1To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 28 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Polygraph for Mr. Volney $60.— The Polygraph at Washington & that at Monticella being 60$ Instruments, 50$ on each of which having been paid, There remains a ballance of 10$ Each 20.— $80.— RC ( MHi ); undated; in Peale’s hand; endorsed by TJ: “paid Jan. 28. 1805.”
2Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 10 April 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been Dear Sir long oppressed under duty, respect and friendship, in having omited to write to you about the Plow which you so obligingly sent me. The principle on which the form is given is undoubtably excellent, as the action is by strait lines, yet without a proper length is given to the mould board, all its advantages are lost. I made repeated tryals of this Plow by an expert...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 10 September 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
It has for some time past that I have promised myself the pleasure of paying you a Visit, yet the situation of my family and the interests of the Museum has not allowed me that indulgence. My Son Titian has not only great skill in preserving all kinds of Animals, but also he has acquired an abundance of knowledge in Natural history, I mean of animated nature. And my Son Franklin is possessed...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 27 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed are the spiral springs you desire in yours of the 19th. instant The loop is easily made—thus, cut off the spring to the length desired with cutting-nippers—with a knife open two rings, and then with Plyers twist them to a right angle. I am much pleased by your approbation of this invention, and hope that others will also find the utility of it. The wire netting is certainly an...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 21 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with reluctance that I offer a word in favor of any Person desireous of getting into Office, but in the instance which I am about to intrude on your notice, my duty as well inclination prompts me to serve a brother of my late Wife—Mr. Philip DePeyster of New York writes me that he is desireous of being appointed Consul in the Island of Curaco vacant by the death of Mr. Philips about 3...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 4 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I presented to the Philosophical Society at their last setting, the drawing of the Antilope with a short description of it, “done from a specimen in my Museum, which was sent from the interior of Louisana by Captn. Lewis, and presented to the Museum by the President in Octr. 1805” A member demanded of me, what name I gave it? to which, after a few moments reflection, I replyed The forked...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 19 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
This morning my son Rembrandt shewed me his invention of Pens to hold a greater quantity of Ink than Pens made in the common fashion—with the hope that you will be as pleased with it as myself, I hasten to send you the enclosed Pens, and as every trifle which tends to the economizing of time must be valuable to those of industrous habits, I beleive I am in my line of duty in not delaying this...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 6 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received yours of the 3d instant , and regret that it did not arrive sooner, as it is not in my power to have one finished for tomorrows post, yet I will endeavor to have it sent by fryday’s Mail—The Desk is made and part of the Machinery done, the puting it togather, fixing the Ink pots &c &c, especially as it is a novel size, will engage all our attentions tomorrow, I did not...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 24 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor enclosing Ten Dollars; the payment for the additions to your small Polygraph I have received and that you find it will answer your purpose is a great relief to my mind, I had said that we strove to make it correct, that we could not make it perfectly so, was a mortification to me. I hope it will improve by use; will acquire more freedom, for every joint is closly fitted. Permit me...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 15 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
My Sons here are very desireous of having the outline of your profile taken in the size which the argand Lamp will give on the wall, resting the head against a beer or other long Glass. It will only be the loss of one minute of time to sit, while Mr Burrill might trace the shadow with a Pencil, from which my Son Raphaelle can cut it out, and with his Physiognotrace produce numbers. The...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 15 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The small Polygraph mentioned in my letter of the 13th. has now the Machinery to it and will write to the bottom with ease—but at the same time, that I put this machinery in the hands of the workman, my Cabenet Maker began one which I am certain is of a better size, yet it is my wish that you should make your choise which may be done by the time that the several boxes for paper, Pens, Wafers...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 29 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The Bears I received today, in good health, and tomorrow we shall give them a more spacious Cage. Finding they have a division between them in their present Cage, leads to a suspition that they do not harmonize together, which I should hope is not the case, therefore on changing their habitation, I shall take the precaution of Chaining them untill we can know their dispositions. If they can be...
13Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I sensibly feel for your privations and sufferings, and hope and beg that my corrispondance may not add to affections, therefore let me intreat you, not to write to me, unless you think I can render you some service, in which case, I wish to receive your commands, and assure you that any thing in my power to perform will be executed with pleasure. It might not be necessary to write this, since...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, [after 3 December 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Was I under a mistake in expecting the favor of your sitting at One O’clock this day? You will oblige me in appointing the time that will be most convenient, to yourself. I have a great desire to exert my abilities in this portrait, and your indulgence will grately obligate Honored Sir your very Humble Servt., FC ( PPAP : Peale Letter Book); in Peale’s hand; undated, but the letter immediately...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 15 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received one hundred Dollars inclosed in your favor of the 12th. Instant, and with pleasure will exercise a parental care for your Grandson Mr. Th. Jefferson Randolph— Mrs. Peale will be prepaired to receive him at the expected time— I am at a loss to know which Poligraph has the fault of bad wrighing at the top, but suspect it is a small one. that for writing on foolscap paper I...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 21 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
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...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 4 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Philip DePeyster writes me that John Lyle Esqr. is dead; that two Vessels, one in 24 days and the other in 28, have arrived at New York, with that News and that Captn. Jones of the Schooner Franklin was at his funeral. It is therefore that Mr. DePeyster requests me to write again to you, he says that he has wrote to the Secretary of State, Doctr Mitchel and Mr. Rumford. I am not acquainted...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 8 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have only time to inform you that the Polyh. is sent by this Mail Stage—that the Boxes for paper & Pens &c was made, but on tryal found a little too large, and we could not in time make others—my desire to give all possible Room for paper was cause of the mistake of ⅛ of an Inch in length. I did not attemp making lines on the Cloath, for that will be best done on your tryal of the machine &...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 22 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just returned from the Country, where my young family was during the late fever, and found with my Son Rubens here your favors of the 6th and 9th Instant with latter he received the Fox Skins and the living Marmotte, it is a handsome little Animal, smaller and much more gentle than our Monax & I expect like it will not eat during the Winter, for this eats but little at present. It...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 28 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you a pr. of Pen-arms with Screws for the Movement of the Pen-tubes, and also springs about equal to the additional weight of these arms. I have sent these things, under the Idea that you would not have much difficulty in taking off the old arms of you r Polygraph and placing these, should you like them—However if you prefer sending me the Polygraph and the new arms, I will fit them,...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 8 February 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed profiles I hope will be acceptable, the names were repeated to me by one of the Interpretors & may not be correctly spelt. No. 1 Sagessaga , Great Chief of the Osages. 2. Verygran , Chief of Auc. 3 Waconsca, Counsel of Nations. 4 Tahawarra , Nation Souric. 5 Macassaba , Ditto. 6 Potaenga of the Osage Nation. 7 Pageogatse , Poine Nation. 8 Shegagahega , Nation Poine. 9 Quosquame ,...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 18 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
A french-man; an Indian trader from new Orleans, brought here in the sickly season last summer a Grisley- bear to exhibit. enclosed is one of his Bills—he expected to make a fortune by the Animal, but he was disappointed, altho’ it differed considerably from the common, yet nevertheless it was a Bear, & as such did not excite much curiosity. I bought his Bear, and intended keeping him untill...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 13 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The Polygraph intended for your Secretary and that for Mr. Volney were shippd yesterday, and the other which you are pleased to order is now in hand; having one ready made of the same board of which your Polygraph top is made, with a black and white string on the edge, it has a neat look, but not so rich as those with a variety of strings of different colours—it is about ¾ of an Inch longer...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 11 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer Mr. James Chalmers is desireous to enter into the Army. he is of a very respectable family, and he is I believe a discreet young man, with amiable manners; has been breed to the mercantile business but at this time prefers a military life, yet does not ask for a higher office than that of Lieutenancy, I have no doubt that he will merrit promotion when he has been due time in...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 25 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
By tomorrows mail-stage I mean to send in one packing-case, two Polygraphs; one that you ordered for your friend, and the other in exchange for the 8vo. Size. If, on tryal, you should like the larger better than the other, be so obliging as to inform me, and I will have one made, send it to you & take the other back. I beg you not to be afraid of giving me trouble in the exchange of the...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 17 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
It is my hope that I shall never do any thing, which will be disagreable to you. My father was a good and learned Man, and knew well the advantages of a good education, and he intended that I should have liberal one, but alass poor man he died before I had reached my 9th year of age, my mother had 5 Children to provide for (I was the oldest of them) and this was to be done by her industry; my...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 26 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
your Polygraph I received this afternoon, and it is now in the hands of the Workman, who will make it as perfect as He possibly can. I expected to write this evening to inform you that the Box had not come forward, I am glad to write otherwise. The Profile, if you enclose it to me shall be taken care off, and if we can improve by shading the drawing of it, I mean with the aid of my son...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 18 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Making use of a Polygraph which is placed in the Room of my Sons Exhibition of the Skeleton of the Mammoth, that had one of the steel pens broke (a case which may often occur by philipping them against a table to free them of Ink) and a quill pen having been substituted, it appears to me an improvement. The advantages are, that from the quill which hold more, the ink flows more readily; the...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 12 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Hunter is returned from Kentucky and tells me that the account of the upper part of the Skull of the Mammoth being found at Barry’s Salt lick in Kentucky, is altogather a fabrication, no such bone found there—A New Englander detailed to me the same account except the difference of 2 pounds of the weight, as was afterwards published in a Virginia paper. I am infinitely obliged to you for...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 30 September 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
When I received your Polygraph, I repaired the springs, then made an essay to write with it, found it stiff—but on putting oil to all the joints, it preformed much better. so that my conclusion was that you neglected to give it oil occasionally. My next opperation was to take the parralells apart in order to examine all the joints—and it does not appear to have worn the pin-holes, indeed I...