To Alexander Hamilton from John F. Mercer, December 1792
From John F. Mercer1
Philadelphia Decr. 1792
Sir
I have perused your statement of the conversation between us relative to my Accounts2 & do not perceive in what it is variant from that which I placed in the hands of the President. In that I declar’d that I did not take what fell from you as a serious proposition but on the contrary—thus far I now repeat—but I can only answer for myself & my own impression—farther I should deem it improper for you to require or me to acquiesce. The Statement that I have already given3 was the result of my recollection at that time on the subject & my memory now can add to or vary it but little. I mentioned the circumstance originally only to shew the improper advantages that might be taken by relating publickly private conversations & these partially & had not these advantages been taken in a most illiberal manner of me, & had not your letter to Mr. Ross containd a species of similar mistatement4 this conversation so far from being mentioned would I beleive never have been recollected by me.
I am Sir yr obt hb Ser
John F. Mercer
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. For background to this letter, see the introductory note to H to Mercer, September 26, 1792. See also H to Mercer, November 3, December 6, December, 1792; Mercer to H, October 16–28, 1792; H to David Ross, September 26, November 3, 1792; Ross to H, October 5–10, November 23, 1792; Uriah Forrest to H, November 7, 1792.
2. See H to Mercer, December, 1792.
3. For Mercer’s statement concerning his claim, see the introductory note to H to Mercer, September 26, 1792.