1To James Madison from John Francis Mercer, [14 August] 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover franked by Mercer and addressed to “Honble James Madison Esq. Philadelphia.” Cover docketed twice by JM—once, “Mercer J. F Aug. 14 1783,” and once, “Augst. 14. 1783. Jno. F. Mercer.” Before I left Phila. I made enquiry for a Bill on me for 200 Dollars & wch had been presented & accepted but by whom had entirely escaped my recollection. according to the perverse...
2To James Madison from John Francis Mercer, 12 November 1784 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ I should have blush’d to have met you, after having so long delay’d repaying the money you kindly advanc’d me, yet the sincere pleasure I felt in the expectation of again taking you by the hand effaced every other impression & my dissapointment was real when I learn’d that you had return’d to the South without my meeting you. After you left me in Congress—I was subjected to the...
3To James Madison from John Francis Mercer, 26 November 1784 (Madison Papers)
The Gentlemen from the Eastward have at length made their appearance & I expect in a day or two a Congress will be once more form’d. This commencement however has discovered so great a relaxation in the Confœderal springs that I doubt the machine will not be long kept in motion, unless great & effectual repairs are made. For my part I have no hopes but in a convocation of the States. In this...
4To James Madison from John Francis Mercer, 8 February 1785 (Madison Papers)
I have your favor of the 24. which pursuing me by a circuitous route, did not reach this untill within a few days. I place value on every mark of your friendship & to convince you that public business alone was not what induc’d me to revive impressions which were strongly imprinted on my breast. I now write you from a recess, where news of private happiness can be the only subject of...
5To James Madison from John Francis Mercer, 28 March 1786 (Madison Papers)
I return’d yesterday on my way to the General Court from Maryland where I had the pleasure of receiving your favor from Richmond. The sequel of proceedings which you enumerated by no means coincided with my opinions, but that does not make them less right. I have enclosed you a statement of my political doctrines, which from what I recollect will hardly meet with your approbation. I have...
6To James Madison from John Francis Mercer, 23 December 1786 (Madison Papers)
I committed some hasty thoughts to paper in an illegible hand, which I sent you by Doctr. Griffin, relative to a clause in the British debt bill that you told me, pass’d the House of delegates by an almost unanimous assent, directing those who had paid British Debts into the public Treasury, to pay them over again. From the little consideration I had given this question myself. & from the...
7To James Madison from John Francis Mercer, 16 January 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have written you now my last invitation & that is to come by Annapolis as you go to Phila. Mr. D Carrol who is now with me joins in the request. We are talking Politics—for the Politics of this State have become so confused as to engage the universal attention. They appoint no Deputies to the General Convention this session. That & every other consequential measure is postponed to the next...
8To James Madison from John Francis Mercer, 11 February 1795 (Madison Papers)
Mr. John Fenton Mercer the bearer of this is the eldest Son of my late Brother. By a clause in his fathers Will his Estate cannot be divided for three years to come, & that time he proposes to pass in some of the Armies of france probably the Northern Army. I know no situation more improving for a young Man than the family of an old experienc’d General Officer, & from my knowledge of this...
9To James Madison from John Francis Mercer, 14 November 1799 (Madison Papers)
It is unnecessary for me to suggest the pain I feel that a renewal of a correspondence which always afforded me the highest satisfaction shoud now arise from so great a delinquency on my part. I did hope that you woud not have had occasion to remind me of the claim your friendship gave rise to, but my own imprudencies & those of a very near Relative, have in spite of all my exertions kept me...
10To James Madison from John Francis Mercer, 20 December 1799 (Madison Papers)
It gives me the greatest uneasiness to say that I have not as yet recd. 200$ Cash from my sales of $5000.—which was what I sold of about 12000$ offered. I shall wait only two days longer, when if matters are no better I will go on to Balto. on which place I have drafts & try to get them discounted & forward you the Money before the Assembly rises. Yrs. with great truth RC ( DLC ). Docketed by JM.