Letter of Working Mens Institute to William Maclure
April 23, 1838
Mr. William Maclure,
Dear Sir – We being consulted by Mr. Achilles Fretageot on the probability of forming a society for Mutual Instruction in this place, and having since become the Trustees and Committee of Management of such a society, are pleased to accede to your request to open a correspondence with you on the subject, and have forwarded herewith a copy of the constitution as adopted. There has been here at one time or other several societies having in view the objects you contemplate. There was one, at the time your letter on the subject arrived, but not believing it such a one as would be the most beneficial and meet our own or your wishes in every respect, it was thought advisable to form another. After all the consideration we could give to the subject, by 26 persons, and there is every prospect that it will be signed by many more, as soon as it is publicly known, which will be by the next Disseminator. We shall be pleased to have your opinion on it, and any advice you may please to give us on the subject. We have had the letter of Mr. Bannatyne formerly published at your request, the in New Harmony Gazette, republished in the Disseminator; also an early essay of your own which contained many useful hints to the same purpose; with a view to throw all the light we could on the subject, and to awaken in the minds of working men a desire to promote the objects of such an institution. We can say but little at present as to our prospects; there appears to be a strong and determined feeling in the matter, and a wish on the part of everyone to do his best. After the lapse of a few weeks we will renew our correspondence and inform you what has been done. We are assured by Mr. R.D. Owen (who has been for two years our Representative, and there is every prospect that he will be the next,) that there is no doubt but what we can obtain an act of Incorporation at the next session of the Legislature, and as we are not aware that there is any other means by which the property can be secured to its proper object, this is the course we intend to pursue. Accept our thanks on behalf of the working men of New Harmony for you long and continued exertions on behalf of the operatives, and our best wishes for your life and health, and believe us,
Yours with respect, &c.,
(Signed) John Beal
James Sampson
William Cox
Edward Cox
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Time: December 10, 2006, 1:26 pm
[...] Besides their progeny, perhaps The Boys’ most enduring contribution to the New Harmony community was their involvement in the founding and overseeing of the New Harmony Workingmen’s Institute. Edward Cox was the second signer, behind the carpenter John Beal, of the 48 original signers of the “Laws of the Workingmen’s Institute.†William Cox was the eighth signer. The Boys were two of the four signers behind John Beal and James Sampson, on the Letter of the Working Men’s Institute to William Maclure on April 23, 1838. Edward Cox one of the five names in the incorporation of the Workingmen’s Institute and was addressed directly by Maclure in his April 15, 1839 letter to the Workingmen’s Institute. William Cox held the office more than any other individual in the history of the WMI. [...]
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