residing genius." Hodgson, also a member of the Royal Society, then
composed of the intellectuals of the day--the premier scientific society
of the English world--rendered valuable aid to the American
commissioners in Paris by correspondence with Franklin in which he
passed on much useful information.

An enthusiastically outspoken recalcitrant, Hodgson was not content with
his contribution to the American cause, but took up the cudgels for the
French, and was promptly launched into very hot water. Two years in
Newgate prison followed his hearty toast "The French Republic," and the
epithet he applied to His Majesty, George III, of "German
Hogbutcher."[98] After this experience, it is not surprising that
Hodgson removed himself beyond the seas. He turns up at dinner at Mount
Vernon in June 1788. Two years later we find him buying a house and lot
for L1,650 from John Harper on Prince Street. The evidence is that he
was already in this house as a tenant. Here he set up in the dry-goods
business, using the first floor for his store and countinghouse, and the
upper part as his dwelling.

What could be more natural than Mr. Hodgson looking up his friends, the
Lees, on his arrival in Virginia? His old friend, William, had died.
Portia, now an orphan, was a young lady of handsome estate. Mr. Hodgson
was dining rather frequently at Mount Vernon in 1798, and the General
was writing of him always as "Mr. Hodgden."[99] Twice he was in company
with Portia, the last time appearing in a diary entry of June 1799 with
his wife at dinner. Mrs. Hodgson was, of course, the former Miss Portia
Lee. Sometime this same year he brought her to his dry-goods store and
dwelling house on Prince Street. Built some forty-odd years before, this
house was doubtless in need of numerous repairs.

The Hodgsons resided for upward of twenty-five years in the old town
house of the Fairfaxes. They were the parents of eight children, so many
that Hodgson found it necessary to give over to his family the lower
floor of the house that he had been using as his store and countinghouse
and to confine his activities to his warehouse and wharf on Union and
Prince. About this time the house seems to have undergone many changes.
A new front entrance was added, the stairway changed, a fashionable arch
and reeded mantels appeared. In other words, the house was "done over"
in the newest taste and latest fashion.

In 1816 Hodgson was forced to sell his house due to his