31To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 24 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I Send enclosed a clumsey pen-case, the want of a clamp machine for making screws (which cannot be had at present in Philadelphia) obliged him to use the Clockmakers screw plate, which has too strong a thread to admit the pieces screwed, to be made thinner. But if this invention is found to be useful I shall then endeavor to get made the proper tools for making fine threads to screws of large...
32To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 13 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The Polygraph intended for your Secretary and that for Mr. Volney were shippd yesterday, and the other which you are pleased to order is now in hand; having one ready made of the same board of which your Polygraph top is made, with a black and white string on the edge, it has a neat look, but not so rich as those with a variety of strings of different colours—it is about ¾ of an Inch longer...
33To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 19 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
At last I have received Letters from my Sons in London—their neglect of writing, as I expected, was in part caused by an unwillingness to give me uneasiness at their want of success in their exhibition —but having lowered the price of 2/6 to one shilling for each Visitor, their income is greatly increased; nearly tribled, and some Gentleman who had visited their Room twice since the date of...
34To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 11 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer Mr. James Chalmers is desireous to enter into the Army. he is of a very respectable family, and he is I believe a discreet young man, with amiable manners; has been breed to the mercantile business but at this time prefers a military life, yet does not ask for a higher office than that of Lieutenancy, I have no doubt that he will merrit promotion when he has been due time in...
35To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 25 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
By tomorrows mail-stage I mean to send in one packing-case, two Polygraphs; one that you ordered for your friend, and the other in exchange for the 8vo. Size. If, on tryal, you should like the larger better than the other, be so obliging as to inform me, and I will have one made, send it to you & take the other back. I beg you not to be afraid of giving me trouble in the exchange of the...
36To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 17 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
It is my hope that I shall never do any thing, which will be disagreable to you. My father was a good and learned Man, and knew well the advantages of a good education, and he intended that I should have liberal one, but alass poor man he died before I had reached my 9th year of age, my mother had 5 Children to provide for (I was the oldest of them) and this was to be done by her industry; my...
37To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 26 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
your Polygraph I received this afternoon, and it is now in the hands of the Workman, who will make it as perfect as He possibly can. I expected to write this evening to inform you that the Box had not come forward, I am glad to write otherwise. The Profile, if you enclose it to me shall be taken care off, and if we can improve by shading the drawing of it, I mean with the aid of my son...
38To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 13 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of 9th. Instant I received to day, and by the enclosed you will see that I have shiped two Polygraphs for you: No. 2 is Brunelle’s. The Brig is now in the stream, and will sail early tomorrow. The present appearance of the weather promises her a good wind, and I hope she will arrive before your departure for Monticello. The Captain promises me, that as soon as he reaches Alexandria, he...
39To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 18 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Making use of a Polygraph which is placed in the Room of my Sons Exhibition of the Skeleton of the Mammoth, that had one of the steel pens broke (a case which may often occur by philipping them against a table to free them of Ink) and a quill pen having been substituted, it appears to me an improvement. The advantages are, that from the quill which hold more, the ink flows more readily; the...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 12 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Hunter is returned from Kentucky and tells me that the account of the upper part of the Skull of the Mammoth being found at Barry’s Salt lick in Kentucky, is altogather a fabrication, no such bone found there—A New Englander detailed to me the same account except the difference of 2 pounds of the weight, as was afterwards published in a Virginia paper. I am infinitely obliged to you for...
41To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 2 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
It is evident that many Persons who has had what is termed a classical Education, have so little of the dead languages remaining with them a few years after they have left School, as to be of very little use to them. It is like reading the suppliment of Book, wanting the details, leaves no impression on the readers mind. a small part of Mr. Ogilvie’s Rhetoric would be sufficient I doubt not to...
42To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 30 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not been unmindful of the conversation we had on Stone ware for the purpose of cookery, and in Baltimore I went to the manufactory of such ware and obtained a list of their prices with the intent of sending it to you, under the Idea that you might wish to order some covered stew pans for the use of your Kitchen in lieu of those made of copper, which may at times be neglected to be tined...
43To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 21 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of the 6th. Instant, containing Lieut. Pikes communications, and since the Bears have been exhibited have found their manners correspond with his account—Therefore I shall not hesitate to put them together in a large Cage without being chained, as well to see how large they may grow as to experiment on their propagation. My Son Rembrandt, not satisfied with very great...
44To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 7 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
It will be very interesting to see the Grisley-Bear brought to his full growth, one of the Skins which Govr. Lewis had appeared to me enormously large, should these bears preserve their health in confinement, which ought not to be in a small Cage, there is a good chance of their giving produce, and thereby making them happy in their situation, especially if well fed. this charge I will...
45To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 26 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The Polygraph made for your use at Monticella has not yet arrived here, finding it did not come I went to the Stores where goods are deposited that come from Richmond &c, under the Idea that it might have been stored and no notice further taken on it, but I cannot get any intelligence about it. That which Mr. Beckley had and the Small one are received. we have machinery in readiness and as...
46To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 24 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed pen-cases I flatter myself will be found very convenient, the slits are made longer for the stay-pin to moove a greater distance, & therefore will require less attention to the length of the quill. on reconsidering the last paragraph of my letter of the 22d, I have thought that a sketch in addition would have better illustrated Mr. Latrobes improvement of the cover of the...
47To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 17 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received a letter from my Son Raphaelle at Norfolk, in which he says, a Doctr. Willson has promissed him “on his word of honour, that he will have conveyed to me a great many of the Bones of the Magalonic—Legs—feet—thighs—Vertebræ &c. he hopes the remainder may ere this have been dug from the Salt Petre cave, they are in colour and texture like those belonging to the A.P.S.—he...
48Enclosure: Substance of an Address, [ca. 12 January 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
The time is now fully arrived when it has become expedient to decide the fate of the Museum to which Pennsylvania has given birth. It has commanded every exertion in my power for 16 years, and meeting with public approbation has certainly arrived to considerable Maturity; but from the uncertain tenure of human life it may not long continue in the same circumstances in which it has progressed,...
49To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 24 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Believing you would be pleased in knowing my success in a trip up the north river, by the purchase of the Bones in the possession of Mr. Mastens. Although an object of great importance to me, in undertaking the journey I had very faint prospects of the issue. On my return to New York elated with the hopes of seeing the Skeleton of the Mamoth put togather, I hastily wrote to inform you of my...
50To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 30 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the receipt of your favor of the 23d. having the determined size of the Polygraphs, the work goes on with spirit, and I flatter myself that you will be pleased with the execution, as well as with the Mahogany, it is pretily cloulded but without knots. Some people admire knots in their Mahogany furniture, and I have observed that it is very liable to crack, this is a sufficient reason for...
51To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 10 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I was desirous to made enquiry of the Merchant about the Packet which carried your Lamp & Bridle-bit before I wrote, I cannot be certain of the Captns. Name and the Bill of lading is mislaid or I should have had recouse to it, I hope to be able to find it by a general search amongst my different deposits within a few days. I have received your favor of the 7th. instant enclosing fifty Dollars...
52To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 14 September 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 12th. ult. enclosing the payment of Sixty Dollars for your small polygraph, received in a time of great hurry, I posponed answering as I ought to have done, but by this delay I can answer it to better effect, and the failling to write correctly in the first 4 or 5 lines of the Machine we think we can account for. My Sons having examined the machine for making the Pivot holes...
53To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 11 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of the 29th. July I did not receive until I had reached the place of bones, when I should have been pleased to have answered it, had it been possible or proper to have taken my attentions from engagments so earnest & constant. The use of a powerful Pump might have saved me 50 or 60 Dollars expence, but perhaps the obligation to return one belonging to the Public in a limited time,...
54To 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...
55To 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...
56To 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...
57To 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...
58To 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...
59To 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 ....
60To 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,...