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Auction sale reference

Emma, Lady Hamilton--John Dawson | Bill for legal services, 1807-9

Sold for £127 at Sotheby's on Dec 12, 2023.

Emma, Lady Hamilton--John Dawson | Bill for legal services, 1807-9 auction lot image

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Lot description

Emma, Lady Hamilton--John Dawson Bill addressed to Emma, Lady Hamilton, for legal services relating to costs incurred between February 1807 to November 1809, totalling 125l. 19s. 4d., 9 pages, folio, c.1809-10 This bill includes visits to attend her at Merton Place, costs of producing leases and deeds, correspondence, and other duties. Some relate to general management, for example a dispute with her gardener, but most of the charges are concerned with her debts. There are charges for attending when warrants were executed against her, and she was even charged for legal searches when her lawyers themselves sought protection for debts she owed them ("You having taken your affairs out of my hands and being large Creditors of your Ladyship we deemed it necessary for our own safety to search the Offices [...] 9s 8d")

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