11Charles 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...
12Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 21 August 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
on the receipt of your letter I hastened to the City to seek the Inkstand you wanted, I believe no nearer to your direction could be had in the City , than I have sent, I put two of them in one package and delivered it at the Post office, directed to you at Montecella . That most likly to answer, probably may be sunk deeper by cutting out some of the wood beneath, and a little grinding down of...
13Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 1 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
soon after my arrival here I wrote to inform you of my object in visiting this place, with the hope that my scribling might not be a burden on your precious moments, and as I had said that I would give you some account of my Portraits, Since I begin to think I shall paint only one or two more at the present time, I will enumerate them. Viz t The President , M r Calhoun , M r Adams , M r Crawford ,
14Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 25 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Some time past I meet with a gentleman in the Museum who informed me of your extreme indisposition, and from his account of your complaints, I dispaired of ever writing to you another letter, while painting the Presidents Portrait I received the pleasing intelligence of your restored health. Your emminant Labours for the good of mankind will endear your memory to future ages. I will give a...
15Charles 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...
16Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 15 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
there is very little probability that I can give you any information on what may be termed improvements made in Europe , your acquaintance with learned men in every quarter of the World, and your exalted knowledge of Science and arts in every department, and with all your fondness for the promotion of all useful discoveries that promise any benefit to mankind, I believe never escape your...
17Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 20 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Although very unwilling to give you the least trouble in the epistolary line, yet I feel a desire to communicate what I consider a cricis of my labours on the Museum —beleiving that you esteem it a work of importance to the enlightning of the Public mind. Envy of some men and self-interest in others have made them active, to get the Museum remooved from the State-House , and the City being...
18Charles 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...
19Charles 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
20Charles 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...
21Charles 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...
22Charles 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...
23Enclosure: Charles Willson Peale’s Sketches of an Apparatus for Gas Lighting, [ca. 20 June 1816] (Jefferson Papers)
MS ( DLC: TJ Papers , 207:36935–6); entirely in Peale’s hand; undated.
24Charles 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...
25Charles 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...
26Charles 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...
27Charles 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...
28Charles 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...
29Charles 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 &...
30Charles 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...
31Charles 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...
32Charles 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...
33Charles 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
34To James Madison from Charles Willson Peale, 30 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
The Museum has increased very importantly since your visit to Philada. and the order and management of it meets with the approbation of all scientific men who have visited it, foreigners as well as Americans, every one agreeing in the sentiment that it ought to be national Property. I feel no trouble or difficulty in maintaining its order and extended usefulness, except what now arises for...
35Charles 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...
36Charles 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...
37To 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...
38To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 8 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received yours of the 6th. Instant enclosing fifty Six Dollars for the use of Mr. Randolph &c. It is not to be wondered that you should desire the calm of the rural abode and the enjoyments of your improoved Montecella. Will you not want to purchase sundry articles to supply the several tradesmen, which, I presume you chuse to employ on so extensive a farm? besides the wants common to...
39To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 10 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I was desirous to made enquiry of the Merchant about the Packet which carried your Lamp & Bridle-bit before I wrote, I cannot be certain of the Captns. Name and the Bill of lading is mislaid or I should have had recouse to it, I hope to be able to find it by a general search amongst my different deposits within a few days. I have received your favor of the 7th. instant enclosing fifty Dollars...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 23 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
It is to be regreted that you had not sent sooner, when we might have sent you some of Coll. Humphreis’s Cloath, I could not find either Cloath or Cordduroy. but I have sent by this days Mail as ⅌. enclosed Bill, and Buttons made at Trenton. If you think the Stuff fine enough for your use, it will be necessary in the present season to use flannel Drawers. I have prefered sending two patterns...