[AMERICAN POLITICAL FIGURES]. LANGDON, John (1741-1819). Signer, U.S. Constitution. Autograph letter signed ("John Langdon," with flourish) to Tobias Lear, Portsmouth, 12 January 1814. 1½ pages, 4to, integral address leaf, some adhesion between pages does not affect text. THE GREAT PORTSMOUTH FIRE OF 1813. Langdon writes an appreciative but sad letter to George Washington's former secretary, Tobias Lear, thanking him for the two hundred dollar check "for the use of the sufferers by the late fire." The 1813 "Great Fire" of Portsmouth burned 272 houses, including the first home owned by Daniel Webster. Langdon notes; "I have given the check to the Committee for receiving and distributing donations, who return you their grateful thanks in behalf of the Sufferers for this Act of Benevolence." With an emphasis upon human accountability to God, Langdon assesses the fire and damages: "God in his Righteous Providence has been pleased to visit our Town with a great and sore calamity; Indeed my friend it is almost indescribable I must therefore refer you to the papers for a particular ac[coun]t of this Catastrophe. The most populous part of the center of the Town, now presents, if I may so express myself, a wilderness of naked chimneys. We have great reason to fear and tremble seeing we have the mighty hand of the God of Jacob upon us...the fruit of this affliction may be to take away our sins." -- [MONROE, James (1758-1831). President]. Printed broadside, authorized by James Monroe, Secretary of State, Cartel for the Exchange of Prisoners of War, between Great Britain and the United States of America, Washington, 14 May 1813. 1 sheet, 22 x 15 inches. A broadside account of 15 terms for the exchange of naval prisoners taken during the War of 1812 as negotiated in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 28 November 1812. Together two items. (2)