141Charles Willson Peale to Tobias Lear, 23 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
Museum [Philadelphia] 23 Mar. 1792. Oblige me by using the enclosed cards at your leisure, and I will be pleased if my labors can contribute in the least to your amusements. “I have now the prospect before me that by the assistance of Gentlemen of science, and by the Aid of a Generous Public to be enabled me to spend the remainder of my time in bringing the Museum into such perfection and...
142To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, [13? December 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of sitting today will oblige Your very Hble Servt., FC ( PPAP : Peale Letter Book); in Peale’s hand; undated except as above, but the letter succeeding this one was written after an illness and apparently after some lapse of time on 12 Jan. 1792. The one immediately preceding it is the note to TJ printed at 3 Dec. 1791. Neither Peale’s two notes nor TJ’s presumed replies are...
143To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, [after 3 December 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Was I under a mistake in expecting the favor of your sitting at One O’clock this day? 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., FC ( PPAP : Peale Letter Book); in Peale’s hand; undated, but the letter immediately...
144To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 27 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
I wish to be settled near Congress, and my Museum under their Patronage, having just heard that the office of Post master General is Vacant, if my abilities may be thought sufficient to do justice to such an appointment, I would use my best endeavours to be a faithful servant. Excuse me if I have made an improper tender of my service to fill such an office. I would not in the smallest matter...
145To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 6 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
Having bussiness in the line of my Profession which will detain me some time in this Place, therefore I take the liberty of intimating, that in case any of your rare Birds should die, that you will oblige me much by sending their remains directed to the care of Captn Elliott of this Town. I am with the greatest regard Dr Sir your much obliged Humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW . Capt. Thomas Elliott...
146To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 27 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
By this Post I take the liberty of sending a few Prints for your acceptance. I have not been able to Execute a greater number of Plates as yet, but am prepairing some others, which I hope will be published some time in the ensuing fall and Winter. Since you did me the favor of Visiting my Room, several natural Productions have been added, but the most Valuable are a pair of Panthers, male &...
147To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 6 August 1787 (Washington Papers)
Some Ladies & Gentlemen from Virginia having desired an Exhibition at ½ past 4 oclock in the afternoon of tomorrow gives me an opportunity of requesting the favour of your Company to partake of such Amusement as some of my labours may afford. I am with the highest respect Dr Sir your Obl[i]ged Hbe Servt LB , PPAmP : Charles Willson Peale Papers. GW does not record in his diary attending Peak’s...
148To 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...
149To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, June 1787 (Washington Papers)
Your obliging consent to set is confering a most singular favor on me, for which I hope I shall always be found grateful, on the success of this undertaking depends much of my happiness. if I am so fortunate as to make a good, and faithful Portrait, I shall be enabled to gratifie many of your warm friends by excuting a good Print and the practice I lately had in this line is only bringing in...
150To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 29 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
With the utmost reluctance I undertake to ask you take the trouble of setting for another portrait, it gives me pain to make the request, but the great desire I have to make a good mezzotinto print, that your numerous friends may be gratified with a faithful likeness (several of whom I find is not satisfied with any of the portraits they have seen). My particular intrest alone in this business...
151To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 16 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
Several Gentlemen of the Society of the Cincinati having desired to see my perspective Views with changeable effects, gives me an opportunity of asking the favor of your Company at the Exhibition this afternoon at 1/2 past 4 Oclock. I am with much respect your Hble Servant LB , PPAmP : Charles Willson Peale Papers. On 20 May 1785 Peale opened at one end of his portrait gallery an exhibition of...
152To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 31 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
Your obliging favor of the 13th I received on the 28th[.] The Pepper I beleive preserved the body from being thrown over board. My Anticeptic Powders I hope will preserve the remains, yet not so perfect as I could wish as many of the feathers fall off. I believe the conveyance by the stage waggon with a particular direction will be the most certain. If you wish to possess any bird, or...
153To 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...
154To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 31 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have lately undertaken to form a Museum and have acquired the means of preserving in the natural forms, Birds, Beasts and Fish, my Intention is to collect every thing that is curious of this Country, and to arange them in the best manner I am able, to make the Collection amusing and Intructive, thereby hoping to retain with us many things realy curious which would other wise be sent to...
155To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, December 1784 (Washington Papers)
since my writing by the last Post I have recd the Twenty five Guineas which you sent by Monsr Loyetta. your Manner of Spelling the Name led me into a difficulty of finding out the Gentleman and I am under some obligation to Mr Marboye the Minister’s Secy, for his assistance in the affair. I am Dear Sir your most obedient humble Servt ADf , PPAmP : Charles Willson Peale Papers. Loyetta...
156To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 9 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
Mr Chas W. Peale’s most respectful compliments to His Excellency Genl Washington and requests to know at what hour tomorrow it will be most convenient, to favor Mr Peale with a Sitting. PWacD : Charles Willson Peale Papers.
157To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 21 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
nothing but dire necessity would have compel’d me to have called on you for any money until the end of the War. but you will allow me to relate to you my situation, as it will be my best appolegy. The House I live in being unexpectedly Sold, I am warned to leave it in a very short time, being unable to get any place to Rent in which I could follow my profession. I have been under the necessity...
158To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Willson Peale, [21 April 1771] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society In Compliance with that promise that I had the honor to make you when I was about leaving London, I now assume the Liberty of a Correspondent, in addressing this letter to you. I ever retain a grateful sense of the respect you shewed, and the notice you took of me when in England, marks of respect, of this nature make the strongest...