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                                                                         Philad. March 16 1846
Dear Sir

    Since I sent you my Biographical Sketch, I have had occasion to make use of my lines on Peale's Washington, and have taken the liberty which as the Author of them I am entitled to, to alter the structure of them a little-- I have to request that you will do me the favour to erase the two last stanzas and substitute what I sent you on the next page, which I write fairly out, not to give you any more trouble than to pin them over the others.
    I have changed one important word in the 3rd stanza from my printed Copy, by substituting 'mong, awkward as the word is, for last, which was not strictly correct. Stuarts first Portrait was painted the same time as mine-- Washington giving Stuart his 1st sitting, between my 1st and 2d-- From this Picture Stuart made five Copies-- one for Paul Beck, one for Col. Howard- one for a gentleman at Washington + 2 others. The 2' Portrait which Stuart painted, (that which is in the Atheneum) was engaged to be when finished for Mr. Washington, at whose earnest request the general consented to sit a second time. The 1st Portrait Stuart sold to Winstanley the Landscape Painter, who took it to England From the 2d Portrait painted, I believe in March 1796, all Stuarts Copies were subsequently made.

I remain respectfully                                                           yours                                                           R. Peale

PS. I think you have done well, instead of Wood Cuts, to substitute Steel Engravings.

C. E Lester Esq.