V.
It may be thought that the costumes here spoken of, as in other
portions of the volume, are heightened in brilliancy by the fancy of
the writer. To show that the sketches are truthful, a curious description
of an elaborate painting of Washington's wedding is appended.
The writer declares that the main figures are taken from “the original
pictures of Colonel and Mrs. Washington, the one of the date of 1772,
by Peale, and the other of 1759, by Woolaston,” and then proceeds:
“The scene is laid in the ancient parish church of St. Peters, county
of New Kent, colony of Virginia, time, 6th of January, 1759.
“In the foreground, and near the altar, appears the Rev. Dr. Mossom,
the officiating clergyman, in full canonicals; he is about to present
the marriage ring. The bridegroom is in a suit of blue and silver,
lined with red silk—embroidered waistcoat—small clothes—gold
shoe and knee buckles—dress sword—hair in full powder. The bride
in a suit of white satin—rich point-faced ruffles—pearl ornaments in
her hair—pearl necklace, ear-rings and bracelets—white satin high-heeled
shoes, with diamond buckles. She is attended by a group
of ladies, in the gorgeous costume of that ancient period. Near to
the bridegroom is a brilliant group, comprising the vice-regal Governor
of Virginia, several English army and navy officers, then on
colonial service, with the very elite of Virginia chivalry of the old
regime. The Governor is in a suit of scarlet, embroidered with gold,
with bag wig and sword—the gentlemen in the fashion of the time.
“But among the most interesting and picturesque of the personages
in the various groups is Bishop, the celebrated body servant of Braddock,
and then of Washington, with whom he ended his days, after
service of more than forty years.
“This veteran soldier of the wars of George II. forms a perfect study
in the picture. His tall, attenuated form and soldierly bearing, as
with folded arms, and cocked hat in hand, respectfully he approaches
the bridal group, gives a touching interest to the whole scene. He
is in a scarlet coat, and is booted and spurred, having just dismounted,
and relinquished the favorite charger of his chief to a groom.
Through the large folding doors of the church is seen the old-fashioned
coach of the bride, drawn by six horses, also the fine English charger
bequeathed to Washington by Braddock, after the fatal field of the
Monongahela. From the account of the marriage, handed down
from those that were present at its celebration, it appears that the
bride and her ladies occupied the coach, while the provincial colonel
rode his splendid charger, attended by a brilliant cortege of the gay
and gallant of the land. Such was Washington's marriage in 1759.”
This splendor, in costume and personal adornment, remained unchanged
up to the time of the Revolution. Dress then shared the
change in every thing else.
