To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 21 February 1809
Museum Feby. 21st. 1809.
Dear Sir
It was my intention in my last letter to have mentioned to you my equiescence in your retaining the Polygraph last sent you instead of yours sent to be repaired. There is convenience of having those Machines of a small size for traveling, but the use of a larger kind is more pleasant to write with.
I now send you a Picture by this Stage as a small pledge of my esteem, it will I hope be long in your view, when you will remember that it was painted by your friend at the age 68, then reviving a fondness for an art which was long neglected by attachments to the charming Study of Natural history.
My Son Rembrandt having now arrived at so wonderful an excellence, that I can freely say that I do not believe that any artist living can exceed for beauty of Colouring as well as fine drawing some of his Portraits just finished, he feels his powers & I fear he will not stay long in this Country, he sours to become the first Painter in Europe!!
Your time must be precious, I wish you happiness in every sense of the word. yrs. Affectionately
C. W Peale
DLC: Papers of Thomas Jefferson.