51To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 28 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
My son Rembrandt now at Baltemore exhibiting his Skeleton of the Mammoth, writes me as follows. “Saterday there was a young man here, lately (4 weeks) from Pittsburg, who saw Reeder and his Bones. He gave me a very accurate description of them. He has a very fine thigh bone much like mine, an underjaw not so large as mine but a good deal broken, a great number of back bones of different...
52To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 12 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
every object which can add to the comforts and conveniences of life are important to us, none more so than that respecting our sight. I know you have improved the frames of Spectacles, and Mr. Mccallister tells me he has sent you a number of Glasses fitted to some of your improved frames—This induces me to write to you on this subject to offer some Idea’s which may have escaped your notice, I...
53To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 20 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
with great reluctance I wrote my last letter to you, for I hold the military profession as the most debasing of human Nature of all other Professions, therefore to recommend a deserving young man was very repugnant to my feelings, independant of my desire to intrude on your precious moments on such a triffling occasion. yet I hope when the passion for a military Coat is worn off & he feels the...
54To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 23 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Model for a very small Polygraph is now before me, to give a proper answer on it, I must first make some machinery to try if it is possible to write to the bottom of 8. vo Paper, and then find room within the Gallows when put down with said machinery. At present it really appears to be impossible for want of height in the perpendicular as well as lengths of the horizontals. however it is...
55To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 6 February 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Last June I received a Letter from you, respecting an exchange of the Subjects of Natural History, that the Hereditary Prince of Parma was desireous of making. I answered your Letter in the same month (which I hope was received) and although I have had other avocations, such as Bridge building &c., yet I have made a beginning in this work and I have preserved such subjects as have occasionly...
56To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 18 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday General Proctor called on me with the enclosed Letter to make what use I pleased with it, only reserving him a copy, which I have done. A knowledge of the upper part of the head, is indeed very desirable—The Cranium and Nasal bones particularly, as being wholly deficient in my Skeleton. I marval what are the teeth which he says weighs 19 or 20 pounds, can they be grinders—The largest...
57To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 8 February 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Herewith I send your silver springs for your Pollygraph according to my promise in my last letter, I do not know whether they are of the proper length, but I know your talents to render them what they ought to be. By the public papers I find the accident you meet with in a fall, I hope by this time that a cure is made of your arm. and, I have read with pleasure your letter to M r Adams in...
58To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 12 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your small Polygraph sent by Mr. Hawkins I have at last received from New York. It is ingeniously contrived to raise the paper to write with ease to the bottom of fools-cap size, in this respect complete, but it is too short to write on our common post paper without leaving a large margin. Yet that you may better understand me I will give the measurements &c. The length 15 Inches & width 8 ¼ ....
59To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 29 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
It gives me pleasure to inform you that I am so far on my return to the Museum with the Bones which were lately dug up at Shawangunk, in the county of Ulster. with the purchase of these I have also the right from the owner of the land to take up the remainder, when I can be prepared to undertake so important a work. I have viewed the Grounds, and have laid my plan, or rather plans to overcome,...
60To James Madison from Charles Willson Peale (Abstract), 17 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
17 April 1805, “Museum.” “Desireous of having some business done in the Patent Office I have taken the liberty of sending the enclosed Letter. The Guide will shew you some of my progress to bring my Museum into use and public notice. Present my respectful compliments to Mrs. Madison and believe me your friend.” Letterbook copy ( PPAmP ). 1 p. Enclosure not found. Peale presumably enclosed a...