James Cutbush to Thomas Jefferson, 29 September 1822
From James Cutbush
West Point September 29th 1822
Dear Sir.
Finding that we laboured under many difficulties for want of a text book on military Pyrotechny, as works on that subject are principally1 in French, I was induced from that consideration to compile a complete system for the use of our Chemical department, to be used in conjunction with the usual Chemical class books.
As to Chemical instruction, we have two classes; the first and second. To the latter general, experimental, theoretical, and practical chemistry, in a serie[s] of lectures, are given; and to the form[er], as it constitutes the last years course, the applications of chemistry to the Arts, manufactures, pyrotechny, &c. &c. are particularly attended to. Some of the last June graduates are, in that study, and in mineralogy very able, and I have no doubt will be eminently useful in the Army.
Jas Cutbush.
RC (CSmH: JF); torn at seal; addressed: “His Excy Thomas Jefferson Monticello (near Milton) Virginia”; stamp canceled; franked; inconsistently postmarked West Point, 28 Sept.; endorsed by TJ as received 6 Oct. 1822 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Cutbush, Proposals, for publishing by subscription, A New Work, entitled A System of Pyrotechny, a work in four parts on the components, “Instruments, Utensils, and Manipulations” of fireworks “for Exhibition—and Military Pyrotechny”; stating that it will be “put to press in the beginning of 1823, should the number of subscribers warrant the publication”; noting that it will run from 600 to 700 closely printed octavo pages and cost subscribers $4.50 in boards or $5 bound; stipulating that subscriptions will be taken by Cutbush at West Point or Ward M. Gazlay at Newburgh, N.Y.; and concluding with a form for subscribers to add their name, place of residence, and number of copies (undated broadside in CSmH: JF).
Cutbush’s text book was posthumously published as A System of Pyrotechny, comprehending the theory and practice, with the application of chemistry; Designed for Exhibition and for War … adapted to the Military and Naval Officer, the Man of Science, and Artificer (Philadelphia, 1825).
1. Manuscript: “pincipally.”
Index Entries
- Army, U.S.; military academy search
- A System of Pyrotechny, comprehending the theory and practice, with the application of chemistry; Designed for Exhibition and for War … adapted to the Military and Naval Officer, the Man of Science, and Artificer (J. Cutbush) search
- books; on chemistry search
- chemistry; books on search
- chemistry; military education in search
- Cutbush, James; and chemistry search
- Cutbush, James; and U.S. Military Academy search
- Cutbush, James; A System of Pyrotechny, comprehending the theory and practice, with the application of chemistry; Designed for Exhibition and for War … adapted to the Military and Naval Officer, the Man of Science, and Artificer search
- Cutbush, James; letters from search
- Cutbush, James; Proposals for publishing by subscription, A New Work, entitled A System of Pyrotechny search
- Gazlay, Ward M.; receives subscriptions search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; works sent to search
- mineralogy; collegiate education in search
- Proposals for publishing by subscription, A New Work, entitled A System of Pyrotechny (J. Cutbush) search
- subscriptions, for publications; scientific search
- United States Military Academy (West Point, N.Y.); faculty of search
- United States Military Academy (West Point, N.Y.); textbooks for search