11From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 23 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Polygraph gave me so much satisfaction that I thought it worth while to bestow some time in contriving one entirely suited to my own convenience: it was therefore the subject of my meditations on the road, and on my arrival here I made the drawings which I now send you. I have adopted your idea of having it in the form of a desk to sit on one’s writing table, & not that of a box to shut...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 15 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here the night before last, and yesterday recieved from the post office your favor of Apr. 29. with others which had been accumulating there for me. I hasten to answer it in order that the polygraph desk you have in hand for me may have the benefit of the improvements you mention. to wit the screw to move the stay pen. the improvement in the pen-bar. Hawkins’s improvement by a stay...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 21 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of the 19th. and am sorry you have paid so much respect to my dimensions as to puzzle yourself with them, and still more to alter the writing machinery. they were meant to be entirely subject to your correction, & they are still so. I made the drawing from memory, & have seen since I returned here and have had a polygraph under my eye that I had not left room...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 14 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you by this post the drawings for another Polygraph desk. I take for it’s foundation that I am now writing on, which is indeed very nearly perfect. wherever therefore I have not proposed an alteration, I wish the new one to be exactly as the old. I adopt exactly the same length & breadth of desk. the position of the writing machinery is left precisely the same, & the machinery itself....
15From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 20 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you two essays of mr Burwell at my profile . I also inclose you the receipt of Capt Ellwood for your Polygraph . he sails this day. besides that the small round inkpot of 1¾ I. diam. or square one of 1½ I. and only 1. I. deep, necessary for perfecting your machine, you will find it necessary to throw away the common stopper which rises ½ I. above the top of the pot, and to substitute...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 19 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved two days ago the polygraph lately sent me . it arrived in good order, except that the forked spiral spring which suspends the bar with the friction cylinder was broke. in attempting to connect it again by links it broke repeatedly, and tho’ I succeeded at last so as to use it, yet it is become so short as to perform it’s functions poorly. perhaps you could send me a new spring (for...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 15 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter containing the Spiral spring was recieved in due time. a mode of constructing your polygraph which might render it more portable occurred to me and as it took me less time to give verbal directions to my workmen for a model, than to make a drawing for you, I have had a model made which I send you by this post. it is of half size in all it’s dimensions, whence you will see that in...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 6 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Sep. 23. was recieved on my arrival here, and I have no doubt that between yourself and mr Hawkins the Polygraph will be rendered perfect. for the one I have at Monticello you were so kind as to send me a pair of brass pen-cases with the screw top and for recieving the small bit of a quill pen, which I found so much better suited to my handwriting and so easily susceptible of...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 13 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 8th. which excites a great curiosity in me to see mr Hawkins’s polygraph: and as you say you are sending one to the Secretary of state, which I know to be for his office, for it was on my recommendation, I will ask the favor of you to address it to me, that I may have an opportunity of seeing & trying it. it shall then be delivered to it’s address, and in...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 7 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The two polygraphs you sent by the stage arrived in perfect order. the improvement in the writing apparatus is indeed precious. I find the pen now as light as a free pen. I immediately delivered to mr Madison the largest, with which he is well pleased, and I retain the smaller and more portable one. it pleases me extremely, and I do not know that I could desire an addition to it, but your...