Autograph Letter Signed by BETTS, Samuel Rossiter (1786-1868)

This one-term wonder New York representative (1815-17) distinguished himself in jurisprudence, rising from the U.S. Army JAG corps to district attorney (1821-23) to New York State Supreme Court circuit judge (1823-26) to U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York federal judge (1826-67). ALS, 1p, 7½" X 9½", Bloomingburgh, NY, 1815 August 11. Addressed to L. Jenkins, an attorney in Albany. Very good. Interesting if somewhat cryptic letter regarding the case of Daniel Niven vs. Israel Gibbs. In part: "...will you examine the minutes of this Term & see what the judgt. of the court is.... I wish two certified copies of the bail piece in the above cause, to be processed & addressed to me by mail, without delay... I wish to get the bail piece back to Albany... in time to have one of the Judges endorse the exoneretur [sic] this Term...." An attractive piece, penned as a young man just prior to entering Congress, and worthy of further research.