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Baltimore March 31, 1824

Sir

Having some business to transact in this City and being quite satiated with idleness at Washington, I have brought my Portrait here to shew it to my friends & to obtain the testimony of Carroll, Howard & others. In the meanwhile I must leave the merits of my cause entirely to your discretion & kindness. I am certainly very desivous of having an opportunity, before I go to England, to produce a Picture that may do me credit in my own Country--And I cannot but indulge a hope that the Resolution may pass the Senate without mulitation & be honourably received in your house.

I immediately adopted your opinion & found Cole Johnson favourably disposed & prompt to act. May I hope that you will take sufficient interest to help it along in the best way, whether it be by hastening its progress or waiting for a favourable moment.  As a Member of the Commitee to whom the Resolution was referred your opinion will have greater influence in the House to correct the errors that have crept into the Resolution through the timid apprehension of Mr. Breck, affected as he was by Ague fever.  In regard to size, it should be left to me whether it be best to have the Picture 11, 12 or 13 feet wide & a5, 16 or (101?) feet long--And as the frame, I might be tempted to furnish a good frame if 5000 dollars are appropriated, tho' I should make a Picture in itself, worth a greater Sum.  But above all, for an Equestrian Portrait, not a Battle piece, the choice & arrangement should be left entirely with the Artist, especially as I have already made my Design which requires the Trees & sky of Summer & should have nothing in the Background that would detract from the purposed splendour of my Man and Horse.

May I solicit your kindness in favour of an Act extending to Paintings & Drawings the benefit of Copyrights, which Mr. Lowrie has introduced into the Senate.  I do not apprehend that any one can see any objections to such an Act of Justice to the Authors of Original Designs, when the Engravers, who copy them, are so fully protected.

I am unwilling to trespass further on your time than to say that you will confer a signal favour on
Sir
Yours
Respectfully
Rembrandt Peale

to:
Honourable General Mercer
Washington, D.C.