To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, [after 3 December 1791]
From Charles Willson Peale
[After 3 Dec. 1791]
Sir
Was I under a mistake in expecting the favor of your sitting at One O’clock this day?1 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.,
C W Peale
FC (PPAP: Peale Letter Book); in Peale’s hand; undated, but the letter immediately preceding the above is dated 3 Dec. 1791 and the one following it is the note to TJ that is dated only “Tuesday Morng” and is tentatively assigned the date of 13 Dec. 1791 (see note there).
Peale was painting his famous portrait of TJ (illustrated in this volume), the date of which is determined largely from this and a subsequent letter of 13 Dec. 1791 in Peale’s Letter Book (Alfred L. Bush, The Life Portraits of Thomas Jefferson [Charlottesville, Va., 1962], p. 31–3).
1. Peale first wrote “I expected the favor of your sitting at One O’clock this day. Please inform me at what time it will be convenient to oblige me in this business,” but altered it to read as above.