i^gl^ LAW OF LAURIESTON. 5^ 



near that city, and was born about the year 1681. 

 When a very young man, he recommended himfelf to 

 the King's minifters in Scotland, to arrange and fit the 

 revenue accounts, which were in great diforder at the 

 time of fettUng the equivalent before the Union of the 

 kingdoms. Mr Law's father died about the year 1704, 

 John was bred to no bufinefs, and lived on the rents 

 of the fmall eft.ite of Lauriefton. In his perfon he 

 was of a very genteel and handfome addrefs, much 

 given to gallantry and finery •, ' and, giving a fort of 

 tone at Edinburgh, he went commonly by the name 

 of Beau Law. Law's immediate younger brother was 

 bred to his father's trade of goldfmith ; but, when his 

 brother fucceeded in France, left his occupation, and 

 blazed at Paris, during Law's adminiftration of the 

 finances of France, with much fplendour of equipage, 

 and magnificence of table. On the burfting of the 

 MiffifTippi bubble, and his brother's difgrace, he re- 

 turned to Scotland ; and in confequence of his younger 

 brother's becoming Roman-Catholic, claimed the 

 eftate, which had been entailed by the mother (who 

 was heirefs) upon the third fon after John's deceafe ; 

 and his claim was fuftained by the Court of Seihon. 



The papers relatirvg to this procefs are in the Advo- 

 cate's Library at Edinburgh, where' feveral fa(£ls and 

 dates may be obtained by the biographers of the unfor- 

 tunate projeftor. 



John Law fought a duel, for which he was forced 

 to fly his country in the midfl: of his gallant career. In 

 fome of the French literary gazettes, it is faid that he 

 run off with a married lady. 



Lady Catherine Law his wife, lived, during his 

 power in France, in the mod (lately manner, and was 

 courted by all the worlhippers of Plutus. But poor 

 Law went to Pluto unregretted at Venice, and was 

 there buried, without any dillinftiori, and, I believe, 

 without a monument to record his extraordinary for- 

 tunes ! 



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