Described as "quasi-athletic aristocrats who would be more at home handling a lady's fan than the willow bat," Lord Hawke's "eat, drink and be merry" cricketing party arrived in North America in 1891. They were to play a series of eight matches in the USA and Canada two of which, the games against Philadelphia, were first-class matches. While Hawke's party could likely beat the Canadians and the Americans of Baltimore, New York, Boston and Chicago equipped with a lady's fan, the Philadelphians were different. Lord Hawke admitted as much when upon his arrival he stated -

"The only players we are anyway afraid of are the Philadelphians, who have been playing excellent cricket this year."

The Philadelphians did not disappoint.