to eat. The cook, taking him for a
servant, told him that she would give him some victuals directly, but
that he must first help her off with the pot--a request with which he
readily complied. He was then told to take a bucket and go to the well
for water, and was actually engaged in drawing it when found by an aide
whom Washington had despatched in quest of him. The cook was in despair
when she heard her assistant addressed by the title of "General." The
mug fell from her hands, and dropping on her knees, she began crying
for pardon, when Lee, who was ever ready to see the impropriety of his
own conduct, but never willing to change it, gave her a crown, and,
turning to the aid-de-camp, observed: "You see, young man, the advantage
of a fine coat; the man of consequence is indebted to it for respect;
neither virtue nor ability, without it, will make you look like a
gentleman."[3]

Perhaps the most remarkable episode in all Lee's social career, was that
connected with Sir William Howe's famous entertainment at Philadelphia,
the Mischianza. This was just after the affair at Monmouth, in the
course of which Washington swore, and Lee was taken prisoner. Yet though
a prisoner, the eccentric general was treated with the greatest
courtesy, and seems even to have received a card for the famous ball.
But, never too careful of his personal appearance, he must on this
occasion have looked particularly uncouth. Certainly the beautiful Miss
Franks, one of the Philadelphia belles, thought him far from ornamental,
and, with the keen wit for which she was celebrated, spread abroad a
report that General Lee came to the ball clad in green breeches, patched
with leather. To prove to her that entire accuracy had not been used in
describing his garb at the ball, the general sent the young lady the
very articles of clothing which she had criticised! Naturally, neither
the ladies nor their escorts thought any better of Lee's manners after
this bit of horse-play, and it is safe to say he was not soon again
invited to an evening party. Mrs. Hamilton and Mrs. Mercy Warren both
call Lee "a crabbed man." The latter described him in a letter to
Samuel Adams as "plain in his person to a degree of ugliness; careless
even to impoliteness; his garb ordinary; his voice rough; his manners
rather morose; yet sensible, learned, judicious, and penetrating."

Toward the end of his life, Lee took refuge in an estate which he had
purchased in Berkeley County,