To George Washington from Lewis Nicolas, 23 September 1794
From Lewis Nicolas
23 Septr 1794
Sr
Casually going into a painter’s shop yesterday I there saw some Tent Poles which I was told were for your Excels. use, I did not particularly examine them, but they appeared to me to be in the usual mode, in which the Standards in the middle have always been complained of as great inconveniences, tho without seeking any remedy, that I know of, on account of its occasioning an augmentation of weight; an evil avoided as much as possible in an army; but as that consideration has no place in the present case, I beg leave to submit the inclosed scheme to your consideration.1 Do me the justice to believe me with great respect Your Excels. Most obedt Servant
Lewis Nicolas
ALS, ViMtvL.
1. For the enclosed diagram, see Fig. 2. Nicolas wrote the following words of explanation about the diagram: "When the Tent is not pitched the stands ab & ed fold up on the outside of the roof pieces bc & de by means of the Hinges b & d & the two roof pieces fold together inwardly by means of the Hinge c.
Fig 2.
"If the four pieces are found troublesome for carriage when thus united they may be made to seperate, by having the axis of each Hinge moveable, or with a head at one end & a male & female Screw at the other, so that each may be put in, or taken out at pleasure" (ViMtvL).