1Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 10 April 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been Dear Sir long oppressed under duty, respect and friendship, in having omited to write to you about the Plow which you so obligingly sent me. The principle on which the form is given is undoubtably excellent, as the action is by strait lines, yet without a proper length is given to the mould board, all its advantages are lost. I made repeated tryals of this Plow by an expert...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 10 September 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
It has for some time past that I have promised myself the pleasure of paying you a Visit, yet the situation of my family and the interests of the Museum has not allowed me that indulgence. My Son Titian has not only great skill in preserving all kinds of Animals, but also he has acquired an abundance of knowledge in Natural history, I mean of animated nature. And my Son Franklin is possessed...
3Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 1 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
soon after my arrival here I wrote to inform you of my object in visiting this place, with the hope that my scribling might not be a burden on your precious moments, and as I had said that I would give you some account of my Portraits, Since I begin to think I shall paint only one or two more at the present time, I will enumerate them. Viz t The President , M r Calhoun , M r Adams , M r Crawford ,
4Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 20 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Although very unwilling to give you the least trouble in the epistolary line, yet I feel a desire to communicate what I consider a cricis of my labours on the Museum —beleiving that you esteem it a work of importance to the enlightning of the Public mind. Envy of some men and self-interest in others have made them active, to get the Museum remooved from the State-House , and the City being...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 2 July 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
It was my intention to have paid you a visit when I left Philad a I had proposed to myself to commence this journey in the first of May as the better season, but my youngest son Titian was so much indisposed that he could not attend to the business of the Museum, and another call for his improvement now obliges me to return to Philadelphia. A gentleman from England by the name of Cha s...
6Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I sensibly feel for your privations and sufferings, and hope and beg that my corrispondance may not add to affections, therefore let me intreat you, not to write to me, unless you think I can render you some service, in which case, I wish to receive your commands, and assure you that any thing in my power to perform will be executed with pleasure. It might not be necessary to write this, since...
7Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 3 July 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
In the hope, my dear Sir, of giving you some little amusement on what I concieve an interresting subject, which my Son Rembrandt has very nea r ly completed for the Public Eye, Therefore I have made a Sketch of his Picture , enclosed, and trouble you once more with my address and a description of “ Peale ’s great Moral Picture of the Court of Death . ”
8To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 30 September 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
When I received your Polygraph, I repaired the springs, then made an essay to write with it, found it stiff—but on putting oil to all the joints, it preformed much better. so that my conclusion was that you neglected to give it oil occasionally. My next opperation was to take the parralells apart in order to examine all the joints—and it does not appear to have worn the pin-holes, indeed I...
9Charles Willson Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 15 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
there is very little probability that I can give you any information on what may be termed improvements made in Europe , your acquaintance with learned men in every quarter of the World, and your exalted knowledge of Science and arts in every department, and with all your fondness for the promotion of all useful discoveries that promise any benefit to mankind, I believe never escape your...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 25 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Although it is a long time since I have wrote, yet be assured that I very often think on the favors you have confered on me at various periods, and could I have been so fortunate as to think I could add a moment of pleas ure to you. I should have embraced the occasion, But absorbed in the various labours of the Museum, the attentions of duty to a large family, that look to me for aid on every...