revolutionary-pirate:

In the evenings, about 8:30, Washington and his Military Family habitually had a small private supper together when possible. This meal varied from the almost ceremonious nature of the 3 o’clock dinner to which a plethora of guests were invited every day. These suppers with the family rarely had any guests and were basically just time for the general to spend personally with his staff and to share with them a small, light meal. Marquis de Chastellux was once invited to attend this private supper and wrote about it in this Travels. He’d protested the meal at first, thinking it was a meal, but Washington informed him that all he needed to do was eat some fruit and enjoy some conversation. At that, Chastellux readily agreed and was somewhat relieved to be in a relaxed environment in which he actually knew everyone and enjoyed everyone’s company. The supper was topped off with a glass of wine and some simple toasts to go with the easy chatter. (The passage that follows this one in Travels is probably familiar to many of you because Chastellux talks of Hamilton giving the toasts on that particular evening.) The supper must have been nice, though, and I’d imagine that it might have felt to many like a moment in which they could just… breathe. [x and Lefkowiz, pg 75-76]