Within a copy of those Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation (published by Bedford, MA; Applewood Books in 1988) as originally written down by George Washington, I have taken each of those “rules” that pertain to the purpose of eating or when at table. Manners when dining with the General, even during war, would have observed these courtesies when at all possible.
9 - Spit not in the Fire, nor Stoop low before it neither Put your Hands into the Flames to warm them, nor Set your Feet upon the Fire especially if there be meat before it.
55 - Eat not in the Streets, nor in the House, out of Season.
62 - Speak not of doleful Things in a Time of Mirth or at the Table; Speak not of Melancholy Things as Death and Wounds, and if others Mention them Change if you can the Discourse tell not your Dreams, but to your intimate Friend.
91 - Make no Show of taking great Delight in your Victuals, Feed not with Greediness; cut your Bread with a Knife, lean not on the Table neither find fault with what you Eat.
92 - Take no Salt or cut Bread with your Knife Greasy.
93 - Entertaining any one at table it is decent to present him wt. meat, Undertake not to help others undesired by the Master.
94 - If you Soak bread in the Sauce let it be no more than what you put in your Mouth at a time and blow not your broth at Table but Stay till Cools of it Self.
95 - Put not your meat to your Mouth with your Knife in your hand neither Spit forth the Stones of any fruit Pie upon a Dish nor Cast anything under the table.
96 - It's unbecoming to Stoop much to ones Meat Keep your Fingers clean & when foul wipe them on a Corner of your Table Napkin.
97 - Put not another bit into your Mouth until the former be Swallowed let not your Morsels be too big.
98 - Drink not nor talk with your mouth full neither Gaze about you while you are a drinking.
99 - Drink not too leisurely nor yet too hastily. Before and after Drinking wipe your Lips breath not then or ever with too Great a Noise, for its uncivil.
100 - Cleanse not your teeth with the Table Cloth Napkin Fork or Knife but if Others do it let it be done wt. a Pick Tooth.
101 - Rinse not your Mouth in the Presence of Others.
102 - It is out of use to call upon the Company often to Eat nor need you Drink to others every Time you Drink.
103 - In Company of your Betters be not longer in eating than they are lay not your Arm but only your hand upon the table.
104 - It belongs to the Chiefest in Company to unfold his Napkin and fall to Meat first, but he ought then to Begin in time & to Dispatch with Dexterity that the Slowest may have time allowed him.
105 - Be not Angry at Table whatever happens & if you have reason to be so, Show it not but on a Cheerful Countenance especially if there be Strangers for Good Humour makes one Dish of Meat a Feast.
106 - Set not yourself at the upper of the Table but if it Be your Due or that the Master of the house will have it So, Contend not, least you Should Trouble the Company.
107 - If others talk at Table be attentive but talk not with Meat in your Mouth.
Within the The George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, there is a letter that describes what would possibly be served to him during the main meal of the day, or dinner, at about 2 or 3:00 pm. In this instance he has asked two ladies to dine with him, one was Dr. John Cochran’s wife and the other her friend, Mrs. Livingston. Notice that he continued to dine in the manner fitting his station in society albeit with a minimal meal compared to the description following by the Marquis [François Jean] de Chastellux. However, General Washington would have been conscious of the lack of food for his men, and would not have eaten to excess when alone or even entertaining as he knew the Army was going without. He would have ensured that his table contained the appropriate meal per what his dining companions were accustomed to - or what we available.
George Washington to John Cochran, August 16, 1779
West-point, August 16, 1779.
Dr. Doctr: I have asked Mrs. Cockran and Mrs. Livingston to dine with me to morrow; but ought I not to apprize them of their fare? As I hate deception, even where the imagination only is concerned; I will. It is needless to premise, that my table is large enough to hold the ladies; of this they had occular proof yesterday. To say how it is usually covered is rather more essential, and this, shall be the purport of my Letter. Since our arrival at this happy spot, we have had a Ham (sometimes a shoulder) of Bacon, to grace the head of the table; a piece of roast Beef adorns the foot; and, a small dish of Greens or Beans (almost impercep table) decorates the center.
When the Cook has a mind to cut a figure (and this I presume he will attempt to do to morrow) we have two Beefstake-Pyes, or dishes of Crabs in addition, one on each side the center dish, dividing the space, and reducing the distance between dish and dish to about Six feet, which without them, would be near twelve a part. Of late, he has had the surprizing luck to discover, that apples will make pyes; and it's a question if, amidst the violence of his efforts, we do not get one of apples instead of having both of Beef.
[Note: The draft, also in the writing of Washington, has the word "luck" crossed out and "segacity" substituted.] [Note: The draft has "Beef-stakes."]
If the ladies can put up with such entertainment, and will submit to partake of it on plates, once tin but now Iron; (not become so by the labor of scowering) I shall be happy to see them. I am, etc.
[N.Y.H.S.]
Marquis [François Jean] de Chastellux, Travels in North-America, in the Years 1780, 1781, 1782 (London 1787), pp. 112-125 passim.
…”The rain spared us no more at the camp of the Marquis, than at that of the main army; so that our review being finished, I saw with pleasure General Washington set off in a gallop to regain his quarters. We reached them as soon as the badness of the roads would permit us. At our return we found a good dinner ready, and about twenty guests, among whom were Generals Howe and Sinclair. The repast was in the English fashion, consisting of eight or ten large dishes of butcher's meat, and poultry, with vegetables of several sorts, followed by a second course of pastry, comprized under the two denominations of pies and puddings. After this the cloth was taken off, and apples and a great quantity of nuts were served, which General Washington usually continues eating for two hours, Coasting and conversing all the time. These nuts are small and dry, and have so hard a shell, (hickory nuts) that they can only be broken by the hammer; they are served half open, and the company are never done picking and eating them. The conversation was calm and agreeable; his Excellency was pleased to enter with me into the particulars of some of the principal operations of the war, but always with a modesty and conciseness, which proved that it was from pure complaisance he mentioned it.”...
George Washington to Daniel Parker, September 18, 1783
Rocky Hill, September 18, 1783.
Sir: Be so good as to receive from Colo. Smith, Fifty Guineas which were left in his hands, for my use, by the Count Del Vermé; and apply them to my Credit in payment for the Pipe of Wine (which was to be sent to Virginia) with the other things, if they could be got, agreeably to my former letter of the 12th.
You will do me a favor by requesting Mr. Fraunces to enquire if a good Cook, German I should prefer, could be obtained, and sent to me immediately. Mrs. Thompson, formerly my Housekeeper and lately gone to the City probably can assist in the enquiries and examination. I want a Person that has understanding in the business. who can order, as well as get a dinner; who can make dishes, and proportion them properly, to any Company which shall be named to him to the amount of 30. If such a Person can be had who is well recommended for honesty, sobriety and good temper I should think myself fortunate.
[Note: Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson.]
As the army as well as many Genteel Families are now upon the point of leaving New York I should not conceive it to be very difficult to succeed. I am &c.
More to follow…
