1Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 28 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
In several visits I made to Philad a after receiving your statement concerning young M c elhany, my inquiries about him was fruitless, at last I meet with him at a Watch -makers who had promised me notice when he should be found in the City. M r M c elhany seemed much confused when he spoke to me, on my asking him why he did not call on you before he left Charlotteville —he told me that he...
2Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 27 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Calling on a Watchmaker to day, he told me of a young man who is an excellent artist, that is now in Virginia , I do not recollect at what place, but I believe I was told at Petersburgh , that he did not like the place—I then waited on his brother son of M c M r M c ilhany —who has promised me to write by tomorrows post to his brother and request him to call on you at Monticella
3Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 24 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Last evening I received your letter of the 17 th Instant, and I suppose before this time you have received one from me dated the 9 th & 13 th in which I stated that the young man I had spoken to, had gone to the neighbourhood of Bethlehem —I have been with several Watch-makers in the City since I wrote, who all have promised me notice if any discreet young man offers—within two days I shall...
4Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
some time past I thought that I had found a young man in the Watch making line, that would have gone to settle as you proposed, but I have since heard that he has gone towards Bethlehem —and I have requested several Watch makers in the City to make inquiries for me by which means I shall have a chance of hearing if any young Man can be found suitable to recommend to your notice, I have...
5Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 7 July 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
By my inquiries amongst the Watch-makers in the City, I have found a young man of good Character, just out of the His apprentiship, who seems disposed to go into Virginia , I have read to him, the contents of your letter on that subject—and I have left some him time to make up his mind, probably he will give me his Answer, when I go into the City ; a few days hence—and then I will write again...
6Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 23 December 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
It is my wish to communicate to you whatever I think has a chance of being novel and interresting. I have just seen a Machine for sowing grain in drills, of the most simple construction of any I have seen before— A mechanic was making it from one which he had seen at Doct r Logans lately brought from England . Like the Perambulator it has a Wheel and a handle to push it along. but as I mean to...
7Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 18 June 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you I have conversed with a few friends on the disposial of the Museum, M r Vaughan thinks that by a Tontine it might be sold most readily, the high interest it would give in a few years he considers a temptation to subscribers—I never relished the Idea of the gain by the death of others— And most probably I shall apply to the Legislature to obtain an act to dispose of it by a...
8Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 2 May 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the March 21 st came in due time— and a rainy day now gives me leasure to write, to thank you for your interresting letter, abounding with useful information to the farmer and Mechannic. You observe that the winter has been hard.—the Spring appears to be backward, I hope it will be favorable to our fruits, the last year gave us but li t tle. My small green House accidently...
9Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 14 November 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
When we beleive that we have made any discovery that offers somthing for the benefit of man, no time should be lost to communicate it to our friends, that they may give it to others if the communication will of be of any importance. some time past I had a well dug in a situation to give Water to my Cattle &c The Ingenious Isaih Lukens made me a small brass cylender and Boxes to form a pump and...
10Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 28 December 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
It is long indeed since I have intended to answer your letter of April 17. , at first I wished to finish my Corn-fields according to your directions, and after that I wanted to hear the observations of my Neighbours—and I must say that every one with whom I have conversed acknowledge the improvment of making hilly ground equally advantagous as level fields. your letter came to me at the proper...
11Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 19 August 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
A rainey day, this you think should be a day of leisure with a farmer, such and sundays for letter writing—but I contrive to have the first, a busy days, with my men; to make posts for fencing; handles for spades shovels and hoes; also plaining boards and other carpenters work, besides making and mending different sorts of harness. besides my attention to this, I have occasionally watch work &...
12Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
In a former letter I stated to you my folly in attempting to eradicate weeds from my farm by cuting them down with a briar-hook, by which exertion I had almost lamed my right arm—by using it only in light work ef the effects at last are almost whooly removed, and I have learned that the best mode to free land from weeds, is to plow late in the fall and early in the spring; to manure and sow...
13Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 3 August [October] 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Since writing my last letter to you , I have visited a small farm in my neigbourhood, belonging to Doct r Beneville , the culture of which, has pleased me much. part of the land had been swampy, so much so, as to mire his Cattle, and often times put them into to the trouble of draging them out—it is a flat rich bottom of a good many acres extent. The Doct r has now reclaimed it, or rather has...
14Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 9 September 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I most chearfully accept your kind invitation of a renewal of corrispondance; tho’ with very little expectation that I shall be able to add to your stock of Information in your favorite occupations, however with this pleasing hope, that as my subjects must necessarily be on the culture of the Earth, I must shall get instruction in my new occupation, that of a farmer, which thus may be difused...
15Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 25 June 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Randolph took his passage in the New Castle line of Land and water Stages on Wednesday last, since which we have received the inclosed letter to him. And the enclosed bill of lading will shew that I have sent by the Schooner Liberty , Capt n Lewis two Boxes & one Trunk, directed to the care of Mess rs Gibson & Jefferson at Richmond
16Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 3 April 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
In the report by M r Cuvier on the fossil bones which you presented to the National Institute I find the committee have given the name Mastodonte to the animal which we commonly call Mammoth . How well this name may accord with the Skelleton I have, I can better judge off after hearing the deffinition by the learned in Languages, It is pleasant however to have a name by which we may know it...
17Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 21 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
It was my intention in this to have given you the particulars of expenditures for & to M r Randolph at my settlement with him on his departure, but I have a variety of bussiness that engrosses my whole attention at this moment, in my next I will do it. I write now only to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 10 th Instant inclosing one hundred & fifty Dollars for the use of M r...