91To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 24 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Polygraph was nearly finished before I received your favor of the 21st. Instant, and your improvement to command the pull of the spiral Spring shall be made to it. The Machine appears on a short tryal of it, to perform with great accuracy & considerable freedom. The joints are made to fit close without being stiff, and I have thought it best, not to use a single drop of oil in puting it...
92To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 12 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just returned from a journey into Montgomery County or your letter of the 1st. Instant would have been answered Sooner. I send enclosed Captn. Lewis’s Catalogue. The specimen of your improvement on the Pen-case shews that the nibs may be held firm, which was wanting in those made by my workmen. and altho’ I have at some expense got a Tool to make the large Screw with a finer thread than...
93To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 12 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I was in the country when your note encloseing a Check for fifty Dollars, for the use of Mr. Randolph, arived at the Musm. or I should have acknowledged it immediately. I shall keep a faithful account of the receipts and also of his expenditures as far as comes to my view. I do not discover the least turn of extravagance in him, on the contrary he conducts himself in every respect with...
94To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 2 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
After a long silence Rembrandt again communicates to me, dated London March 28th.—1803. “ The best news I can tell you , is that we are all well from, Influenza, coughs & colds, and feel the balmy breath of Spring; Nothing but a tempory Fog obscures the morning Sun, our Parlour fire is extinguished, the buds are bursting & the fragrant Hyacinth is drest in all her gaiety: such a pleasing...
95To James Madison from Charles Willson Peale, 1 April 1806 (Madison Papers)
The other two Polygraphs for Tripoli I have this Day put on board the Schooner Caroline commanded by Captn. Fisher, the Bill of Lading enclosed. The Captn. tels me that he intends to sail on tomorrow. I hope that which went by he way of appoquinomy has arrived in good condition. It was by accident I heard of the present conveyance, for I was led to believe that I could not find a passage by...
96To James Madison from Charles Willson Peale, 9 January 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 January 1803, Museum. At the request of his friend John I. Hawkins, writes to inform JM of Hawkins’s invention of a machine to multiply copies of writing or music. Hawkins “some time past pondered whether he ought to take a Patent, as one had already been granted for similar purposes,” but inquiry showed “his invention is totally different, being a simple movement of paralell Rulers with...
97To James Madison from Charles Willson Peale, 21 May 1801 (Madison Papers)
While offering to your acceptance the two enclosed Publications, I am prompted by my knowledge of your attachment to the Arts & Sciences, to intrude upon a few of your leisure moments. I remember in an early stage of the Museum, your obliging recommendation to my attention of the works of Buffon; and since I have been obliged to gain a more critical knowledge of Natural history, his writings...
98To 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...
99To James Madison from Charles Willson Peale, 19 March 1806 (Madison Papers)
The three Polygraphs intended as presents for Tripoli are finished, but finding I was too late to send them round in ⟨the⟩ Vessel which sailed last friday, and no probability of another chance for 3 weeks or perhaps a month, I have thought it best to send that intended for the Tripolian Ambassidor, by the Packet that goes to Apoquinimy sailing this day, and I have wrote to Messrs. Levering &...
100To James Madison from Charles Willson Peale, 14 February 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 February 1803, Museum. “Be pleased to accept the inclosed. Should you ever meet me in the Museum I may then tell you to whom the letter was originally intended. … It would give me pleasure to be able to trace out the probable progress of the museum while under my care, and to Devise with you the best means for its permanent Establishment.” FC ( PPAmP ). 1 p. Printed in Miller, Selected...
101Charles Willson Peale to Jacob Wagner, 22 July 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 July 1804, Museum. “I was at New York preserving the Fishes of that Market for my Museum, when your letter respecting the Polygraph was received by my Son Rubins, who has not been inatentive to that business, and by this time one would have been sent, but the workmen had been imployed in finishing one, like the Presidents, ordered for Mr. John Armstrong to be sent without delay to New York....