Princeton May 26, 1848
Mr. John E. Mercer
My Dear Son,
Yours of the 14th to the 20th of April is just received and we are much gratified at hearing of your welfare. The copies of the contract with Scott and Davidge was also rec'd. In your letter of 29 March, you mentioned the contracts. I am surprised you did not have????????????unreadable---also several journals which I sent, thinking anything from Ky., and especially a Journal, would be acceptable. I wrote you about 10 days since. We are all well, the friends are well as far as I know. The health of the country is good. Crops look reasonably well. I have 100 and 12 acres ready for planting in tobacco. So, soon as we get a season I shall plant some.( Lent ?)Wadlington mentioned your wishing me to send you some money. I have a letter written you sometime since, giving you my views about purchasing bounty claims. I suggested that if any of the men wanted to use money at home, if you could buy their claims, you could draw on me and I would pay your draft 10 days after sight, or if you can, by any means borrow of any of your acquaintances money by paying them interest until they get home and invest it in claims at 40 or 50 dollars apiece, you will do well to do it, and the money shall be paid on demand. Any arrangements you make, you must advise me of. If I could get the money to you I would send you $500 to invest in land claims. I will make an arrangement for you to have funds in N. Orleans if you will advise me of the amount you will want. After I get your letter, if there is not time for you to receive another from me, inquire at the house of Hewett Herren and Co. for a letter and you will find the means required. The Democrats met last Tuesday in Baltimore to nominate candidates for President and Vice President and Cass will probably be their choice for the first office. The Whigs met in Philadelphia on the7th of June for the same purpose. I know not who they will nominate. Taylor, I hope. The Whigs are a good deal divided, but hope the convention will do right. Old Dr. Throckmorton is dead. As to the report you speak of about Lieut. Dorris, I have never heard a word before, In fact, all that I have heard, was the reverse. He has been highly spoken of by every person that has wrote him so far as I know. On the other hand, every thing that I have heard confirms what is said of Conn. In the letters, Chandlers story was not believed by many at first, but unfortunately for the ____?___. Baylor Spratt got home a few days after him and give the true version of the matter. I mentioned in one of my letters that Harvey was dead, old Mr. Cherry is dead. I have no doubt that we will elect Col. Bill Barber to the Senate and Dr. Clark and Genl. Stephens to the lower house, Bill Acre and others. There is but little excitement about the election for Governor. The Democrats are split up between Powell, the regularly nominated, and Col. Dick Johnson, the Independant candidate. Crittenden, as things now stand, will be elected by 25,000 majority. He has not resigned his seat in congress. Perhaps will not, until the end of the session. Joseph Templeton, the great Presbyterian Preacher, in March, carried on a protracted meeting of 17 days duration at Salem. He put in most of his time at the house of Wm. Greer, who was from home. He improved his time so well that Greer and his wife have parted. She confessed that Templeton had been a little too affectionate. I hope you will be careful of your health and not indulge in intemperance of any sort. I suppose you will learn the Spanish language by the time you get home. Try and entitle yourself to the good will of your acquaintances. I hope and believe you will deserve the esteem of all the deserving. Your mother sends her love to you. Write often. Everything you write to us has interest in it. Then of course you can easily make long letters. Give my love to Franklin. I am your affectionate Father
Wm. Mercer