To James Madison from Frederick C. Schaeffer, 30 December 1819
From Frederick C. Schaeffer
NewYork, Dec. 30th 1819
Sir,
Be pleased to excuse the liberty which a stranger takes, in thus addressing you.
The interest you take in the promotion of every useful object has prompted me to send you a Report on Idleness and Sources of Employment, made to the Managers of the Society for the Prevention of Pauperism in this city.1
In preparing the report, local subjects were chiefly in view; however, in discussing these I found it impossible to pass over the general principles which it contains, and therefore it may be deemed worthy of perusal even at a distance from NewYork.
I should be highly honoured, and most gratefully acknowledge it, if you would think proper to favour me with your opinion on the subject. With the best wishes for your welfare, I am Most respectfully
F.C. Schaeffer,2
Pastor of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in NewYork.
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. Report to the Managers of the Society for the Prevention of Pauperism in New-York (New York, 1819; 49449).
2. Frederick Christian Schaeffer (1792–1831) was a Lutheran minister from Germantown, Pennsylvania. He was called to the ministry in Harrisburg in 1812, and his success there led to his removal to New York City in 1815. For a time Schaeffer united the English-speaking and German-speaking Lutherans into one congregation, but by 1822 he was ministering only to the English speakers as pastor of St. Matthew’s, and then in 1826, of St. James’s Church.