Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from John F. Mercer, 27 October 1802

From John F. Mercer

Council Chamber Annapolis
October 27. 1802

Dear Sir,

In the Letter you did me the honor to write me of the 7th of July last, you gave me information that the Interest due on the loan of two hundred thousand Dollars made by the State of Maryland to the Commissioners of the City of Washington and guaranteed by Congress would be immediately paid—The Sum of eighteen thousand Dollars then due on this loan, was soon after actually remitted by the Treasury of the United States, to that of this State, but the succeeding quarter’s payment of three thousand Dollars which became due on the first of this Month, still remains unpaid.

It contained also an assurance, that the loan of fifty thousand Dollars with the Interest due thereon and which now amounts to three thousand Dollars would be also paid on the first Monday in November next.

As the Legislature of Maryland convene on that day, to enable the Executive to lay before them a Statement of the public resources, they are anxious that you would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to remit on the 1 of November next, the Sum of fifty six thousand, two hundred and fifty Dollars, which will be due, to Thomas Harwood Treasurer of this State.

With the sincerest affection & Respect I remain your Obed Servant

John F. Mercer

RC (DLC); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Mercer; endorsed by TJ as received 29 Oct. but recorded in SJL at 28 Oct. FC (MdAA: Letterbooks of Governor and Council); in same clerk’s hand; dated 26 Oct.

On 5 Nov., Governor Mercer reported to the LEGISLATURE OF MARYLAND that the “last loan with the Interest due on the 1st. of November, and all the Interest of the two first loans except for the last quarter have been received into the Treasury.—The Interest due for this quarter, we are informed will be paid in a few days and from the assurances of the President of the United States, we have no doubt of a punctual and liberal compliance with the law” (Mercer to the General Assembly, dated 6 [i.e. 5] Nov. 1802, in MdAA: Letterbooks of Governor and Council; Votes and Proceedings of the House of Delegates of the State of Maryland, November Session, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Two [Annapolis, 1803], 5).

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