Samuel Breck Diary 1814 – 1840
From the personal diary of Samuel Breck:
July 29, 1816
Joseph Buonaparte (sic) returned to Lansdowne yesterday. He shook Mr. Bones, the tenant, most cordially by the hand. He is devoid of pride and very sociable.
July 13, 1817
In the afternoon I accompanied the ladies to Lansdowne house. We met Mr. Thomas Peters who joined our party. This fine house is going to decay for want of a tenant and want of care. Mr. Peters told us that the Ex-King Joseph Bonaparte had offered to the heirs of Mr. Bingham an estate in Switzerland, which gives him his present title of Count Sevillier, in exchange for Lansdowne estate and the northwest square in Philada. at the intersection of 9th and Walnut Streets, on which he (Joseph) is desirous of building a palace, to include a private theatre.