Mercer, John F. (1759-1821) to George Weedon
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06491.01 Author/Creator: Mercer, John F. (1759-1821) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter Date: 11 March 1783 Pagination: 2 p. : address : free frank ; 23.5 x 19 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses waiting for news of a peace treaty to end the American Revolution. Indicates that no major breakdowns in negotiations are anticipated. The British desire "a kind of naturalization for their merchants" and free trade to their islands in the West Indies, which is likely to be conceded. A note on the verso states that he will relay the official communication as soon as it arrives.
John F. Mercer was a lawyer in Fredericksburg, Virginia, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, later a Maryland congressman and governor.
George Weedon was a brigadier general in the Continental Army from Fredericksburg, Virginia.
March 11: 1783
My Dear General
In haste let me tell you that as yet no official dispatches have arrived so that you must wait another Port for Peace - Nothing has transpired from the other side of the water, either at Phil.a of New York - here we wait with anxiety for the stage from Elizabeth Town & at NewYork, the shores are crowded the Evening they are to hear from Phil.a -
Barney has been Detained a long time by Doctr. Franklin to bring the dispatches to Congress, & what can detain him I cannot imagine - however we shall have it all together soon -This much assure yourself of in Private & [struck: tell] to any friend of Chatham let him keep up his Tobacco - There will be Peace this bout - there are no objections of weight from this side of the water - what there are may delay but cannot prevent - such as they were sent by Cmte de Rochambeau. - The British had by an article in the Treaty gained, a kind of naturatization for their Merchants in our dominions - a reciprocity of this advantage, was directed to be demanded, at all events, a free trade to their W. India Islands - which it is probable wd. be conceded -however this is entre nous -
Adieu. -
I have bought a W Fengal for you but it is
too large to send by Post.
[2] Whenever the official communications arrives
I will drop you a line by an express that will instantly
set out for Virginia
[address leaf]
The Honble
Brigad Genl. Weedon -
1783 Frederucksburg
[free frank]
Free
John F Mercer
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.