WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO CHARLES WILLSON PEALE,

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MENTIONING HIS MEZZOTINTO PORTRAITS.

WASHINGTON, GEORGE. Letter Signed, 4to. Mount Vernon, March 13th, 1787. To Charles Willson Peale, with address.

"Sir

"I have received your letter of the 27th ulto, acknowledging the reception of the body of the Golden Pheasant. I have sent by the Dolphin Capt'n Steward the body of a French hen Pheasant which died this day. I choose 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 quick and safe a conveyance as if it went by land.

"I wish you great success in the Mezzotinto Prints which you hawe undertaken & have no doubt but your abilities on works of Genius will ensure it.

Mr. Chas. W. Peale.

"I am Sir

"Yr. most obedt. Hble. Serv't

"GEO. WASHINGTON."

A very fine specimen and exceedingly interesting as it mentions the Mezzotinto Portraits engraved by Peale, of which one was of Washington.

811⁄2 WASHINGTON, GEORGE, Autograph letter Signed, 4to Mount Vernon, 10th June, 1799. To the President of the Bank of Pennsylvania, with Five Signatures on Franked Address.

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"Sir

"Two Bonds due to me, the one from Matthew Richie, Esqr., deceased, the other from Colo. Israel Shreve, have been deposited in the Bank of Pennsylvania for Collection.

"On each an Instalment was due, and to have been paid into the Bank, on the first day of June 1798, and another on the first day of the present month.

"From the Executors of Colo. Ritchie, I did, in the course of last sum, receive $1700-and this is all I have received on both Bonds.

"Let me pray you to inform me, if any more has been paid into the Bank?-and if not, whether any intimation has been given to it, that it will be done?-I am unwilling to put the Bonds in suit, if the money could be obtained without, but my want of it is such, that I must have recoarse to this expedient soon, if the end cannot be accomplished without. With esteem, I am, Sir,

"Your most obedt. Hble. Servant

Presid't of the Bank of Pennsylvania.

"GEO. WASHINGTON."

WASHINGTON, GEORGE. Autograph letter, Signed. 4th Mount Vernon, 14th July, 1799. To Saml. M. Fox with five Signatures on Franked address.

"Sir

"In due course of the mails, I have been honoured by the receipt of your favours of the 2d and 6th instant,-and thank you for the trouble you have taken in reminding Mrs. Ritchie of my demand upon her deceased hus

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bands estates, and for forwarding my letter to the Honorable Jas. Ross. "If, from the money paid into the Bank of Pennsylvania by Judge Addison, on my acct, Fifteen hundred dollars could be transferred to the Bank of Alexandria, or that of Columbia, if neither of these can be done then in a secure manner in Southern notes, it would accommodate me greatly

"The residue of the $1568 deposited by Judge Addison, and the $250 placed to the account of Mr. Ross, as my agent, may remain for further appropriations, expecting to have a call for it in the city of Philadelphia, -with respectful esteem,-I am, Sir,

"Your most obedt. & obliged H. Ser.,

Saml. M. Fox, Esq.

"GEO. WASHINGTON."

WASHINGTON, GEORGE. Autograph letter Signed, 4to Mount Vernon, July 28th, 1799, to Saml. M. Fox, Esq., with address.

"Sir

"By the hands of Jolly, I have had the honor to receive your favor of the 20th instant-and fifteen hundred dollars which you had the goodness to send, and; to bring, in Southern Notes, on account of money deposited in the Bank of Pennsylvania for my use, by Judge Addison— in part payment of the deceased Matthew Ritchie's Bond.

"For your kind attention to this business, I pray you to accept the best thanks of Sir

"Your most obod't and obliged Hble. Servant
"GEO. WASHINGTON."

Saml. M. Fox, Esq.

Lots 81, 82 and 83 are all beautiful specimens of Washington's writing and clean as the day they were written.

LETTER OF GILBERT STUART, THE ARTIST.

83a STUART, GILBERT. Letter signed. 4to., Philad. May (9, 1795).

"To the Gentlemen of the American Academy. "Gentlemen:

"This morning I Received your Letter announcing my election to your Society, it is particularly flattering to me to be thought worthy of choice in any Society of my Country Men, but more especially when that Society is form'd of Artists.

"Permit me Gentlemen to thank you and assure you that my best endeavors shall not be wanting to promote the Interest and Honour of that Society."

Specimens of Gilbert Stuart's handwriting are exceedingly scarce. This is the most interesting one we know of.

CHARLES WILLSON PEALE'S CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, SIGNED BY BENJ. FRANKLIN.

836 THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP of Charles Willson Peale in the American Philosophical Society. Dated

July 21, 1786. Signed by Benj. Franklin, President, John Ewing, Bishop Wm. White and Saml. Vaughan, VicePresidents. Attested by James Hutchinson, R. Patterson, Saml. Magaw, and John Foulke, with fine impression of the Seal of the Society. Folio.

In Beautiful Condition. Chas. Willson Peale was the distinguished Artist who painted the First Portrait of Washington.

BENEDICT ARNOLD'S LETTER MENTIONING

WASHINGTON.

84 ARNOLD, BENEDICT. "The Traitor." Maj. Gen. in the Continental Army. Autograph Letter, signed.

4to., Water

town, 26th August, 1775. Horatio Gates, Adj. Gen.

Fine specimen.

"Sir:

"I am much obliged to you for your Favour, which was this minute Delivered me. You are perfectly right, in regard to my Intention. When last I saw the General He seem'd to wish I would wait the return of the Express which I afterwards Determined to do tho' I did not acquaint his Excellency with my Intention.

I am very respectfully
Sir,

"Your obed't Hble Sv.

'BENED'T ARNOLD.

"Hble Horatio Gates Esq Adj't Gnl."

BENJ. RUSH'S LETTER IN REFERENCE TO THE REMOVAL OF CONGRESS TO PRINCETON.

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RUSH, BENJ. Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Autograph Letter, signed. 3 pp., 4to. Philad. Nov. 8, 1779. To Col. Geo. Morgan, with address.

"The Congress have resolved to leave Philada, on the 1st day of next May. Some of the members talk of purchasing a few square miles of territory near Princeton, and erecting public offices and buildings of all kinds for their accommodation upon it, a more central-healthy--& plentiful Spot I believe cannot be found on the Continent.'

RUSH, BENJAMIN. Autograph Letter, signed. 3 pp., 4to. Philada., May 23, 1804. To Dr. John S. Dorsey. With

address.

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"A wide field opens for medical investigation in the United States. The Walls of the old School" are daily falling about the ears of its masters and Scholars, Come, and assist your Uncle and his friends in erecting a new fabric upon its ruins, We expect industry, ingenuity & independence from you, and that under your hands the building will receive some of its neatest, and most useful touches. One thing we are

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confident of.-You will never conceal, nor deny your opinions when the Safety and lives and a whole city require that being made public.

We expect to confer the first medical honor of our University upon fifteen young men on the 6th of Next June." Etc.

MORGAN, JNO. Physician-in-Chief to the Continental Army. Autograph Letter, signed. 3 Pp., 4to, New York, June 24, 1776. To Dr. Samuel Sturges. With address.

"Lately I have received several letters from you, containing the Returns of Sick under your Care & a List of Medicines which you want for the Troops of Canada. I am to acquaint you that hitherto I have received no Instructions what the Congress would have me to do relative to Canada, the Affairs of which appear to be in the greatest anarchy through every Department. It never has been announced to me in what light I am to consider you, whether as Director of an Hospital, or Superintendant of the regimental Surgeons in Canada, or whether there is such a thing as a Gen'l Hospital.' Etc.

MORGAN, JOHN. New York, July 28, address.

Autograph Letter, signed. 2 pp., folio.
1776.
To Dr. Samuel Sturges. With

Inclosed you have an attested Copy of the Resolves of Congress June 17th, last, & a certificate of my Commis'n not as a mere ' Director' as you are pleased to stile me in your Letter of July 20th, but as Director General & Chief Physician, by Col Harrison, Secretary to the Command in Chief, of which you will be pleased to take due notice." Etc.

DR. MORGAN'S LETTER TO JNO. JAY, PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, CHARGING DR. WM. SHIPPEN, JUN. WITH MALPRACTICE AND MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE.

89 MORGAN, JNO. Autograph Letter, signed. Folio. Philadelphia, June 16, 1779. To John Jay, President of the Continental Congress.

This is Dr. Morgan's Autograph draft of that celebrated letter.

"Congress having been pleased by its resolve of the 12th Inst. on the full & weighty evidence before them, to restore me in the most ample manner to my former fair and unsullied reputation. I thankfully acknowledge the honorable approbation which it has been pleased in consequence thereof, to bestow on my conduct in the service of my Country, I consider it as a proof of the disposition of the house to render Justice to all men, and to give me adequate reparation for the Injustice I have sustained from a faithfull discharge of the truly difficult and important Trust reposed in me by Congress.

"As, in the execution of my Duty in the Station of Director General and Physician in Chief, the public good was my only pursuit, the prosecuting it now continues fixed. Conscious I am that it is incumbent on me, on every Servant of the Public, and on every free Citizen, to prosecute to conviction all persons in Commission, who are guilty of misconduct in office and have abused the public trust. Being further stirred up to this needful measure by the loud and repeated calls and Exhortations of Congress, particularly by its resolve of June 30, 1778, and its

late earnest address to the Inhabitants of the United States of America May, 1779. Assured moreover that it is the Intention of Congress vigorously to execute a resolve of that consequence, so warmly enforced upon their constituents, without respect of persons, and that it will therefore give immediate orders for a Trial, free from the Embarrasment of any tedious delay, (from which innocent men sometimes suffer inconceivable hardships & distress, and the guilty are enabled to elude & baffle the testimony of witnesses wearied out in a fruitless attempt to to bring them to Justice).

"I do hereby charge Dr. Wm. Shippen, Jun., in the service of the United States with Malpractice & Misconduct in Office, and whereas Congress, by a Resolve of the House, has subjected a Director of the Gen'l Hospital on an accusation of Malconduct, to be tried by a Court Martial, I therefore now declare my readiness to give before the proper court having Jurisdiction the necessary Evidence in the premises against the said Dr. Wm. Shippen. I remain with warm devotion to my country's Liberties and Welfare." Etc.

NOTE.-In October, 1775, Dr. Morgan was appointed Director General to the Military Hospital and Physician-In-Chief to the American Army. He found hospital and army without medicines and appliances, and reorganized the general hospital, requiring proof by examination of the qualifications of the assistant. Previous to this many unlettered and incompetent medical officers had found their way into the army, and the resulting condition of things was said by Washington to be " a disgrace to the profession, the army, and to Society." In consequence of unjust complaint Dr. Morgan was dismissed by Congress without reason on Jan. 9, 1779, but a committee of that body afterward investigated his eonduct and honorably acquitted him.

DR. MORGAN'S RETURN OF THE BRITISH PRISONERS IN PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL.

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MORGAN, JNO. Autograph Document signed, 4to. Philada., Sept. 24, 1781.

His Return of the Condition of the British Prisoners then being treated at the Pennsylvania Hospital.

MORGAN, JNO. Autograph Document. 3 pp. 4to. New York, Feby. 6, 1786. To Col. Burr, with copy of Burr's Answer in the handwriting of Morgan.

“Questions proposed by J. Morgan to Col. Burr, for his consideration which he is requested to answer in reference to a judgment against Geo. Croghan."

MORGAN, JNO. Autograph letter signed with initials. 3 PP. 4to. Philada., May 15, 1786. To J. Morton.

MORGAN, JNO. Autograph letter signed. 2 pp. 4to. Philada., July 18, 1786. To Messrs Neville & Ritchie.