Thomas Jefferson Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Jefferson, Thomas" AND Recipient="Peale, Charles Willson" AND Period="Jefferson Presidency"
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-43-02-0524

From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 20 June 1804

To Charles Willson Peale

Washington June 20. 04.

Dear Sir

I inclose you two essays of mr Burwell at my profile. I also inclose you the receipt of Capt Ellwood for your Polygraph. he sails this day. besides that the small round inkpot of 1¾ I. diam. or square one of 1½ I. and only 1. I. deep, necessary for perfecting your machine, you will find it necessary to throw away the common stopper which rises ½ I. above the top of the pot, and to substitute a cork with a thin plate of brass and ring on the top, lying level with that. thus the ring falling down on the top of the cork. you will perceive that the steel pen with which I write this, sheds it’s ink too fast. how shall I repair it, when it gets out of order? should you find the small black ink pots above described, or glass ones, I should be glad of a set for this polygraph by any safe opportunity. Accept my friendly salutations.

Th: Jefferson

RC (TxU); at foot of text: “C. W. Peale esq.” PoC (DLC); endorsed by TJ. Enclosures not found.

In a letter of 23 June to his sons Rembrandt and Raphaelle, Peale described the two efforts at TJ’s profile as “so miserably done” that he felt compelled to send them also one made from Houdon’s bust (Peale, Papers description begins Lillian B. Miller and others, eds., The Selected Papers of Charles Willson Peale and His Family, New Haven, 1983-2000, 5 vols. in 6 description ends , v. 2, pt. 2:720).

In his financial memoranda, TJ recorded paying $50 to Peale in June for his polygraph (MB description begins James A. Bear, Jr., and Lucia C. Stanton, eds., Jefferson’s Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany, 1767-1826, Princeton, 1997, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Second Series description ends , 2:1128).

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