AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED "J. P. BENJAMIN," FROM "4 CHILD'S PLACE, TEMPLE, LONDON," 26 NOVEMBER 1866, TO AN UNNAMED CLIENT OF HIS LAW PRACTICE. "MY DEAR SIR , I RECEIVED THIS MORNING YR FAVOR OF THE 1ST INST - I AM SORRY IT IS NOT IN YOUR POWER TO FORWARD THE AMT NECESSARY FOR COSTS IN YR CASES, AS IT SEEMS TO ME YOUR RECOVERY OF THE AMT DUE YOU IS ALMOST A CERTAINTY. . .
London: 1866. Octavo leaf, folded to [4] pp. Written on pages 1 and 2 only. Old folds, Very Good plus.
Benjamin was the most articulate advocate of Southern Rights and Slavery during the 1850s. Born in the West Indies to Sephardic Jewish parents, he slipped away to London after the Civil War, successfully evading his Union pursuers. Formerly a Louisiana Senator, the second Jewish Senator after David Levy [Yulee] of Florida, and holder of several Cabinet offices in the Confederacy, he successfully resumed the practice of law when he was safely ensconced in London. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1872.
The rest of Benjamin's Letter: "I could not make to any reputable attorney the proposal you suggest - I saw however the attys I wrote to you about, and they will take the chance of losing money by paying costs, if you can remit L150, or send a check for that sum on any good house in London or Liverpool.
"If you can't manage this you might perhaps be able to bring an attachment suit agt the parties in New York or New Orleans - Shall I send you back your papers or what shall I do with them? Yours truly J. P. Benjamin." Item #42355
Price: $1,500.00