[James Stewart, Cotton Producer and Commission Merchant, Rodney, Mississippi.] Autograph Letter Signed to the Manager, Bank of Scotland, Ediniburgh, describing his business and financial difficulties with cotton planters and the US government.

2pp., 4to. On two leaves of aged paper, with loss to margins caused by the items being torn out of the volume in which they were bound. Docketted at head of first page: 'No D. D. in name of James Stewart Rodney Miss from 59 to 69. The letter begins: 'I have been a Customer of the Bank for a number of years. In 1864 I returned to Scotland but came back here in 1865 to try and save some of the large amounts due me by the Planters, and to see what I could do with Several Parcels of Cotton belonging to me, and seized by the U.S. Government. So far I have met with very little success but Mr Thornton the Minister in Washington thinks of the Convention recently agreed upon by Lord Clarendon & Mr Johnson goes in Operation, I will be paid. I have no doubt of its final ratification by the Senate. They will bluster and talk big for a time, & then ratify the treaty. I am running thirteen Plantations this Season - Sticking an average between 1867.8 which was very nearly a failure, & 1868.9 which yielded a moderate average Yield, the returns for the present Season will be 700 Bales Cotton.' The letter continues with more details of the business, concluding: 'I am arranging to come to Scotland next Spring, the Duke of Richmond having promised me a lean of our old Plan so soon as the present one falls in'.