To Alexander Hamilton from John Scott, 16 May 1797
From John Scott1
St. Mildred’s Court, Mansion House [London], May 16, 1797. “… I beg leave to trouble you with Power of Atty2 from Mr. Hodgson to you accompanied with a Letter by Invoice of Goods to enable you to recover £247.15 of Mr. Bn. Bakewell of your Town who I understand is a very honest man.… I am trustee of Hodgson the Constituent who has also failed.…”3
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Scott was an attorney of St. Mildred’s Court, Poultry Street, London.
This letter concerns a suit instituted by Benjamin Hodgson, a London bookseller, against Benjamin Bakewell, a New York City merchant. Bakewell owed Hodgson for a consignment of books and stationery. As the letter indicates, both men were bankrupt.
2. The power of attorney is dated April 15, 1797 (DS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress). The invoice lists two shipments, dated March 24, 1795, and March 5, 1796, which together amounted to £247.15 (AD, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
3. In his Cash Book, 1795–1804, under the date of January 8, 1798, H wrote: “received of J Scott for Opinion 25” (AD, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).