101To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, 5 June 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Thompson this morning requests me in persuance of the order of yesterday to send the papers of this office under my seal to his office. I had supposed that it would have been the wish of Congress to continue them in the public office I have hired & to have given Mr. Thompson the direction of them. I am now perplexed to know what is to be done with the secretaries & clerks whether they are...
102To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 27 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; transcript: National Archives An opportunity offering from this port to write directly to you, I do not chuse to hazard anything by the Post which carries this to Boston, particularly as I did not hear till just now that a frigate was to sail from thence, and it is uncertain whether this will arrive in time to go...
103To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 9 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having written very largely to you by this conveyance, you are troubled with this merely to recommend (at the request of the Secretary at war) Capt De Segond to your notice & acquaintance. I have the honor to be sir with the highest Respect & esteem Your Excellencys Most Ob Hum: Servt Addressed: His Excellency / Benjn. Franklin Esq, / Versailles / favor of...
104To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 26 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
A courier has just arrived from Russia. The emperor demands the fulfilment of certain secret articles in his treaty with France among which are compensation for the king of Sardinia the perfect independance of the Italian states the affairs of Germany to be regulated jointly between them and as a consequence of it the withdrawing the troops from Hanover or the Russian chargé d’affaires is to...
105To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 5 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Livingston has the honor to inform the president, that in his opinion the writers of the enclosed have no such political weight or information as should in any sort influence the presidents own sentiments on public measures. They are weak men who have in this instance been probably the dupes of some that are more artful . Mr. Livingston had the honor to state yesterday what he truly...
106To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 27 December 1786 (Jay Papers)
I received yours covering the papers from Maryland this day. And enclose an answer which I must pray you to forward I have accepted the appointment principally induced thereto by your being my colleague You have heard of the issue of our Massachusetts business But you may not have heard that while we were meeting at Hartford their Commissioners were treating with the Indians for the purchase...
107To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 23 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
This will be delivered by my sons in Law Robert L. and Edward P Livingston. One being a senator may give you the politics of this State, & the other that of France, as far as a traveller could collect it. For myself I am content to be a mechanic & a farmer & find more pleasure in these occupations than you statesmen do in buffeting the storm that beats around you at Washington. I mentioned to...
108To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 4 April 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to inform you by the direction of Congress in answer to your Letter of the 13th. March “that they consider the object of your appointment as so far advanced, as to render it unnecessary for you to pursue your Voyage; And that Congress are well satisfied with the readiness you have shewn in undertaking a Service which from the present situation of Affairs they apprehend can be...
109To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 9 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives The enclosed Letter from the Superintendant of finance was written in consequence of the resolutions of which I sent you a copy in my last— I then detailed so fully on the Subject that I can give you no further information on that head— than is contained in the enclosed,...
110To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 23 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have just returned from the Minister’s & have the Satisfaction of informing you that he has Spoken to the Emperor on the Subject of Consular agents in their Colonies & that he has agreed to allow them during the war & has promised to Send me a note to that effect as well as to give the most precise orders on the Subject of the Depredations committed on our Commerce. I can not but think this...
111To 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...
112To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 13 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
The principal object of this is to Send you an extract of a letter Just received from Mr Graham, as it is possible that Mr Pinkney may not find So early an opportunity of writing to you. It appears by Mr Graham’s letter that Mr Pinkney had not yet received information of the Communication made by the Spanish Court to the First Consul on the Subject of our Treaty. After this I think it...
113To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 30 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I remitted you some time ago a memoire from Col. Devienne who had been in our service—who with a wife & three children is reduced to the utmost distress—since you forbid any advances on the public account I have at different times been compelled to give him about twenty guineas on my private account to keep him from starving, I pray you if Congress are siting when you receive this to take up...
114To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 6 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have little to add to the letter of which I Send duplicates the absence of the First Consul & Minister, has Suspended all business, & I availed myself of the circumstance to make a tour in France, not chusing to go to England least any thing Should turn up that would require my attention, & particularly the return of the ratification which we are impatiently looking for. The decree of which...
115To John Jay from the Committee for Foreign Affairs (James Lovell, Robert R. Livingston, and William Churchill Houston) … (Jay Papers)
By the inclosed Resolves of Congress you will find that we are become more dependent upon your vigorous Exertions for the Amelioration of our Currency than you perhaps expected when you left Philadelphia. We think it of so much Importance that you Should be early apprized of the measures determined upon respecting Bills of Exchange that we do not chuse to omit this good Opportunity of...
116To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 24 January 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have just now heard of an opportunity from Havre. I am doubtful whether my letter will arrive in time for it. I therefore confine myself to inform you that Genl Bernadotte is named Minister to the United States in the place of Otto who will be employed here. Genl Bernadotte is brother in law to joseph Bonaparte & is a very respectable man & has the character of a decided Republican. I have...
117To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 26 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have received quadruplicates and Triplicates of your favor of the 6th October; the First & Second not having yet reached me previous to the receipt of that letter, I had receivd two from Mr Pichon, covering letters to the Minister for Exterior Relations. In one of those he explains only Shortly the nature of his communications to the Minister: This was the first intimation that I had...
118To John Adams from Robert R. Livingston, 6 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
The scene of Action is so entirely transfered to your side of the Atlantick that scarce any occurance among us at present is sufficiently interesting to furnish matter for a publick Letter. The Resolutions which have from time to time evinced the steady Determination of Congress in no event to Relinquish the great Object of the War or to think of Peace but in Connection with their Allies have...
119To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 16 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two LS : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives Since my last of which I send a duplicate by this Conveyance nothing material has happened here, unless it be the evacuation of Wilmington, which is perhaps the most important Post of Communication with the disaffected People of the Country of any they held in America—...
120To 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...
121To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 21 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Two LS and L : University of Pennsylvania Library; transcript: National Archives Congress a few days since passed the enclosed Resolution No. 1. by which they have added Mr Jefferson to the Commission for concluding a peace; the established character of this Gentleman gives me reason to hope, that his appointment will be very acceptable to you, and the other Gentlemen in the Commission, I have...
122To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 26 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have written to you by the way of havre & by that conveyance you will receive packets &c. but as I would wish to omit no opportunit[y] I send this to L’Orient from whence I am told that a vessel is about to sail for Norfolk. You will find by the notes I sent you at different times that the administration here preserve the most absolute silence as to every point on which I press them & I am...
123To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 22 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
Knowing your engagements during the session of Congress, I have not thought it proper to break in upon your time by an earlier answer to your favor of the 28 Janry. The enclosed note you will have the goodness to read, & deliver to the auditor, as it contains the only explanation I can at present give to his inquiries. I sincerely congratulate you upon the total defeat of Mr. Burrs plans, for...
124To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 9 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; transcript: National Archives We have yet had no information from you subsequent to the signature of the Preliminary Articles by France, Spain and Britain, tho’ we have seen a declaration for the cessation of Hostilities signed by you, Mr. Adams, and Mr Jay— We grow every day more anxious for the definitive...
125To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 8 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
Nothing extraordinary has occurred Since my last, a duplicate of which you will receive with this, as I find Some errors in the copy Sent you; if you have received it, be pleased to correct it by the duplicate: I had Strong hopes while in England that a change of Ministry would take place, in which case we Should doubtless have had peace; at present, Mr Pitt appears to be able to Stand his...
126To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 23 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives An express just going to Chesapeake gives me an opportunity of sending by the Hermione a resolution passed Yesterday, my Letters by this conveyance are so lengthy that they leave me nothing to add unless it be that we have just received Letters from Mr. Deane (copies are inclosed) which confirm the authenticity of...
127To John Adams from Robert R. Livingston, 29 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
It is with equal Surprize and concern that I find not the least attention paid to the several Letters I have written you since I have had the honor to be in Office. I attributed this to their not having reached you, till I saw an extract of a letter which I had written to Mr Dumas, and which went by the Same conveyance with one to you published in the Courier de l’Europe, from which...
128To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 20 April 1782 (Jay Papers)
It gives me extreme pain not to have rec d a single line in answer to my public or private Letters to you tho’ no vessel has sailed from this or any of the nieghbouring ports for any part of Europe France or Spain ^ since Oct r . ^ without being charged with one or the other for you not because I infer therefrom the least neglect on your part I have too much confidence both in your punctuality...
129To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 10 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Having lately received some Leiden papers the perusal of which (tho’ of an old date) the Marquiss De la Fayette assured me would be agreeable to your Excellency I do myself the honour to enclose them, & at the same time to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 12th March—The papers contain little interesting intelligence but what we have already had—they are chiefly filled with American...
130To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 1 May 1783 (Jay Papers)
Your public & private Letters have remained long unanswered, owing to the stagnation of commerce here on the prospect of peace, & the delay occasioned by M r . Jeffersons disappointment who was charged with both for you. I have now before me your Letters of the 13 th . Aug t (which M r Wright did ^ not ^ deliver till about a fortnight ago) & the 7 th . & 14 th Dec r . I immediatly wrote to...
131To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 11 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
After writing mine of this date I called on the Minister & Insisted on Some positive answer to my notes, he told me that he was expressly instructed by the first Consul to give me the most positive assurances that the Treaties we had entered into with Spain, or them relative to Louisiana Should be Strictly observed, when I expressed my Surprise that their officers should not be informed on...
132To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 12 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have only to add to my last that as I conjectured the Consul has rejected the continuance of his term for ten yrs Upon the ground of his having recd his office from the people they only can add to it. The Council of State have in consequence referred it to the people to determine not whether he shall be consul for ten years but for life. This business creates not the least sensation here Nor...
133To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 2 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
Nothing very important relative to our affairs having intervened for Some time past I have not thought necessary to trouble you. The affair of our debts Stand exactly as they did upon vague promises on the part of the Minister which I have little expectation of Seeing Soon fulfilled & indeed Some confidential people have taken occasion to Say in Such a way as they know I Should hear that they...
134To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 13 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have just come from the Minister of the Treasury our conversation was So important that I think it necessary to write it while the impressions are Strong upon my mind, & the rather as I fear that I Shall not have time to copy & Send this letter if I differ [ sic ] it till morning. By my letter of yesterday you learned that the Minister had asked me on the 11th whether I would agree to...
135To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 3 February 1779 (Jay Papers)
The pleasure I felt from your Letter of the 13 th Ult: which I just now rec d : was great in proportion to the pain I experienced from your neglect, and your friendly penitance has disarmed my resentment, & convinced me that there is no impropriety in supposing (at least if Angels resemble men) that there may be “more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner, than over 99 just that need no...
136To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 27 November 1775 (Jay Papers)
I am now on the borders of lake George where we have been detained this day & part of yesterday by a head wind & extream severe wheather. It is almost impossible to conceive the difference we found in the climate in half a miles riding After we got over the mountains, within the reach of the winds that blew from the lake it was like leaping from Oct r . to Dec r .—we hope to leave this...
137To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 13 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives We have been extreamly alarmed at some communications which the Minister of france made me from his Last Letters— They look extreamly as if the Ct. De Vergennes imagined that neither Spain or Holland were anxious for our success— They discourage the Idea of a loan— from them or even from France. Our Letters from...
138To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 30 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed notes will Shew that the arreté mentioned in mine of June last, continues to operate as I had expected. We have three vessels now here that are neither Suffered to unload or depart. Sweden & Denmark have a dozen in Similar circumstances. The absence of the Minister having prevented my receiving any answer to my notes, I wrote the enclosed letter to the Consul Cambacerès who...
139To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 2 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I told you in my last that a coolness Subsisted between the First Consul & Count Marcoff the Minister of Russia, But that it was rather a personal dislike than any thing that led immediately to a rupture between the two Courts. [Mar]cof has never much liked the present order of things and has sometimes too freely spoken his opinion of them in this country it is difficult to say anything which...
140To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 8 June 1802 (Madison Papers)
Enclosed is the answer of the Spanish ambassadour to my letter a copy of which was forwarded on the 28 ult. It accords with the conclusions I drew from the delay of the expedition & the conduct of the Minister for exterior relations. I have had a conversation with Collot & Adet separatly I find that tho they both consider their going in official characters to Louisiania as settled yet that...
141To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 27 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honoured with your favours of the 22d instant, I have not seen the express that brought them, & know not whether he is yet returned, I shall commit this to the care of Genl Lincoln to see it safely forwarded. The British are at length sufficiently humbled to sue for peace tho not in the line we wish they seem to part with every thing more readily than with America. They have...
142To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 26 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent my letters to the secretary some days ago by the way of Havre. I am in hopes that the ship that takes them may not yet have sailed. as I wish to congratulate you on your being elected a member of the national institute tho not without opposition. Ct Rumfort who has just left this was warmly supported. It gives me pleasure to find the number of friends that you have among the literary &...
143To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 22 March 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have nothing to add to the letters just sent you by the way of Baltimore but the enclosed note just recieved —from this you will find that the construction given to the second article of the convention differs materially from ours & will if supported greatly narrow the ground of our claims. You will also see in it rather an evasion of the points I have pressed them upon than an answer to...
144To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 12 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Washington Packet arrived this morning, I have not yet had leisure to read all my Letters, but as an Express is ready to go early to Morrow, I rather chuse to rely upon your goodness to excuse a letter written in extreme haste; than to hold myself inexcusable, by not informing you of what we yet know of the State of our Negotiations, none of my Letters are of a latter date than the 24th...
145To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 18 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have been honoured by yours of the Novr. I am pleased to find that you are Satisfied with my applications to the Government on the Subject of the debt, I am only Sorry that those applications have hitherto been unsuccessful & as far as appears will continue to be unless Some motive more efficacious than that of justice or national faith or credit is held out. To enter into the financial...
146To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 19 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I left Paris the 12th of last month upon a visit to England & returned on the 15th of this; I chose this time to avail myself of the President’s permission long Since obtained, not only for the reasons mentioned in my former letters, but because I knew that the whole attention of the Ministers being engrossed by the new arrangement[s] that were making no business of any Sort could be done; I...
147To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 13[–14] September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and L : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives I have nothing to add to mine of the 5th instant, but to congratulate you on the safe arrival of two Vessels from Holland, having on board the goods left by Commodore Gillon, & to present you in the name of Mr Paine with three copies of a late work of his, addressed to...
148To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, [14] March 1802 (Madison Papers)
I yesterday recieved the duplicate and triplicate of your letter of the 19th. december last the original not having come to hand. This is the first and only letter I have been honored with from you since my arrival. I immediately sent one of the copies of the Presidents proclamation to the Minister of Foreign Relations with the enclosed note no. 1. I had before anticipated the inconveniences...
149To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 11 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have not yet been honoured by any of your favors of later date than 29th of August. I informed you in my last of the reasons that would determine to give in the guarantee promised by Mr Monroe, & the rather as the delay of the arrival of the ratification, & the consequent disappointment in the money arrangements expected from it had increased the I had to contend with by my refusal. Mr...
150To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 18 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
I sent dispatches a few days ago to Havre in expectation of their going by a vessel that left it for Philadelphia, but they arrived too late, duplicates were sent to go by a vessel bound to New York. You will therefore I fear have originals & duplicates by the same vessel, this compels me to send triplicates by this conveyance. You will see that on the subject of New Orleans the answer to my...