Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-43-02-0346

To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 19 May 1804

From Charles Willson Peale

Museum May 19. 04.

Dear Sir

Yours of the 15th Instant received yesterday. The Cabinet work of your Polygraph is nearly complete, it is a neat and good piece of work but without any ornaments of fineering.

I am now making tryal of the machinery and finding some advantage by a different length of the horozontal part. I have ordered such to be made as I think will best suit the desk; something shorter than that you have in use. In1 writing to the bottom of the Paper you will find it necessary to place a book under your hand—as the paper reaches to bottom of the Desk.

I have keept too closely to your drawing in the North & South view—was puzzled to get room for the Ink-holders, however that is got over by making the body of the Desk something deeper, & cuting off the top of the S.W. corner of the drawer a small part, yet leaving a sufficient space for 4 or 5 quires of Paper

It is my wish to make sufficient tryal of the machine before I pack it up, and, which shall be done with all convenient speed.

I have not wrote to Mr. Barnes for money because it is my intention first to supply you with such a machine as will please you in every respect.

I am with great esteem your friend

C W Peale

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “His Excellency Thos. Jefferson Esqr.”; endorsed by TJ as received 20 May and so recorded in SJL. PoC (Lb in PPAmP: Peale-Sellers Papers).

1MS: “I.”

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