Manchester Supply Co. v. Dearborn

After contrasting English law with the continental systems, Professor Mechem in his work on agency writes that “it is unquestionably the general rule of our law that an undisclosed principal, when subsequently discovered, may, at the election of the other party, if exercised within a reasonable time, be held upon all simple non-negotiable contracts made in his behalf by his duly authorized agent, although the contract was originally made with the agent in entire ignorance of the principal.” 2 Mechem, Agency (2d ed.), s. 1731. To the same effect see 1 Williston, Contracts (Rev. ed.), s. 286; 3…