial. The fete took place during the British occupation of Philadelphia.

The elaborately planned 18-hour celebration began on the afternoon of May 18, 1778, with the Howe Brothers and British military officers boarding festooned boats and navigating down the Delaware River to Walnut Grove. Military bands on flatboats serenaded the Howes along the way and a 19-gun salute from the HMS Roebuck welcomed their arrival. The Wharton Family estate had been transformed for the festivities and the 400 military and civilian invitees were treated to a costumed medieval style mock jousting tournament, a ball with refreshments in the mansion, and fireworks at nightfall.. A sumptuous banquet followed in a large canvas tent -its painted interior walls adorned with dozens of "borrowed" mirrors and illuminated by hundreds of candles in chandeliers. Upon completion of the meal, tables were cleared and guests danced until dawn.

Many Philadelphians were disgusted with the extravagance and insensitivity of the event. Elizabeth Drinker (1735-1807), Quaker diarist wrote in Extracts from the Journal of Mrs. Henry Drinker, of Philadelphia. From September 25, 1777 July 4, 1778, "How insensible do these people appear, while our Land is so greatly desolated, and Death and sore destruction has overtaken and impends over so many,"

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