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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.____
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