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...