1To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, [11 May 1794] (Jay Papers)
The Chancellor presents his comp[liment] s . to the Chief Justice of the US:— Tho’ political differences have excited a Coolness ^between them^ perhaps inconsistant with the liberality of both— The Chancellor is not so unmindful of past friendship as not to be sincere in wishing the Chief Justice a safe passage a happy return to his friends & a successfull issue to his mission. — AL , NHi :...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 20 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Knowing the value of your time I should not thus early after the receipt of yours have intruded upon it could I have consented that you should one moment longer misapprehend my sentiments with respect to your invaluable report on weights and measures. I am so far from suggesting any other ideas than those you propose that tho I have examined them with minute attention I find nothing to alter...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 28 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
My Brother is this moment departing for Philadelphia and has requested a letter of introduction to you. I find a pleasure in complying with his request not only on his account, but because it affords me an opportunity of intimating that I am not ignorant of, or ungratful for, your late acts of friendship & of assuring you of the sincere esteem & respect with which Dr Sir I have the honor to be...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 1 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Having flattered myself that I had fallen upon a new meathod of diminishing the friction in heavy machines, I take the liberty to communicate it to you, and to beg that you would do me the favour to inform me if I have deceived myself, or made a useful discovery? Let the end of the spindle pass thro, and be strongly fixed to a peice of light wood whose solid contents should be two square feet...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, [February–March 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
I find with great regret that a report which circulates here of your intention to resign your office gains credit. It appears to me that there are many motives as well of a public as of a private nature which should induce you to take this resolution with great deliberation. Your present station holds you up to the view of your country in the most conspicuous point of light. The attacks which...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 1 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The hope I entertained of meeting you at New York when I vissited it in Sepr. has induced me to delay answering your polite favor , disappointed in this hope, I cannot deny myself the pleasure of informing you that I have made some experiments which satisfy me that the friction on a spindle or gudgeons may, by the means I proposed, be reduced almost to nothing. As my trials were made with...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 10 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed was written long since and accidentaly detained at New York. I send it now to shew that I have not been inattentive to the letter you favoured me with and somewhat to shorten what I am now to tell you of the result of the experiment you encouraged me to make. In order to gain room for affixing the hollow cylinder or tub to the spindle of the mill it was necessary to make a new cog...
Abstract. Ca. 20 February 1791, New York. A cover addressed to JM, with Livingston’s article, “Thoughts on Coinage,” clipped from the 19 Feb. 1791 N.Y. Daily Advertiser and pasted on the verso. “Robert R. Livingston” written across top of clipping. Livingston sent the same article to Jefferson on 20 Feb. 1791 and enclosed a letter which, among other matters, deplored “a territorial division of...
9To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 20 October 1793 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Adair the bearer of this having done me the favor to spend a few days here I found so much pleasure in his society that I am persuaded that I shall do you a mutual favor in bringing you acquainted with each other. He proposes to pass some months in Virginia. You will find him extremely well informed on most subjects & particularly so in every branch of natural history & chymistry. He will...
10To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 30 January 1795 (Madison Papers)
You will probably think when you have read this that I avail myself of slight circumstances to open a correspondence with you And perhaps it will be candid to own thus, that desire has had no little influence upon my pen. I do not find that you have at Philadelphia any direct intelligence from Mr Jay it may therefore be useful to you to know the intelligence we have recd a little more...
11To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 16 November 1795 (Madison Papers)
I am much pleased to find from yours of the 10th. Augt. that your State are in sentiment with you & every other American patriot on the subject of the treaty. Here unhappily a greater diversity of sentiment prevails, or rather the violence of party stifles all sentiment. The leaders find an interest in deceiving the ignorant & those who have supported Mr. Jay are ready to catch at any thing to...
12To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 6 July 1795 (Madison Papers)
I sincerely condole with you on the ratification of the treaty which sacrafices every essential interest & prostrates the honor of our country. I had indeed little hope of Mr. Jays rendering us any essential service. His hatred to France & the violence with which he entered into the system of the ministerialists whose views have long appeared to me to be such as I do not chuse to explain but...
13To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 9 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
I should not thus long have delayed to acknowledge your favor of the 16th Feby & to return my thanks for your obliging communication of Mr Maunsels treatise had I not found it necessary in order to enable the Society to avail themselves of your permission to make such extracts from it as they might think useful—this they have done. The merrit of the discovery will I think depend rather upon...
14To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 4 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
The favourable reception you were pleased to give to the first part of the transactions of the incorporated society for promoting agriculture arts & manufactures induces me to beg your acceptance of a vol: containing that & the second part. In this you may find some new ideas on agriculture & on the subject of luzerne more experiments than have before been published in America or Great...
15To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 10 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 29th Apl with which I was honoured having reached ClerMont the day I left it for this place It was not in my power to return an earlier answer consistant with the deliberation which its importance merrited. Tho nothing could be more flattering to me than to be the means under your favourable auspices & instructions of cementing the union between France & America countries...
16To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 2 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
It is not without regret that I reflect on the interruption that was given to the conversation I had the honor to hold with your Excellency on the subject of the etiquette which would be observed by the President of the United States, since I still find that this subject occupies much of the public attention, & I could have wished to have corrected my own opinions by a more perfect knowledge...
17To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 10 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to transmit you a copy of the first part of the proceedings of the society for the promotion of agriculture arts & manufactures in this State. Tho this first essay may contain little information that will appear new to you yet I am persuaded that you will not see with indifference any attempt for the improvement of agriculture since its interests are closely connected...
18To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 8 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Possessing no official situation which entitles me to offer my sentiments on political measures I may possibly be deemed intrusive when I offer my unasked advice. But Sir feeling the same ardent love for my country which has so freequently in times of danger & difficulty served as an appology for my letters, I still presume, without any other than that which arises from my solicitude in the...
19To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 15 May 1789 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Robert R. Livingston, 15 May 1789. On 31 May GW wrote to Livingston : “I . . . apologize for this late acknowledgment of your letter of the 15th instant.”
20To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 15 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
I was this day honored by your letter of yesterday, but not till after the southern mail had gone out. Flattered as I am by this new proof of your friendly attention I feel the utmost reluctance in not having it in my power to comply with what appears to be your wish upon this occasion, since I can not within any time which would consist with the public interest determine upon accepting a...