Washington, George, 1732-1799 to Harriot Washington Parks, his niece, re: congratulations on her marriage
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02793.005 Author/Creator: Washington, George, 1732-1799 Place Written: Mount Vernon, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1796/07/22 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 23 cm, Width: 19 cm Order a Copy
Written as President, offering his congratulations and suggestions for "a prudent deportment" towards her husband, including "the accomodation of your views to his circumstances." Also advocating frugality, he adds "always keep the old adage in remembrance - 'Take your measure according to your cloth' and do not... endulge yourself either in dress, or mode of living that will be productive of embarrassmen[t]." He concludes by noting the amount of company present at Mount Vernon and their best wishes for her marriage. Harriot Washington Parks (1776-1822) was the daughter of GW's brother Samuel Washington (1734-1781). Until her marriage to Andrew Parks of Baltimore in 1796, she remained dependent on the Washingtons for support.
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