Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 21 October 1805
To Charles Willson Peale
Washington Oct. 21. 05
Dear Sir
The day before yesterday I sent to Alexandria
1. a large box containing skins, skeletons & horns
1. small box containing the Polygraph
1. do. with minerals for the Phil. society to be presented in capt Lewis’s name.
a cage with a living magpie.
These were delivered to Capt Elwood as you will see by the inclosed reciept & the freight paid. he promised he would sail yesterday & I hope you will recieve them in good order. the undressed skins arrived here full of worms. I fear you will be puzzled to put them into form. Accept friendly salutations.
Th: Jefferson
RC (TxU); at foot of text: “Mr. Peale.” PoC (DLC); endorsed by TJ. Enclosure not found.
minerals for the Phil. society: articles sent by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis from Fort Mandan in April included “67. specimens of earths, salts and minerals; and 60 specimens of plants.” Lewis indicated that the geological and botanical specimens, all labeled and packed in the same box, were “forwarded with a view of their being presented to the Philosophical society of Philadelphia, in order that they may under their direction be examined or analyzed.” Peale presented the box to the at a meeting on 15 Nov., and John Vaughan cataloged the items the next day. The society asked Vaughan and Adam Seybert to examine the geological specimens (, Proceedings, 22, pt. 3 [1884-85], 379; , 3:450, 462-6, 472-8; Vol. 46:168–9, 172).