 |
TRANSCRIPT GLC 4860
George Washington. Autographed letter signed: Mount Vernon,
to James Mercer, 1789 March 18. 2 p.
Mount Vernon, Mar 18th. 1789
Dear Sir,
In receiving, you cannot feel more pain than I do by communicating,
the following information; but as necessity – it is
said – has no law, we both must submit to it.—
It is now several years since I have been looking for payment
of the debt which is due to me from the Estate of your deceased
father John Mercer, Esqr – I have been promised, it
is true, considerable sums from time to time by Colo John
Mercer; but it is equally true that I have either not received
the money – or received it in a manner so disproportionate
to his promises, as to avail me little; and for the last twelve
months I have not obtained a shilling, nor indeed have heard
one tittle from him [inserted: on the subject] although, at
his own request, I agreed to receive money in small driblets
merely to accommodate him – a mode by no means answering
the most valuable purposes for which it was intended.
This being a true statement of the case, and my necessities
becoming more & more pressing (which I have repeatedly
in a full, and friendly way communicated to that Gentleman)
candour obliges me to declare to you, that unless matters
are placed on a very different footing than what they now
are, and in a very short time too, I shall resort to other
expedients than fruitless applications. – Did it suit
my purposes to lend money at interest, that interest, it will
be granted ought to be paid with [2] punctuality – But
lending money is so far from being the case with me, of late
years, that I have been obliged, from dire necessity, to borrow
money at 6 pr ct; with very hard conditions annexed to it:
and even under these disadvantages, am not able to supply
my urgent occasions.
I am thus explicit, for the purpose of evincing to you, that
necessity alone prompts me to make this plain and unequivocal
declaration – and because I would not, if the Bond &c.
are put-in suit, have improper motives ascribed to the act
– more especially as it can be proved that I have done,
and am still will’g to do, every thing which in reason
can be expected from me (under the circumstances I have mentioned)
to avoid it – With very great estm. and regard
I am -- Dear Sir
Your Most Obed. Hble Serv.
Go: Washington
P.S. If the Deed of confirmation for the Land on Four Mile
run, bought from the attorneis of your Brother Colo. George
Mercer, is in your possession, I should be glad to receive
it. – and if you can inform me (from recollection) whether
Deeds passed to me at the sale of the Shenandoah land, for
the two Lots I bought there, it would do me a favor –
I can find none among my land papers; bt could wish to have
the title to it secured. –
The Honble. James Mercer Esqr. GW
Notes: Published in Twohig, Dorothy et al. The Papers of George
Washington. Presidential Series, 1: 405-407.
|
