1To James Madison from Thomas Law, 18 October 1797 (Madison Papers)
For particular reasons (a chief one is that I have a claim for 10000 £ Stg now pending in England) altho’ I am married to a Virginian Lady & have almost the whole of my fortune vested in America, I am adverse to taking the oath required to entitle me to the rights of Citizenship. I therefore wish to hold lands in Virginia as a foreigner & to request your advice & aid if you approve of my...
2To James Madison from Thomas Law, 12 May 1801 (Madison Papers)
During the winter I was rendered uneasy by the too well founded complaints of Congress, for want of good accomodations and society & during this Spring the sighing solitary stalking tavern keepers give me pain. Many have already left the City and I know not what can retain the rest or how new boarding house keepers can be induced to come. As all the Officers dwell to the west of the...
3To James Madison from Thomas Law, 15 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
As the present Administration takes every opportunity to promote the happiness of those around them, I am induced to submit to your perusal imaginary Speeches to the Indians now here which I wrote on Saturday for my amusement, but which (as my mind tells me I ought not to suppress them) I now trouble you with. Mr Dunn a very sensible Irish Gentleman who visited the Indians informed me, that...
4To James Madison from Thomas Law, 18 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
In consequence of your observation last night, I have consulted a Book written upon landed property in Asia, where the Author observes that the first transition from the pastoral to the agricultural state of Society must always remain a subject for conjecture. When Cæsar entered Germany he found agriculture partially adopted by the Suevians. “ Sed privati ac separati agri apud eos, nihil est;...
5Memorandum from Thomas Law, [ca. 7 July] 1809 (Madison Papers)
The followg. is an Extract from Mr. Marshals life of Washington 5th Vol: Page—770. [Eight paragraphs from Marshall’s biography are quoted. They cover almost three manuscript pages and relate to efforts to build a tomb or monument for Washington. They include a congressional resolution and portions of President Adams’s covering letter to Mrs. Washington and of her reply. In the last paragraph...
6To James Madison from Thomas Law, 28 March 1813 (Madison Papers)
What now remains of all the atchievements of Louis the 14th entitled the great , but a few buildings & his palace & gardens at Versailles? When Bonaparte shall have fretted his hour out upon the stage, what will the philanthropist contemplate with so much pleasure as his farm at Ramboulliet? Should you Sir obtain the enclosure of the public grounds containing above 200 Acres for which 25£ ⅌...
7To James Madison from Thomas Law, [ca. 1 June] 1813 (Madison Papers)
Congress now meets for the most important of considerations vizt How to raise a contribution for the general defence with the least inconvenience to the community. Those who have amply benefited by the security of life & property ought from gratitude to afford the greatest aids & can also spare portions of their fortunes for the preservation of the remainder. There are three kinds of wealth...
8To James Madison from Thomas Law and Others, 5 September 1814 (Madison Papers)
A respectable meeting of the Citizens in this vicinity, who have expended large sums in preparations for the members of Congress near the Capitol; have suffered by the enemy in the conflagration of private houses, and in the plunder of private property, because they had left their habitations to meet the enemy, yet are they willing to sacrifice their all in defence of their country. With these...
9To James Madison from Thomas Law, [ca. 18–26 November 1814] (Madison Papers)
When I heard of the conflagration of the Capitol &ca, I indulged the hope that a temporary misfortune would be converted to a benefit, & that I should have the satisfaction of witnessing prosperity here dated from your administration of Government. The enclosed proposition I submit to your perusal with all deference. In it I have considered the claims of the heads of departments, whose...
10To James Madison from Thomas Law, 7 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have the pleasure to enclose printed observations in favor of the Patriotic Bank the articles of association of which are published in the National Intelligencer. This Bank will I hope meet with your approbation, as it will be established on liberal principles favorable to Governmt. & to the public. I take the liberty also to enclose Copy of a Lre sent to the Commrs. of the public buildings....