Extract from Francis W. Gilmer to Dabney Carr
| Dear Judge. | Fredericksburg. 12. octr. 1818. |
what would you say to edifying the world by a chaste, elegant, and philosophical life of Citn Thomas your Uncle? [. . .] He is in my judgement the best subject for biography after Gen: Washington which our country has afforded. This is a question worthy of consideration. It would be a great thing for a profound & eloquent writer to give an ample & rich portrait of the old Philosopher & present the proceeds [. . .] of the work to the Central College—or what perhaps would be as wise—put them in his pocket—to buy Christmas plums for his children. I fear unless the old man has a hint about this matter he will leave his papers to some quack or impostor (for you know how easily he is duped) who will disgrace his subject, himself & his country. He cannot in nature live long, & that the work may appear soon after his death it should be speedily begun
