1From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Willson Peale, 4 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your obliging Letter of April 21 and it gave me great Pleasure to hear that you had met with such Encouragement at Philadelphia, and that you succeed so well in your Business in your native Country. If I were to advise you, it should be, by great Industry and Frugality to secure a Competency as early in Life as may be: For as your Profession...
2From George Washington to Charles Willson Peale, 12 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I perswade my self you will embrace the oppertunity of the Marquis la Fayette’s visit to Philadelphia to give the picture of him the finishing touches. You may not have another oppertunity and I wish for its completion. I am Dr Sir Yr Obedt Servt P.S. as I presume you must be done with my picture of the King of Prussia ’ere this I should be glad to have it returned to me. ALS , MiDbEI . Peale...
3From George Washington to Charles Willson Peale, 9 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 31st of Decemr came duly to hand. I cannot say that I shall be happy to have it in my power to comply with your request by sending you the bodies of my Pheasants; but I am afraid it will not be long before they will compose a part of your Museum, as they all appear to be drooping. One of the Silver Pheasants died sometime before the receipt of your letter, and its body was...
4From George Washington to Charles Willson Peale, 16 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
You will receive by the Stage the body of my Gold Pheasant, packed up in wool agreeable to your directions. He made his Exit yesterday, which enables me to comply with your request much sooner than I wished to do. I am afraid the others will follow him but too soon, as they all appear to be drooping; whether it is owing to their being confined, or to the Climate, I am not able to say: I am...
5From George Washington to Charles Willson Peale, 13 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 27th Ulto acknowleding the reception of the body of the Golden Pheasant. I have sent by the Dolphin Captn Steward the body of a French hen Pheasant which died this day. I chose this mode of conveying it rather than by the Stage, as the Packet calls here to receive some things for Philadelphia; & I think, all circumstances considered, that it will meet with as...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 5 June 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved a proposition from Europe which may perhaps be turned to account for the enlargement of your Museum. The hereditary prince of Parma, a young man of letters, of 22. years of age, lately married to a daughter of the K. of Spain, is desirous of augmenting his cabinet of Natural history by an addition of all the American subjects of the 3 departments of nature and will give those...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 21 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to thank you for a copy of your introductory lecture recieved some time since, & not before acknoleged for want of time. I have read it with great pleasure, and lament that while I have been so near to your valuable collection, occupations much less pleasing to me have always put it out of my power to avail myself of it. may I ask the favor of you to present my request to your son that...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 29 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favors of June 29. & July 25. to congratulate you on the prospect you have of obtaining a compleat skeleton of the great incognitum, and the world on there being a person at the critical moment of the discovery who has zeal enough to devote himself to the recovery of these great animal monuments. Mr. Smith the Secretary of the Navy will give orders...
9From Thomas Jefferson to John Vaughan and Charles Willson Peale, 13 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of the 1st. inst. informing me that the American Philosophical society had again elected me President of the society for the ensuing year. for this mark of their continued favor, I pray you to present them a renewal of my thanks and of my profound respect. I have still to lament that my distance & other occupations leave me nothing but expressions...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 16 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of the 12th. instant. no person on earth can entertain a higher idea than I do of the value of your collection nor give you more credit for the unwearied perseverance & skill with which you have prosecuted it. and I very much wish it could be made public property. but as to the question whether I think that the US. would encourage or provide for the...