From George Washington to Charles Lawrence, 26 April 1763
To Charles Lawrence
[Williamsburg] Virginia 26th April 1763.
Mr Lawrence
Be pleased to send me a genteel sute of Cloaths made of superfine broad Cloth handsomely chosen; I shoud have Inclosed you my measure but in a general way they are so badly taken here that I am convinced it woud be of very little service; I woud have you therefore take measure of a Gentleman who wears well made Cloaths of the following size—to wit—Six feet high & proportionably made; if any thing rather Slender than thick for a Person of that highth with pretty long arms & thighs—You will take care to make the Breeches longer than those you sent me last,1 & I woud have you keep the measure of the Cloaths you now make by you and if any alteration is required, in my next it shall be pointed out. Mr Cary will pay your Bill—& I am Sir Yr Very Hble Servt
Go: Washington
Note for your further Government and knowledge of my size I have sent the Inclosed2—and you must observe that from the Coat end To No. 1 & No. 3 is the size over the breast & hips.
No. 2 over the Belly—&
No. 4 round the Arm—& from the Breeches end
To No. a is for Waistband.
b thick of the Thigh
c upper button hole
d kneeband
e for length of Breeches
therefore if you take measure of a Person about 6 feet high of this bigness, I think you can’t go amiss—you must take notice that the Inclosed is the exact size without any allowance for Seams &ca. Yr &ca
Go: Washington
ALS (photocopy), NHi: George and Martha Washington Papers; ALB, DLC:GW. The ALS is marked “Copy” by GW, probably because he sent the original copy in another ship.
1. Charles Lawrence, a tailor on Old Fish Street in London, had been making suits for GW since 1759. The suits ordered here were included in Robert Cary & Co.’s invoice of 13 Feb. 1764.
2. The “Inclosed” sketch has not been found.