From George Washington to Charles Lawrence, 28 September 1760
To Charles Lawrence
Virginia 28th Septr 1760.
Mr Lawrence
For two years past Messrs Cary and Company have sent me a suit of Cloaths of your making, that dont fit me so well as I coud wish—this I attribute to some error in the measure that was sent.
Having now occasion for 4 pair Breeches as underneath (for which Mr Cary will pay you)1 I have sent another measure for them, taken according to directions of a Taylor here: please to cut them out exactly by it, and if any faults shoud appear I will endeavour to point them out in my next to you; be so good therefore to keep the Measure—and send me directions how to measure for a Coat. You will please to take notice that the Inclosd measure is the exact size of the Thigh &ca because it was taken over a thin, close pair of drawers & no allowance made.2 I am Sir Yr Very Hble Servt
Go: Washington
- 1 pair Crimson Velvet Breeches
- 1 pair black knit silk Ditto
- 1 pair black Ditto—worsted ditto
- 1 pair light colourd—silk shag Ditto
LB, in GW’s hand, DLC:GW. GW enclosed his letter to the tailor Lawrence in his letter to Robert Cary & Co. of this date.
1. The trousers are listed in GW’s invoice to Robert Cary & Co., this date, as well as in Cary’s Invoice, 31 Mar. 1761.
2. GW seemed to have trouble in getting his clothing made to fit. An undated typescript of a letter attributed to GW to an unidentified tailor contains the following instructions: “I desire you to make me a pair of breeches, of the same cloth as my former pair, but more accurately fitting. These breeches must be roomy in the seat, the buttons firmly sewn on. The measurements are as follows. . . . These breeches must be made exactly to these measurements, not to those to which you imagine that they may stretch after a period of use” (ViMtvL).