31From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 14 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
Count Montfort will be the Bearer of this Letter— He was formerly Maj r . of Count Pulaski’s Legion, & on leaving America, resigned that Commission. He has the passed many months here, and is now setting out for Cadiz with Design to sail in the first Vessel from thence to Philadelphia— He expresses a strong Desire to be employed in our Country, and to which from the Consistency of his...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 27 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: National Archives The Count Del Verme, an Italian Nobleman of great Distinction, does me the honour to be the Bearer of this. I have not the satisfaction to be personally acquainted with this Gentleman, but am much sollicited by some of my particular Friends, to whom his Merits & Character are known, to afford him this Introduction to you.— He is, I understand, a great...
33From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 12 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, afternoon Mr Van der Burg, Van Spieringshaek the Agent of their High Mightinesses brought me the inclosed Resolution, relative to a Vessell of Mr Dubbledemuts. I promised to inclose it to Congress. I would have it translated here but I have not time. I presume Congress has or will have an Interpreter for the Low Dutch. It is much to be desired that Congress would take Some Measures...
34From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 28 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
I have only time to inform you that our objections to M r Oswalds first Commission have produced a second which arrived Yesterday— It empowers him to treat with the Commissioners of the thirteen United States of America— I am preparing some very interesting ^ a longer Letter on this ^ Subject, but as this Intelligence is interesting I take the earliest opportunity of communicating it With...
I address this Letter to you both because I have not time by this opportunity to write to each separately. In a few Days I shall write you both particularly. M r . Gerards being about to sail happily prevailed upon Congress to proceed rapidly & unanimously in arranging their foreign Affairs— Young Coll Laurens is going Secretary to Doct r Franklin, and had the general approbation of Congress...
36The American Peace Commissioners to Robert R. Livingston, 20 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives The Proposal inclosed, has been transmitted to us by Mr Bridgen, a Gentleman in London, who has been uniformly a Friend to America, and in a Variety of Ways, and at a great Expence has Served her Cause. It is a Project for introducing Copper Coins into the United States, and Seems to Us to merit the early Attention of Congress, to whom We have the Honour to recommend...
37[From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 27 March 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Philadelphia, 27 Mch. 1783 . Stan V. Henkels’ sale catalogue No. 683 (5–6 Apr. 1892) records as lot 378 a Jefferson A.L.S., 1 p., 4to, of this date, and prints the following extract from it: “I think with you clearly that the three months after notice of recall could only be intended for gentlemen actually in Europe in the execution of their commissions, and that in a case like mine the...
38From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 14 June 1782 (Adams Papers)
The Hague, 14 June 1782. RC ( PCC , No. 84, IV, f. 89–93). LbC ( Adams Papers ). printed : Wharton, Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , ed. Francis Wharton, Washington, D.C., 1889; 6 vols. , 5:493–494. Livingston received this letter on 11 Sept. ( PCC , No. 185, III, f. 41). In it, JA
39From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 4 April 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much obliged by the receipt of your favor of to-day and thankful for the honor Congress do me in expressing so kindly their satisfaction with what was no more than duty in me. I beg leave also to acknowlege your goodness in the trouble you have taken with my account. It is perfectly agreeable, settled as you mention it, and I would wish nothing further to be proposed for any time I may...
40William Temple Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 2 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and transcript: National Archives I am directed by my Grandfather to forward you the inclosed Papers, which were put into his Hands by the Ambassador from Portugal, and to request you would take them into Consideration.— With great Respect, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Sert.— Oswald reported to Townshend on Oct. 2 that BF was still unwell and not able to...
41From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 8 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 25th of Decr has been duly received—and I thank you for the information contained in it. The Marquis in his Letter to me, is not very explicit in his Sentiments respecting the Negociations of Peace; But refers me to his Official letter to you for his thoughts at large. In general, he holds up an idea, which perfectly accords with my opinion, that nothing will be concluded...
42From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 1 July 1776 (Jay Papers)
I returned to this City about Noon this Day from Eliz h .Town, & to my great mortification am informed that our Convention influenced by one of G. Morris vagrant Plans have adjourned to the White Plains to meet there Tomorrow. This precipitate ill advised Retreat I fear will be not a little injurious to the publick—The Prosecution of the Late Discoveries of Gov r . Tryons Plot will be delayed,...
43From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 20 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am at a loss how to regulate my Conduct in consequence of the Letter you have transmitted to me, addressed to Sir Guy Carleton, relative to the Exchange of Capt. Fage, agreed upon by Doctor Franklin. Several Exchanges, made in the same manner in Europe, by Doctr Franklin & the Marquis de la Fayette, have been referred to Congress, for their approbation, so long ago as last fall; but I have...
44I. To Robert R. Livingston, 22 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
Their High Mightinesses have at length recieved their Instructions from all the Provinces, and I have this day been in Conference with the Grand Committe, who communicated to me the Remarks and Propositions on their Part. To this I shall very soon give my Replication; and I hope the Affair will be soon ended. I was recieved in state by two of the Lords at the Head of the Stairs, and by them...
45From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 10 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : New-York Historical Society Permit me to introduce to you the Bearer Mr. Hogendorff, of an illustrious Family, and Lieutenant in the Dutch Guards. He is strongly recommended to me by Persons of Distinction, as a Gentleman of excellent Character: His principal Design in going to America is to make himself acquainted with the Country, & its Inhabitants: I beg you will favour him with your...
46From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
This Letter will accompany another from me to the Convention of your State—the purport of wch will come before you, and need not be recapitulated —In that Letter, I did not care to make too full a declaration of the Weak State of this Army—to you Sir, I can have no reserve in doing of it—’tis necessary that you, and some other Gentlemen of your body should know it. By the last Genl return (on...
47From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 4 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
It is with much pleasure that I transmit to you the Preliminary Treaty, between the King of Great-Britain and the United-States of America. The Mississippi, the Western Lands, Sagadahoc, & the Fisheries are secured, as well as we could, and I hope what is done for the Refugees will be pardoned— As the Objects, for which I ever abandoned my family & Country, are thus far accomplished. I now beg...
48From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 22 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Favor of the 13th communicating to me the formal Annunciation to Congress, by the Minister of France, of the Birth of a Dauphine. Measures are ordered to convey to the Army the News of this happy Event; which will be celebrated with such Demonstrations of Joy as the Occasion requires and our Circumstances will admit. This Information will be transmitted to Genl...
49From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 7 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and transcript: National Archives The Baron de Kermelin, a Swedish Gentleman of Distinction, recommended strongly to me by his Excellency the Ambassador of that Nation to this Court , as a Person highly esteemed in his own , purposes a Journey thro’ North America, to view its natural Productions, acquaint himself with its Commerce, and acquire such Information as may be useful to his...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 7 February 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here on the 30th. of the last month, and had a short interview the same evening with the Chevalr. de Ville-Brun Commander of the Romulus. There appeared at that time little apprehension but that we might sail within a few days; but we were not very particular in our conference as we expected so soon to see each other again. The severity of the cold however which commenced that night...
51From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, 23 July 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
It happens My Dear Sir that both Mr. Maddison and myself are here. We have talked over the subject of your letter to him, and need not assure you how happy we should both be to promote your wish; but the representation continues so thin, that we should have little hope that any thing which is out of the ordinary course and has somewhat of novelty in it could go through. We therefore have...
52From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 19 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 19 March 1782. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, IV, f. 25–60). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 5:246–265. LbC in both JA ’s and John Thaxter’s hands ( Adams Papers ). The Letterbook text is divided between two Letterbooks, Lb/JA/16 and Lb/JA/18...
53From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 13 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
Maj Franks has delivered the my Dispatches to Cap t . Manly who I hope will deliver them together with this Letter to You These Dispatches were directed to Congress because at that Time I was ignorant of your Appointment. They properly belong to your Department, and I not only authorize but desire you to treat them exactly as if they had been directed to you and not to the President of...
54From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 14 February 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
I apprised you in my former letter of the causes which had so long delayed my departure. These still continue. I have this moment received a printed copy of his Britannic majesty’s speech to his parliament by which we learn that preliminaries between America and Great Britain, among which is one for the acknolegement of our independance, have been provisionally agreed on to his part, that the...
55From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 4 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives We detain the Washington a little longer expecting an English Passport for her in a few Days; and as possibly some Vessel bound for North America may sail before her, I write this Line to inform you that the French Preliminaries with England are not yet signed, tho’ we hope they may be very soon. Of ours, I enclose a Copy. The Dutch &...
56From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 16 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
No Letters by the Marquis de la Fayette have as yet reached me. I had the Honor of writing to you on the 6 th . and 13 th . Instant. We were Yesterday informed, and so the Fact is, that the Castle of S t . Philip surrendered by Capitulation to the Duke De Crillon on the 4 th . Instant. There was no Breach made, nor any of the out Works taken. The Garrison are to go to England, and remain...
57From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 14 March 1779 (Jay Papers)
M r . Sands delivered me your Fav r . of the 4 th . Inst. Yesterday. It gave me much Pleasure. The Length, the Subjects and the Spirit of it pleased ^ me ^ . Dont apologize for Egotisms, for I would much rather recieve them than not. Unless the Pain my last occasioned was severe, I dont regret it. That You have deserved well of your Country is agreed, and that you became latterly a little...
58From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 19 December 1775 (Jay Papers)
How it came to pass I know not, but so the Fact is, that neither of your Letters to me came to Hand till the Day before Yesterday, when they were delivered to the President by Gen. Schuylers last Express. Mr. Duane just now accidentally told me that your Brother was about to leave this Town, and I am now retired to the Lobby, in a Hurry to say a Word or two to you. I confess I was a little...
59From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 19 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 11th—The political intelligence which we have lately had from Europe is so contradictory that little dependence can be put upon it, more especially as we have it principally thro’ the channel of an enemy’s Paper, wch I take it for granted is calculated to answer, as much as possible their own views. Why we have nothing from our own...
60From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 22 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your two favors—dated the 12th & 15th of instant. In Consequence of the Resolutions of Congress of the 15th and the express declarations of the Secretary at War, respecting the Sense & Expectations of Congress, Arrangements have been agreed upon between him & me, for an immediate Liberation of all land prisoners; and I have Yesterday given this Information to Sir Guy...