Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to John L.E.W. Shecut, 29 June 1813

To John L. E. W. Shecut

Monticello June 29. 13.

Sir

I am very sensible of the honor done me by the Antiquarian Society of Charleston, in the Rule for the organisation of their society which you have been so good as to communicate, and I pray you to do me the favor of presenting to them my thanks. age and my inland and retired situation make it scarcely probable that I shall be able to render them any services. but should any occasion occur wherein I can be useful to them, I shall recieve their commands with pleasure, & execute them with fidelity. while the promotion of the arts and sciences is interesting to every nation, and at all times, it becomes peculiarly so to ours, at this time, when the total demoralisation of the governments of Europe has rendered it safest, by cherishing internal resources, to lessen the occasions of intercourse with them. the works of our aboriginal inhabitants have been so perishable that much of them must have disappeared already. the antiquarian researches therefore of the Society cannot be too soon, or too assiduously directed to the collecting & preserving what still remain.

Permit me to place here my particular thankfulness for the kind sentiments of personal regard which you have been pleased to express.

I have been in the constant hope of seeing the 2d vol. of your excellent botanical work. it’s alphabetical form & popular style, it’s attention to the properties & uses of plants, as well as to their descriptions, are well calculated to encourage and instruct our citizens in botanical enquiries.—I avail myself of this occasion of inclosing you a little of the fruit of a Capsicum I have just recieved from the province of Texas, where it is indigenous and perennial, and is used as freely as salt by the inhabitants. it is new to me. it differs from your Capsicum minimum, in being perennial and probably hardier; perhaps too in it’s size which would claim the term of minutissimum. this stimulant being found salutary in a visceral complaint known on the seacoast, the introduction of a hardier variety may be of value. accept the assurance of my great respect and consideration.

Th: Jefferson

PoC (DLC); at foot of text: “Doctr John L. E. W. Shecut.”

Shecut’s excellent botanical work was his Flora Carolinæensis; or, a Historical, Medical, and Economical Display of the Vegetable Kingdom; According to the Linnæan, or Sexual System of Botany (Charleston, 1806; Sowerby, description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 1952–59, 5 vols. description ends no. 1076). He never published a second volume. capsicum minimum is another name for Capsicum frutescens, commonly called tabasco.

Index Entries

  • Antiquarian Society of Charleston search
  • bird pepper search
  • Charleston, S.C.; learned societies in search
  • Flora Carolinæensis (Shecut) search
  • Indians; preservation of artifacts of search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; preservation of Indian artifacts search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; promotion of arts and sciences search
  • pepper; bird search
  • pepper; tabasco search
  • Shecut, John Linnaeus Edward Whitridge; and Antiquarian Society of Charleston search
  • Shecut, John Linnaeus Edward Whitridge; Flora Carolinæensis search
  • Shecut, John Linnaeus Edward Whitridge; letters to search
  • Shecut, John Linnaeus Edward Whitridge; TJ sends bird pepper to search
  • South Carolina; learned societies in search
  • spices; bird pepper search
  • spices; tabasco search
  • tabasco search