Gentlemen's Clothing

On the issue of a gentleman's pockets.

There has been some discussion among those who undertake research on the Regency about the issue of where a gentleman might "put stuff on his person and quite often asserting that men did not have pockets in their pants (as we call them today). 

I just read the following in La Belle Assemblee for January 1813, a description of an altercation regarding payment of his bill, between a Navy lieutenant and his host at a Tavern , namely the Horse and Groom Tavern, near the Asylum, London.

             "...a waiter was directed to follow him and saw him, whilst in his room, put a dagger into the pocket of his pantaloons; some further altercation ensued and he drew the dagger, and pointed it at the plaintiff."

So clearly pockets large enough for a dagger of polished steel with a broad keen blade some six inches long were included in the construction of men's pantaloons.  If I come across more detail, I shall be sure to add it to this snippet.

I should add the the officer offered the dagger to the judge as a gift, who took it and then told the lieutenant he must still find bail money to answer to the charge of an assault of an aggravated nature at Sessions, desipte the officer explaining that there was no altercation, he simply intended to show his friends the dagger.