1Charles 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...
2To 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...
3Charles 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 ,
4To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 21 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Receive my assurances of obligation for the politeness and punctuality with which you have answered my question .—Altho’ I conceived it proper, without any loss of time, to make such applications as might insure the preservation and advancement of the Museum, particularly as at the present moment many of the articles are piled in confusion on each other for want of Room; Yet I have determined...
5To 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...
6To 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...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 28 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The Physiognotrace invented by Mr. Hawkins is made strong, because subject to be handled by all sorts of People that visit the Museum—The enclosed drawing and explanation of it, is rough, but correct—and I hope will give you a perfect Idea of all the essential parts of it. Mr. Hawkins has also contrived another Index, which is designed to give the lines of a ¾ face; the lines of the hair,...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 12 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The laborious, tho’ pleasing task of mounting the Mammoth Skeleton being done, gives me leisure to attend to other Interests of the Museum. The constant accumulation of articles not only of this but also of other Countries—increasing my imbarrisments to know how to dispose them for exhibition and public utility—these difficulties I expect will be greatly encreased after my Sons have visited...
9Charles 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...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 2 July 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
It was my intention to have paid you a visit when I left Philad a I had proposed to myself to commence this journey in the first of May as the better season, but my youngest son Titian was so much indisposed that he could not attend to the business of the Museum, and another call for his improvement now obliges me to return to Philadelphia. A gentleman from England by the name of Cha s...
11Charles 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...
12To 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...
13To James Madison from Charles Willson Peale, 1 April 1806 (Madison Papers)
The other two Polygraphs for Tripoli I have this Day put on board the Schooner Caroline commanded by Captn. Fisher, the Bill of Lading enclosed. The Captn. tels me that he intends to sail on tomorrow. I hope that which went by he way of appoquinomy has arrived in good condition. It was by accident I heard of the present conveyance, for I was led to believe that I could not find a passage by...
14Charles 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 &...
15To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 27 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
Your obliging favor of the Body of the Golden Pheasant, I have received in good condition, although by a stage two Days after the receipt of your Letter. The delay was vexatious, yet I am richly paid in being able to preserve so much beauty. Before this time I had thought those Birds which I have seen in the Chinease paintings were only works of fancy, but now I find them to be only aukerd...
16To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 8 July 1787 (Washington Papers)
The Drapery and back ground of your Portrait is painted and if it is convenient to your Excellency to favor me with a setting to morrow morning, I will have my pallet sett with fresh ground Colours. I hope and believe this setting will make it equal to any ⟨Picture⟩ from the Pensil of your very much obliged friend & Hble Servt LB , PPAmP : Charles Willson Peale Papers. See Peale to GW, c. June...
17Charles 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...
18Charles Willson Peale to Jacob Wagner, 22 July 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 July 1804, Museum. “I was at New York preserving the Fishes of that Market for my Museum, when your letter respecting the Polygraph was received by my Son Rubins, who has not been inatentive to that business, and by this time one would have been sent, but the workmen had been imployed in finishing one, like the Presidents, ordered for Mr. John Armstrong to be sent without delay to New York....
19To 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...
20Charles 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...
21To 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...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 8 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The terms of approbation with which you mention my Lecture and Museum , afford me much gratification; since I have scarcely a thought not devoted to the perfection of my scheme. From my knowledge of the Interest which you have always felt in whatever concerned the comfort of Man or the Benefits of Society, I am induced to think that even in the important Station to which our Nation has called...
23To 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...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 30 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreable to the request of Govr. Lewis I have prepared one of the heads of the American Argali (big horns) to be placed in your Hall at Monticello, it will be put on board the Schooner Jane Captn Jackson on tomorrow, And said to sail on tuesday next. It is packed in a Box directed to the care of Mr. George Jefferson at Richmond. The skin on said head cannot be eatten by Insects, & the Eyes are...
25Charles 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...
26To 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...
27To 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...
28To 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...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 3 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday I received the Articles by Captn. Elwood, the Polygraph has the Pivot piece, connecting the horizontal parralells to the Pen-bar, broken, and the Pen-arm on the right wanted to be Screwed up—This is a part of the Polygraph which may render it very faulty; if too much play is allowed in the conic points of the Screws that connect the Pen-arm to the Pen-bar. It was well judged in Mr....
30Charles 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...