To James Madison from Mason Locke Weems, 22 January 1819
From Mason Locke Weems
Richmond Jan. 22. 1819
Very Dear Sir
I do myself the honor to send you a copy of the Life of Marion.1 It is already in the Sixth edition; and makes much noise in the Country. If you shou’d be pleased with the spirit of Marion, and think that it ought to be universal among the Youth of our Republic, you will do both them & me a great Kindness by giving us a line commendatory of Marion as a School book. My Life of Washington written for that purpose is now in the 21st. edition;2 and from the demand for Marion I have reason to believe he will not lag far behind him. Please present my very best Respects to Mrs. Madison, to whom I have taken the liberty to send a paper for Doctr. Hunter’s admired work.3 As the Object of this book is so Divine, and its eclat so very extraordinary I feel confident that Mrs. Madison will not disdain to employ a portion of her Great Influence to circulate it among her numerous & wealthy friends—especially as it is some where prophesied that “Queens shall become Nursing Mothers to the Church.”4 Wishing you, both, many happy & useful years here yet, before you are calld to your Celestial Patrimony, I remain your sincere friend
M. L. Weems5
Compts. to Mr. Todd—cannot but hope that he will peruse with edification “Hymens Recruitg Serjeant.”6
RC (DLC). Addressed by Weems to JM at Montpelier. Cover docketed by JM.
1. Mason Locke Weems, The Life of Gen. Francis Marion, a Celebrated Partisan Officer in the Revolutionary War, against the British and Tories in South Carolina and Georgia, 6th ed. (Philadelphia, 1818; 46754).
2. Mason Locke Weems, The Life of George Washington, 21st ed. (Philadelphia, 1818; 46757).
3. The enclosure has not been found, but it was probably a prospectus for Sacred Biography: or the History of the Patriarchs. To Which is Added, the History of Deborah, Ruth, and Hannah (4 vols.; Philadelphia, 1818; 44398), by the Scots divine Henry Hunter.
4. Weems paraphrased here Isaiah 49:23 (RSV).
5. Mason Locke Weems (1759–1825) was an Episcopal minister and writer of patriotic biographies and other improving works, many of which were very popular and went through multiple editions. Weems spent most of his career crisscrossing the eastern seaboard as Mathew Carey’s book agent.
6. Mason Locke Weems, Hymen’s Recruiting-Serjeant: or the New Matrimonial Tat-too, for the Old Bachelors (Greenfield, [Mass.], 1817; 42862).