[138] Thomas Law, sixth son of the Right Reverend Edmund Law, D.D., lord bishop of Carlisle, was born at Cambridge, England, October 23, 1756. In 1794, after acquiring some wealth in India, he came to America. Within a year he met Elizabeth Parke Custis, granddaughter of Martha Washington, whom he married (March 21, 1796). In 1802 Law went abroad, and returned in April, 1804. In the following August a legal separation was secured. Law denied Faux's hint of impropriety of conduct on the part of his wife in a signed article, "A Reply to Certain Insinuations," published in the _Quarterly Review_, No. 58. He attributed the unfortunate occurrence to "a disagreement in disposition." For outline of Law's life, and of his unhappy marriage, see Allen Cullings Clark, _Greenleaf and Law in the Federal City_ (Washington, 1901), pp. 236-244; 285-290.--ED. [139] Francis Scott Key (1779-1843), author of our national hymn, was for many years attorney of the District of Columbia.--ED. [140] Commodore Decatur was killed in a duel with Commodore James Barron, March 23, 1820, near Bladensburg, Maryland.--ED. [141] James Kirke Paulding, born in Dutchess County, New York, drifted to New York City at the age of nineteen (1798), and became acquainted with Washington Irving, publishing with him, during the year of 1807, the satirical periodical _Salmagundi_. A few years later he published _The Diverting History of John Bull and Brother Jonathan_. In 1814 he entered the lists for the defense of America in the "War of the Reviewers," by writing a pamphlet, _The United States and England_, in reply to a review in the _Quarterly Review_ of Charles Ingersoll's _Inchiquin's Letters_. The sinecure referred to by Faux was secretary of the board of navy commissioners, Madison having appointed him to that position in 1816. He continued his literary work throughout life, also his interest in naval affairs, entering Van Buren's cabinet as secretary of the navy.--ED. [142] For a brief account of Peale's museum, see Flint's _Letters_, volume ix of our series, note 21.--ED. [143] The Otaheiteans are Hawaiians.--ED. [144] Probably _The Cow Chase_ (London, 1781), a satirical poem in three cantos, on an unfortunate sally made by Brigadier-general Anthony Wayne on Bergen Neck, on North River, July 20, 1780. It was written before André's apprehension, the last canto being published (at New York) on the very day of the author's capture. See "Introduction" to _The Cow Chase_ (Albany edition, 1866), p. 11--ED.