From John Jay to William Livingston, 30 December 1784[–2 January 1785]
To William Livingston
NYork 30 Decr 1784[–2 January 1785]
Dr. Sir,
The Necessity of speedily providing accommodations here both for myself & the Gent. of Congress, deprived me of the Pleasure I expected to derive from ^of^ passing the Holydays with You and the Family at Eliz. Town [illegible], ^and as an Attack of the Rheumatism forbids my exposing myself to Cold, I cannot flatter myself with seeing You very soon^ I must therefore must therefore write to you on a Subject, ^on^ which I intended to have requested your Sentiments at Home ^in person^ I mean the Line of Conduct which you wished your Family to observe respecting Brockholst.1 The Relation in which I stand to you & Mrs. Livingston, and the Position in which I stand ^on the one hand &^ to him ^on the other^ places me and indeed all your ^other^ Children in a delicate Situation. My Respect for your Feelings haves induced me to decline either making or returning visits to him. [illegible] I presume that Reconciliation must take place sooner or later—it is unpleasant to obtrude opinions, & particularly ^especially^ on those to whom nothing new can be offered; but as I am now on the Subject I will take the Liberty of ^therefore only^ hinting that Delay cannot pave the way for Cordiality, and that a fresh wound is frequently more easily and radically cured than an old Sore—He certainly had a Right to chuse for himself. [illegible] Pardon the Freedom with which I have treated this delicate Subject and believe me to be With affectt. attacht. I am Dr Sr Yr most obt. Servt
Govr. Livingston
2 January ’85. Sent to the post Office together with the following Letter for Mrs. S. Jay.2
Dft, NNC (EJ: 8285).
1. On 2 Dec. 1784, Henry Brockholst Livingston married Catherine Keteltas, daughter of Peter Keteltas Sr. and Elizabeth Van Zandt, Brockholst’s landlady. William Livingston did not approve of the match, writing to JJ on 5 Jan. 1785, “It is possible that the absurdity of a certain young gentleman’s conduct in so intimately connecting himself with a person altogether unworthy of that alliance, and by which connection he has not only brought signal disgrace upon his family, but in all probability assured his own ruin for his passion for extravagence, and a total want of all economy.” He also noted the “… undutiful manner in which this affair has been conducted; & the two insulting letters that I have received upon the subject,” finishing his diatribe with “… thus to throw him self away upon—his landlady’s daughter. Peske!” ALS, NNC (EJ: 6888). Despite his strong feelings, on 13 Feb. 1785, William Livingston was able to write to JJ that Brockholst had persuaded his father to reconcile. ALS, NNC (EJ: 6889).
2. See JJ to SLJ, 2 Jan. 1785, below.