Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-08-09
JOHN F. MERCER.
Attest.
Tobu Gass01Ooy
Mieb0las BrezveY.
mo. ~

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Few men Of frank and unsuspicious
tempers consent, or would expect that
their private, confidential, or social Con-
versations, should be published to the
world in newspapers or in certificates
Upon these occasions men often express
opinions and suggest doubts as TO men,
and their motives, which the existing cir
cumstances and relative situations of those
in conversation justify, nay, sometimes de
mand, which they would never publicly
express, and would be highly censurab|e
for SO doing. This is the first time IN my
life, believe, in which MY name has been
annexed to certificate of this nature
it is With regret that it is done now, bit
JipFiee demands II ef me-; the aforegolng
certificate has made me the aatboy Of
charges againf EdaOard Hail, E/qaiye,
1obieb Iau<rly dy1avo4v. Unpleasant as
the thing is, ! shall proceed to state, full
ly and particularly as my memory will
serve me, every thing that ever passed from
me to col. Mercer respecting Mr.. Hall.
In November, 1901, previous to the
election of colonel Mercer as governor Of
Maryland, WIS invited by him to sup
with him in his room at Mr.. Cations Ia
vern, in Annapolis; was informed that
Mr.. Richard Sprlgg, and no other person
was to be of the party, and that the object
was to have a confidential conversation on
the subject of politics attended the
summons, I think Mr.. Sprigg did NOT, if
he did, it was for very short time. Col.
Mercer and myself talked long and freely
together, with no other person present; !
certainly did not suppose that what then
said was to be published to the world
Among other subjects Of conversation,
Edward Hall, Esquire, was mentioned by
colonel Mercer. who spoke in the most
exalted and cxtravagant terms Of his ia
Tents and worth as a man. / observed to
colonel Mercer las the fact was,) that .
had no acquaintance with Mr.. Hall, that
| barely knew him when saw l.in, that
| was very much pleased to hear that he
was such man, and hoped that he was
not mistaken in the opinion that he had
formed of MIN but added, that an oc-
currence had lately taken place which i'm.
pressed me withrather an unfavorable OPT
Mon of Mr.. Hall. Colonel Mercer asked
what it was / alluded to. Itold him that
eight or ten years previous to that time,
! had instituted several suits for Ignatius
Taylor and wife, the representatives of
Thomas H. Hall, of Washington county,
against the representatives of Edward Hall,
father Of the present Mr.. Edward Hall,
for the recovery of a considerable sum Of
money; that pending The -/aits, GaJ,isl
DuvaA, Eqaire, then eoasleltsr tb< de-
ffxdasfs, and myseLf had met, and in
the presence oftbe tarfiss, /tttled all pay
mess made, ard discounts claimed 5y tb
defs0dants, to the mutual fatisfa7i9n Of
tie panies that after this Edward
Halls representatives. had run Taylor and
wife through the various courts Of law,
and ultimately obliged them to sue the
administration bond that these Judge
ments being assigned by Mr.. Taylor to
Mr.. Cooke, he Mr.. Cooke, bad lately
informed me, that MIR. Edward Hall had
sued out aninjunaion to stay execution,
upon the pretepce that the Iproper credits
had not been given to his fathers repre-
sentatiyes that after what had passed
in the progress of this business | could
not excuse this proceeding. Col. Mercer
<x3,.Dsd q eonOj7ion, bat uten eramxa
tion 4 should find rvery thing eorrea as to
Mr.. Edzuara Hail.; and here The eouvey
saf1oa ended. As we'll as my memory
serves me, few days after 1 met Mr.. Ed. 1
qOard Hall at the sradt house door, <x-
pre'sed ny sa,5,ize atfbs bin of iujaae-
fioa. and f0l4 him, las fbe taa avasj that
1 1oas j3st going to The cbaneeyy o6fre to |