To James Madison from John Mercer and Others, 25 November 1804
From John Mercer and Others
Paris, 25th. Novr. 1804.
Sir,
The annexed Lists1 contain the whole number of Claims which were presented to us previous to the 21st. of October, and upon which our opinions were past within the same time.
The Liquidation of Twenty-five of the Cases which we declared not to be embraced by the Convention, was insisted upon by the French Authorities, contrary to the opinion of the Agent of the United States, between the 5th. day of October and the 21st. of the same month: upon these, which are inclosed,2 our Reports were transmitted to the Minister of the United States.
The Books and documents connected with the Business in which we have been engaged, are deposited in the Office of the Commercial Agent of the U. S. A. at this Place, subject to the order of the Administration. We have the honor to be, Sir, with great respect, Your obedient servants—
John Mercer
I. Cox Barnet
Wm Maclure
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 76, Preliminary Inventory 177, entry 119, France, Convention of 1803 [Spoliation], Correspondence; letterbook copy (ibid.); letterbook copy (Fredericksburg, Va., Courthouse: John Francis Mercer Letterbook). RC marked “(Duplicate.)”; docketed by Wagner, with his notation: “List of claims decided.” For enclosures, see nn.
1. The enclosures (25 pp.; filed at 13 Aug. 1804) are lists of “Claims upon the ‘Conjectural Note,’ declared by the American Commissioners at Paris, not to be embraced by the Convention of the 30th. of April, 1803, with their Characteristic marks”; “Claims not upon [‘]The Conjectural Note’ directed by the American Commissioners at Paris to be liquidated under the Convention of the 30th. of April, 1803, regarding in each Liquidation the date of the Claim in reference to those not found upon the Note, and keeping the amount of 20 millions of Livres in view”; and “Claims not upon ‘The Conjectural Note’ Rejected by the American Commissioners at Paris, under-the Convention of the 30th. of April, 1803; with the Characteristic marks annexed to each.” The claims are listed alphabetically by claimant.
2. The enclosure (1 p.; docketed by Wagner; filed at 13 Aug. 1804) is a “List of 25 Claims Rejected by the Commissioners of Claims of the United States, but which the French Council of Liquidation insisted upon liquidating contrary to the opinion of the Agent of the United States.…” In eight of the cases, James Swan was the claimant.