THE SILK INDUSTRY IN WESSEX. 89 



It would appear from a memorandum on the back of a 

 letter stamped 1790 that the education of the three daughters 

 cost 520, or thereabouts. 



CLOTHING. 



There are many accounts relative to wearing apparel of all 

 kinds, from boots to headgear. I will transcribe two examples 

 of a tailor's bill of the period, to illustrate the current fashion 

 for a well-dressed inhabitant of Sherborne. It must, however, 

 be confessed that Willmott did not buy his best clothes in 

 his native town, but went to London or elsewhere for them. 



1781 July 10th. To Benedict Shield (address unknown). 



s. d. 



A superfine cloth coat with solid plated buttons, ... 3 3 



A fine dimity waistcoat, double-breasted and fringed, 16 

 A sattin stript waistcoat, double-breasted and silk 



linings, 1 10 



590 



The second account reads thus 



1782. 5 June. To John Boucher (Leadenhall Street, London). 



s. d. 



Making a light cloth coat, a double-breasted silk waist- 

 coat and black silk breeches ; trim'gs. to d. ... 1 18 



2| yards sup. cloth, at 19s. ... ... ... ... 2 5 1 



1|- yards rich fig'd silk, at 15s. ... ... ... ... 1 8 1 



2 yards rich sattin Florentine, at 12s. ... ... 1 10 



Silk serge to the waistcoat forebodys, . . . ... ... 50 



Shalloon to the back, ... ... ... ... ... 16 



14 solid plated shank buttons,... ... ... ... 60 



7 13 9 



I regret that a man's incompetence prevents me from 

 quoting parallel examples of the ladies' adornments as set 

 forth in the milliners' bills. 



