1From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 5 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
The letter with which you was pleased to favor me, dated the 29th Ulto came to hand. For proof of my unwillingness to put the securities I have for the debt due to me for your fathers estate, in suit, I need only appeal to the length of time the money has been due—to the frank and friendly manner in whh I have, from time to time, exposed my want of it; and to the returns which have been made...
2From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 11 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
The People on board Mr Spriggs Vessel have been already supplied with Provisions, and shall receive every other aid they may require, and I can give. The conduct either of the Skipper, or your Overseer, has been egregiously wrong. The Vessel, it seems, came up in the night of thursday; but not till near dusk on friday had I any information of it, and then by [way] of enquiry from your People...
3From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 5 November 1787 (Washington Papers)
Presuming that it may have been from the want of your knowing of a safe conveyance that I am not furnished with the sum promised me by you at Philadelphia, I shall be glad to know by return of the Post when I may send for it. Had you been so good as [to] have favoured me with it by Genl Peckney or Mr Houston who stopped at annapolis and took this in their way to the Southward—or by any of the...
4From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 1 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed I return the letter which you forwarded to me the 10th of Feby. For particular reasons and purposes, whatever money you may incline to pay me consequent of your promises would come very opportunely before 25 of this month. To this period, sufficient time is allowed to obtain the Certificates you have at Richmond—after which I shall hold myself discharged from any obligation to receive...
5From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 1 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I am perfectly satisfied with your determination respecting the Negroes—The money will be infinitely more agreeable to me than property of that sort. I will too, if I should want any of those people, procure them on more advantageous terms than I offered. I beg that the Certificates may be no longer delayed—I have already sunk one hundred pounds specie by consenting to take them at 4 for 1—at...
6From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 19 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 10th, last night. The letter I addressed to you about fourteen days ago I was in hopes would have reached you before your reply to my former, would have been dispatched, & thereby have saved you the trouble of again touching on the subject of negroes. I can have no idea of giving eighty or ninety pounds a head for slaves when I am well informed that for ready money...
7From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 5 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
As I have not yet received a reply to my last letter, but, since the date of it, have made some enquiry into the prices of negroes at the ready money sales of them, I take the liberty of informing you, previously to your writing, or my receiving an answer to the above letter, that as it is not likely we shall agree on a price, (in case you should be disposed to spare such negroes as would have...
8From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 24 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your servant having this moment put your letter of the 20th inst. into my hands, & appearing to be in great haste; I shall not detain him, especially as it is neither my wish nor intention to enter on the justification of my last to you. The evidence, on which the charge of unfairness &ca was grounded, you have enclosed in Colo. Symm’s own hand writing—(the amount of the other bonds in his...
9From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 6 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
It was not till after you had left this place that I received your letter of the 4th Ulto. Altho’ I have great repugnance to encreasing my Slaves by purchase, yet as it seems so inconvenient to you to make payment by other modes than those you have proposed, and so injurious as not to be accomplished at a less loss than 50 or more prCt; I will take Six or more Negroes of you, if you can spare...
10From George Washington to John Francis Mercer, 9 September 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 20th ulto did not reach me till about the first inst. It found me in a fever, from which I am now but sufficiently recovered to attend to business. I mention this to shew that I had it not in my power to give an answer to your propositions sooner. With respect to the first, I never mean (unless some particular circumstances should compel me to it) to possess another slave by...