From George Washington to Charles Pettit, 7 September 1787
To Charles Pettit
Philadelphia Sept. 7th 1787
Sir
Having received the dimensions of three more of my Chimneys for which I want castings, I have to request them as follows.
| 3. 6½ high in front |  |
First |
| 1. 6½ deep | ||
| 3. 3 Wide at the back | ||
| 3. 2½ high in front | |
Second |
| 1. 6½ Deep | ||
| 3. 5 Wide at the back | ||
| 3. 1 high in front | |
third |
| 1.10 Deep | ||
| 3. 5 Wide at the back |
The above being the exact size of the Chimneys (already built and in use) it is not to be forgotten that the thickness of the back plate is to be deducted from the width of those on the sides or vica versa as shall be adjudged best.
The mould already made, may subserve for the above Casting reducing it first to the largest of the above Chimneys—then to the second size—and lastly to the smallest—the crest and Cypher to each.1
I should be glad to receive them as soon as possible and the money shall be immediately paid for them. I am yrs &ca
G. Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
Charles Pettit (1736–1806), who was trained as a lawyer, was an import merchant in Philadelphia and a member of Congress. For details of his career, see the editors’ note in Pettit to GW, 24 May 1789. See also the note in Pettit to GW, 5 Aug. 1788.
1. GW wrote George Augustine Washington on 3 June asking him to secure the measurements of the fireplace in the chimney in the New Room at Mount Vernon, and it was probably in a missing letter of 24 June to Pettit that GW ordered the firebacks for that chimney. He wrote George Augustine Washington on 26 Aug. for the dimensions of the fireplace in the chimneys referred to here. For further correspondence regarding these firebacks, see GW to Pettit, 2, 14 Oct., 3 Dec. 1787, and Pettit to GW, 1, 6 Nov. 1787, 22 April 1788.