Fonds consists of numerous watercolours, prints and drawings. Watercolours depict various views of cities and landscapes in Eastern Canada, while Mercer was stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia as commander of the Royal Artillery, between 1838 and 1842 and while in Quebec, 1824-1833. Included are watercolours of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, St. Lawerence River, Lake Huron, Nottawasapa River and Maine. In addition, there is an engraving of a portrait of Le Marquis de Vaudreuil and a pencil drawing of the Halifax Citadel. A portrait of Colonel Mercer by James Pattison Cockburn exists in the Cockburn fonds.
The fonds also contains microfilmed "Military Reminiscence, Diary," 1789-1816, a text on the Battle of Waterloo, 1815 and souvenirs of Alexander Cavalié Mercer and his son, Dr. Cavalié A. Mercer (1860-1889) written by the latter's adopted son, Thomas Mercer. This material is located on microfilm reel A-885.
Mercer, Alexander Cavalié, 1783-1868 : Alexander Cavalié Mercer, military officer and topographical artist, born in 1783, obtained his commission in the Royal Artillery at 16 and served in Ireland, 1808, South America and during the Waterloo campaign. He was sent to Canada in 1824 and 1837. He commanded the artillery in Nova Scotia at the time of the Maine Boundary dispute. He executed sketches of the places visited in the Maritime provinces and in Quebec. His account of the Battle of Waterloo was published by his son in 1870.
