Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1892 — WASHINGTON’S CLOTHES. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON’S CLOTHES.

A Letter to His Tailor Gives Some of the Great Man’s Measurements. The gentleman who brought forward the following communication had not only the original letter in hie possession, but was also the owner of the “measure,” composed of stiff paper carefully sewn together, and with the marks written m it in the General’s handwriting, relates the Sartorial Art Journal. It was sent to the tailor through Washington’s agents, presumaby “Cary & Company, merchants.” It is notable for the same exactitude and precision as the more important matters which the General had connection with, and it is invaluable ae giving the absolute condition of hie physique in the year of itg date: Virginia, 20th April, 1763.—Mr. Lawrence: Be pleased to send mo a genteel eute as cloaths, made of superfine broad doth, handsomely chosen:—l should have inclosed my measure, but, in a general way, thev are so badly taken here, that I am eonvinoed it would be of little service; I would have you, therefore, take measure of a gentleman who wears well-made cloaths of the following size, to wit: Six feet high, and proportionally made; if anything, rather slender than thick for a person of that height, with pretty long arms and thighs. You will take care to make the breeches longer than those you sent me last, and I would have you keep the measure of the deaths 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. lam, sir, your very obedient humble servant, t George Washington Note—For your further government and knowledge of my size, I have sent the enclosed, and you must observe, yt from ye coat end to No. 1 and No. 1, is ye size over ye breast and hips, No 2 over ye belly, and No. 4 round ye arm, and from yo breeches end. To No. a, is for waistband; ’ b., thick of the thigh; c., upper buttonhole; d., knee band; e., for length of breeches. Therefore, if you take measure of a person about six feet high of this bigness, I think you can’t go amiss; you must take notice that the enclosed is the exact size, without any allowance for seams, etc. Geobge Washington. To Mr. Chas. Lawrence, Taylor, in old Fish street, London. As Washington was 31 in 1763, his height, as he states it, viz., six feet, is apparently at variance with the popular belief that he was six feet two inches, but it may be that some peculiarity, either of his length of limb or of his body, caused him to tell his tailor to measure a gentleman of only six feet, assured that by some slight difference on his part from other men he may have‘exactly the corrected difference. He was so correct in all his directions that this seems the only elucidation of the discrepancy.