Kentucky Princeton May 9, 1848
Mr. John E. Mercer
My Dear Son,
We have again become very impatient at not getting a letter from you. The last rec'd was by J. B. Wadlington, a great Conn one from Johns and one from Danidge, and presume you were not much sick or they would have named it. Your mother is constantly uneasy, but she becomes very restless when you delay writing so long. I am glad to learn the health of the company is improving, but above all that there is a prospect of your soon leaving that miserable country. Tho I am by no means saying that peace will soon be made, but hope my fears will be groundless. I send you the last Journal in which you will see that all Europe is convulsed and general war is almost certain. It has already deranged the commerce of the world. When it will stop no one can tell. You will see in the Journal an account of an attempt to perpetuate one of the foulest crimes possible for human depravity to conceive of, by Doct Ninean Mitchasson and Mrs. Guthrie. He was to kill his wife and her husband. He has avoided his persuers and is, in no doubt, in this neighborhood. But things are too hot for him to stay long here. We have not much news.We are well. Baylor and Mary Jane are not yet married but will be in a few days. Little Jim Parker and Mary Allen are to marry next Sunday. He is keeping grocery in Princeton, having bought Jones and Freeman out. Col. Barber and Doctor Clark are candidates for the Senate. Barber, I believe will be elected. Old man McConnel, Gene Stephens and Bill Acre are candidates for the lower house. Stephens will be elected easily. Two of William Sanders sons have died lately with smallpox. One of them had been on the river and come home sick, not knowing he had the smallpox. No other cases in the nieghborhood that I have heard of. Heath and Ellis have bought out Leroy. He is quite mad at me. He says I was the cause of Jemima Kilgore not having him. I plead not guilty. The spring has been wet. Farmers are backward, I have not finished planting corn. I shall plant a large crop of tobacco. My plants took well. Fruit of every kind bids fair to the abundant. The last Grand Jury found a bill against Jesse Williams for stealing Allen Peasers (Beasers?) hogs. There are three Democratic candidates for Governor. Col. Johnson is the favourite, altho he is an independent candidate. Powell is the regulars nominee. The 7th of June, the Whigs have National Convention in Philadelphia. From present indications, Clay will be the Whig nominee. This I think is a bad policy. I hope they will still nominate Taylor. It is believed by some that they will drop both Clay and Taylor and nominate Scott. I hope they will so manage as to harmonise the Whig interest. William Hoggard and wife left here the 7th. All the friends in Crittenden are well. Nothing new amongst them. I got a letter from your Aunt Polly dated 6th April. Your Uncle Raney died on the 3rd. Mosely (Mercer) was still in N. Orleans. The sons of Temperance have a large society at Princeton. They are to have a grand display on the ____?____. They are increasing rapidly and doing much good. The friends of all the boys from this section I think are well. Esqr. Campbell it is thought, cannot live. I hope if you do not leave before you get this, you will write soon and continue to write often. This is the second letter and ___?___ I have sent you since the return of Wadlington. Give my respects to all of my friends. Your Mother sends her love to you, hoping you will guard well your health. I remain your affectionate Father. Wm. Mercer
PS. Since I closed this letter I have rec'd yours of the 25th March and have opened this to announce its receipt. We receive anything from you with much pleasure. I am glad to hear of your purchasing bounty claims because its a safe investment, but more because its an evidence you are economising and saving your money. It is an evidence that you are temperate, not extravigant. It is not so much importance how much money we make on it, as to save and use it judiciously when made. I see melancholy accounts of the morals of the Army stationed in the City, but I kindly trust you will have moral courage enough to resist the temptation which surrounds you. A camp anywhere is bad, but more so when surrounded by the contaminating atmosphere of a large and degraded city. I shall endeavor to get a few more bounty claims so that we may have an inducement to go and locate them. Give my respects to Franklin. Tell him Mrs. Martin is still enjoying single blessings with a fair prospect of its continuance. John Gray is lying in his boat at the Widow Bleaks. Mary Ann is living at Isaac Grays. Foley was tried for stealing. Franklin fined $10 and 18 hours imprisonment and $75 for his fight with Harper. He has not been tried for stabbing Banister. Be sure you have you conveyances properly drawn. In my last letter, which I hope you have before this, I gave you my views more fully on the subject of Bounty Claims etc. Nothing more worth writing. Be sure and write often. Your Father
Wm. Mercer Mr. John E. Mercer My Dear Son, We have again become very impatient at not getting a letter from you. The last rec'd was by J. B. Wadlington, a great Conn one from Johns and one from Danidge, and presume you were not much sick or they would have named it. Your mother is constantly uneasy, but she becomes very restless when you delay writing so long. I am glad to learn the health of the company is improving, but above all that there is a prospect of your soon leaving that miserable country. Tho I am by no means saying that peace will soon be made, but hope my fears will be groundless. I send you the last Journal in which you will see that all Europe is convulsed and general war is almost certain. It has already deranged the commerce of the world. When it will stop no one can tell. You will see in the Journal an account of an attempt to perpetuate one of the foulest crimes possible for human depravity to conceive of, by Doct Ninean Mitchasson and Mrs. Guthrie. He was to kill his wife and her husband. He has avoided his persuers and is, in no doubt, in this neighborhood. But things are too hot for him to stay long here. We have not much news.We are well. Baylor and Mary Jane are not yet married but will be in a few days. Little Jim Parker and Mary Allen are to marry next Sunday. He is keeping grocery in Princeton, having bought Jones and Freeman out. Col. Barber and Doctor Clark are candidates for the Senate. Barber, I believe will be elected. Old man McConnel, Gene Stephens and Bill Acre are candidates for the lower house. Stephens will be elected easily. Two of William Sanders sons have died lately with smallpox. One of them had been on the river and come home sick, not knowing he had the smallpox. No other cases in the nieghborhood that I have heard of. Heath and Ellis have bought out Leroy. He is quite mad at me. He says I was the cause of Jemima Kilgore not having him. I plead not guilty. The spring has been wet. Farmers are backward, I have not finished planting corn. I shall plant a large crop of tobacco. My plants took well. Fruit of every kind bids fair to the abundant. The last Grand Jury found a bill against Jesse Williams for stealing Allen Peasers (Beasers?) hogs. There are three Democratic candidates for Governor. Col. Johnson is the favourite, altho he is an independent candidate. Powell is the regulars nominee. The 7th of June, the Whigs have National Convention in Philadelphia. From present indications, Clay will be the Whig nominee. This I think is a bad policy. I hope they will still nominate Taylor. It is believed by some that they will drop both Clay and Taylor and nominate Scott. I hope they will so manage as to harmonise the Whig interest. William Hoggard and wife left here the 7th. All the friends in Crittenden are well. Nothing new amongst them. I got a letter from your Aunt Polly dated 6th April. Your Uncle Raney died on the 3rd. Mosely (Mercer) was still in N. Orleans. The sons of Temperance have a large society at Princeton. They are to have a grand display on the ____?____. They are increasing rapidly and doing much good. The friends of all the boys from this section I think are well. Esqr. Campbell it is thought, cannot live. I hope if you do not leave before you get this, you will write soon and continue to write often. This is the second letter and ___?___ I have sent you since the return of Wadlington. Give my respects to all of my friends. Your Mother sends her love to you, hoping you will guard well your health. I remain your affectionate Father. Wm. Mercer PS. Since I closed this letter I have rec'd yours of the 25th March and have opened this to announce its receipt. We receive anything from you with much pleasure. I am glad to hear of your purchasing bounty claims because its a safe investment, but more because its an evidence you are economising and saving your money. It is an evidence that you are temperate, not extravigant. It is not so much importance how much money we make on it, as to save and use it judiciously when made. I see melancholy accounts of the morals of the Army stationed in the City, but I kindly trust you will have moral courage enough to resist the temptation which surrounds you. A camp anywhere is bad, but more so when surrounded by the contaminating atmosphere of a large and degraded city. I shall endeavor to get a few more bounty claims so that we may have an inducement to go and locate them. Give my respects to Franklin. Tell him Mrs. Martin is still enjoying single blessings with a fair prospect of its continuance. John Gray is lying in his boat at the Widow Bleaks. Mary Ann is living at Isaac Grays. Foley was tried for stealing. Franklin fined $10 and 18 hours imprisonment and $75 for his fight with Harper. He has not been tried for stabbing Banister. Be sure you have you conveyances properly drawn. In my last letter, which I hope you have before this, I gave you my views more fully on the subject of Bounty Claims etc. Nothing more worth writing. Be sure and write often. Your Father Wm. Mercer