To James Madison from John L. E. W. Shecut, 8 June 1813
From John L. E. W. Shecut
Charleston June 8th. 1813.
Most Excellent Sir,
A few literary and Scientific Citizens of Charleston, having it in contemplation to form a Society to be called the “Antiquarian Society of Charleston” Having for their objects, primarily the collection and preservation of articles and things of antiquity, rare useful & curious and secondarily the promotion and encouragement of the Arts and Sciences including Natural and Moral Philosophy. Have in the propos’d Rules for the organization of the said Society Resolved,
“Rule 5th. Sect 4th. The Society shall Petition the legislature of this State to grant them an act of Incorporation, as also the Congress of the United States to extend to them the fostering aid of Government and shall also Solicit the Patronage of the President of the United States and of his Excellency Thomas Jefferson Esqr.”1
In Conformity with the foregoing Rule I avail myself of the honour of Soliciting of your Excellency in behalf of the Contemplated Society, your Excellencys Patronage & Sanction together with your influence with the Scientific and literary characters of the United States towards the furtherance of their views which I trust are deemed laudable and worthy of encouragement by your Excellency.
Be pleas’d most Excellent Sir to accept the assurances of my zeal and attachment to yourself, also the attachment of the Subscribers to this Society and in my individual capacity permit me to offer you, all that affection and sensibility can dictate, or intrinsic merit require for your inviolable attachment to our Common Country, and the Services you have rendered us in the discharge of your arduous duties as our beloved and approved chief magistrate, and are so faithfully discharging at the present portentous era! In behalf of the Contemplated Society, and with the most sincere respect your Excellencys most Obedt. Servt.
J.L.E.W. Shecut. M.D.2
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. Shecut sent a similar letter to Jefferson, also dated 8 June 1813 (DLC: Jefferson Papers).
2. John Linnaeus Edward Whitridge Shecut (1770–1836) was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, and after studying medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, set up practice in Charleston. He was among the first physicians to use electricity for the treatment of disease, and in 1806 exhibited a machine he had invented for this purpose. In addition to essays on his electrical theories, Shecut published works on botany, natural philosophy, and the history and topography of Charleston, as well as two novels. He was instrumental in founding the Antiquarian Society, later known as the Literary and Philosophical Society of South Carolina. In 1820 he established South Carolina’s first cotton factory (Kelly and Burrage, American Medical Biographies, 1042–43).