Letter from Nathaniel Cutting to Edward Cutbush, President of the Columbian Institute, January 27, 1818

(Copy.) Washington City, D.C. 27th Jany 1818 To Edward Cutbush,____ President of the Columbian Institute. Sir, Although suffering under the effect of a severe contusion, derived from a fall down the steps of my Piazza on the Evening of Saturday last, when they were glazed with ice, I would have still attended the meeting of the Columbian Institute last Evening, had not public service, to which I am a perfect slave, detained me at home until it was too late to make such a Sortie in the dark and on foot, as the distance from my Residence to the General Post Office. Doubtless you all did as well [[underlined]]without[[/underlined]] my assistance, as you would have done [[underlined]with it[/underlined]].___ The circumstance which I most of all regret is, that by my absence I was deprived of the opportunity of [[underlined]]personally[[/underlined]] tendering to yourself and the Society the [[underlined]]Resignation of that Official character[[/underlined]] which the general suffrages of the Members and your kind sanction has twice conferred upon me. Really, Sir, however plain, easy and unimportant the functions of [[underlined]]"Secretary of the Columbian Institute"[[/underlined]] may apparently be,___ Experience has taught me that they are [[strikeout]]really?[[/strikeout]] incompatible with those official Duties which imperiously demand my whole attention in the War Department. Could you witness the multitude of applications which incessantly assail me, not only at my Office, but at my Domicile and which frequently require my writing as many hours at Home by Night, as Custom requires at Office in the Day,-you would really pity me; and would congratulate me that my intellect does not yet appear to be materially deranged.____ Under

Under the operation of existing circumstances, I feel it a Duty to place in your hands as the legitimate [[stikethrough]] illegible word [[/strikethrough]] ^[[inserted over strikethrough]]Depository[[/inserted]] of the Authority of the Columbian Institute during its Recess, this premeditated and unequivocal Evidence of my full & free Resignation of the appointment and quality of "[[underlined]] Secretary of the Columbian Institute [[/underlined]]." I respectfully solicit you, therefore, to direct me where, or in whose hands, I shall deposit the Minutes accompanied by some other documents & two Blank Registers bound in Rough Calf, belonging to the Society & now in my possession. I hold them subject to your Order.____ I pray you, Sir, to do me the favor to communicate to the Society, at its next meeting, the step which I now [[underlined]] deliberately [[/underlined]], but [[underlined]] resolutely [[/underlined]], take under the influence of paramount Duties. I wish still to be considered as [[underlined]] a Resident Member [[/underlined]] of the Society and in that quality shall be happy at all times to contribute my poor mite for the promotion of its views and objects, which I firmly believe will ^[[insertion]] eventually [[/insertion]] prove of great public utility._ I have the honor to be, Sir, with high consideration & perfect esteem, Your obedient Servant._ signed Nat. Cutting._

Copy._ 27th Janr 1818._ Dr. Edward Cutbush Pres. Columb. Instit. From Nathaniel Cutting, to Dr. Cutbush, resigning the office of Secretary to the Columbian Institute; but desiring to be still considered as a resident member. dated 27th Jany, 1818