wp_query offset

	<? $recentPosts = new WP_Query();
              $recentPosts->query('offset=1&showposts=5'.'&limit='.$how_many);
          ?>
          <div class="box">
          <?php while ($recentPosts->have_posts()) : $recentPosts->the_post(); ?>
            
            	<div class="latest_news latest_news span-12 last append-bottom">
		<div class="tiny_box">
		<h3><a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" rel="bookmark"><?php the_title(); ?></a></h3>
		   <? if (has_post_thumbnail()) {
                      the_post_thumbnail();
                   } else {
                     echo "no thumb";
                   }
                   ?>
		<p><?= the_excerpt() ?></p>
	        </div>
	        </div>
              
          <?php endwhile; ?>
          </div>