21To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 18 February 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
I was yesterday honoured with your favor of the 14th which I shall lay before Congress this morning. As you have by this time received their resolution, which I had the honor to send you by the last Post, and again enclosed, you will be releived in some measure from your embarrassments, tho’ not entirely from your suspence with respect to their final determination. But that cannot be long...
22To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 22 May 1782 (Jay Papers)
The express who is to carry my public letter waits while I hastily write this. These express having private & public Letters for you have been carryed to New York tho’ as I beleive the Letters were destroyed I learned of this opportunity so late that I cannot send you a duplicate of the Letters.— I most sincerely condole with you on the death of your father an event which you must too long...
23To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 9 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
It is with peculiar pleasure that I acknowledge the receipt of your Excellencys favour of yesterday, since I cannot but consider it as an additional mark of that confidence with which your Excellency has hitherto honoured me. I have made the proper use of it, & imparted it in confidence to those members of the Convention on whose secresy I thought I could most safely rely, & from whose...
24To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 4 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
This accompanies a letter from Mr Morris tendering his resignation & offering an appology for not having joined his regiment—I must take upon myself the blame he may incur by the last—My absense detained him in the first instance, & my advise to him to be at Philadelphia when a Gent. shall be appointed to the place I have resigned as the most likely means to continue him in the line he at...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 5 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; transcript: National Archives I have the honor to transmit you a letter from the United States in Congress to his most Christian Majesty, together with a copy for your perusal, I also enclose a Resolution of Congress on the subject of Mr Lee’s demands, which you will see carried into effect—nothing of moment has...
26To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 13 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that the Honorable the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, this day announced to the United States in Congress assembled at a public Audience the birth of a Dauphine--and that Congress received this enunciation of an event, in which the happiness of their Ally was so deeply engaged with the most lively marks of pleasure--It is their wish that your Excellency and...
27To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 29 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to the directions of the Committee of Safety of this state, I do myself the honor to transmit the enclosed resolutions, & to request if your Excellency should concur with them in thinking that every means should be persued to obstruct the navigation of Hudsons river, & to secure the passes thereon, that you would be pleased by uniting in, to add weight to their applications to the...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 31 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; transcript: National Archives I informed you some time since, that I had written to the Court of Appeals on the subject of the Nostra Signora da Soledade Saint Miguel e Almas, and lay’d before them the papers you sent me, the cause has since been determined in such way as I hope will be satisfactory to her...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 28 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): New-York Historical Society I shd inform you that congress have discharged the commission for negotiating a treaty of commerce with great Britain & taken that burden from Mr. Adams’s Sholders—that in compt. [compliment] to the Marquis La fayette they have made him the bearer of Letter to the King of France of which I enclose a copy. That in answer to your favor of the 11th. June...
30To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 12 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate your Excellency most sincerely upon the cessation of hostilities which you will learn from the enclosed proclamation—You have doubtless heard directly from Genl Carleton on this subject, so that it will not be necessary to trouble you with the substance of his letter to me—Congress will this day on my report take into consideration the propriety of discharging the prisoners &...
31To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 12 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your Letter of the 5th inst. A disapointment which the printers have subjected me to has hitherto prevented my sending you a cypher my secretary is now prepared in compleating one if he can finish in time it will accompany this Letter. As one great object of Britain in carrying on only a defensive war in this country is evidently to enable them to turn more of their...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 24 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives I three days since did myself the honor to write to you informing you of my appointment to the secretary ship of foreign affairs & preparing you for the happy event which has since taken place. Inclosed you have the capitulation of York & Gloster town, by which a british army of about 5600 men was surrendered to...
33To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 25 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; ALS (draft): New-York Historical Society Not knowing when it may be convenient for Mr Bingham to deliver this I confine myself merely to introduce him to your acquaintance— I am persuaded I need not, as his character is known to you to bespeak your civilities for him. It may however be prudent if, (as he proposes) Mrs Bingham should accompany him to...
34To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 8 October 1778 (Jay Papers)
I should have been with you some days ago but for a continued fever with very short intermissions accompanied with violent sickness at the stomach & headache which totally unfit me for business & oblige me to spend one third of the day in bed— I yesterday had a consultation with the two Jones’s & Doc r . Cooper, they agree in orders: regular diet, & exercise, & a suspension of all business...
35To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 11 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I delayed an s wering your last favor in the expectation that we should receive some inteligence from Europe that it would give me pleasure to comminicate A ship arrived Last night from Holland she brings letters from Mr Adams but nothing which looks like a speedy termination of the war the negotiations still continue, Mr Jay & Mr Genvile remain in France tho’ I am much inclined to think from...
36To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 30 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honoured with your favor of the 23d, & should think myself doubly happy in continuing this correspondence if in addition to the pleasure it affords me, it can be rendered useful to your Excellency. The contents of the Marquis De Lafayettes Letter to you, are so similar to what he writes me, that I can give you nothing new from that source. Tho’ I have the pleasure of assuring...
37To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 2 May 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am so sensible of Majr McHenrys merit that even independent of the advantagious light in which your Excellencys recommendation places it I should think myself happy to obtain his services in a line in which I am persuaded they will do honor to his country. Congress have it not in view at present to make an immediate appointment to London, & while Docr Franklin continues at Paris it would be...
38From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 23 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I ought not to omit to inform Congress, that on the 23d. of April the French Ambassador made an Entertainment for the whole Corps Diplomatick, in Honor of the United States, at which he introduced their Minister to all the foreign Ministers at this Court. There is nothing I suppose in the whole voluminous Ceremonial, nor in the idle Farce of Etiquette, which should hinder a Minister from...
39To John Jay from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 8 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
I shall leave town to morrow and be absent a few weeks, I do not care to do it without letting you know that we have nothing worth telling you.— For want of positive you must be content with negative information which sometimes has its use, and failing of any other at least serves to provoke an Answer; and makes those to whom it is addressed ashamed of their silence, when they can collect any...
40To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 9 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am now to reply to your Letter of the 29th of March, & again to offer you my congratulations on the farther evidence of a general peace having been concluded & ratified—I enter into yr Excellencys feelings on this interesting event the prospect of being soon relieved from the cares , the distresses, the Labours, the difficulties which for the last seven years have embittered your...
41To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 24 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
You will by this express receive the agreable intelligence of peace upon which I most sin cerly congratulate you & the army—Harmony, a regard for justice, & fidelity to our engagements are all that now remains to render us a happy people—The Vessel that brought these dispatches was sent out by the Count Destaign to recal the french cruzers. As the minister tells me he will forward the orders &...
42To 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...
43To 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...
44To 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...
45To 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...
46To 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,...
47To 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...
48To 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...
49To 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—...
50To 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...
51To 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...
52To 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...
53To 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...
54To 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...
55To 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...
56To 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...
57To 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...
58To 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...
59To 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...
60To 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...
61To 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...
62To 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...
63To John Jay from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 27 April 1782 (Jay Papers)
I informed you in my Letter of the 16 th . inst. that yours of the 3 d . of October had been received & submitted to Congress during my absence, and, (as I had then reason to think) that it would be answered by them, this I wished because I was persuaded it would express their approbation of your conduct, & afford you that intimate knowledge of their Sentiments, which the delicacy of your...
64To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, 2 August 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I wish I Could beleive as You do with respect to the Enemies Strenght, but in order to do this I must prefer loose Conjectures to the Greatest Variety of Concurring testimoneys—That prisoners may Endeavour to Deceive I think probable, but that a number of Men should agree to tell a Similar tale, & give like Answers to questions without knowing what those questions will be, I Cannot beleive,...
Congress were yesterday pleased to pass the enclosed Resolutions on the subject of the payment of British Debts— The language they speak requires no Comment— I complained in my last of your long Silence, or rather laid before you the Complaint of Congress. These I think receive additional force from Intelligence I have since had, that the Negotiations are still going on, and that important...
66To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 22 December 1779 (Jay Papers)
I am told there will be an opportunity of send g . this to you, I wish therefore to imbrace it tho as I know not how safe the conveyance may be, I shall only deal in generals— You who know the share that you have in a heart too susceptible of tender emotions will easily believe the pain it gave me to find no token of your friendship, no farewell line at this place, where I hastened immediately...
67To John Jay from the Committee for Foreign Affairs (James Lovell, Robert R. Livingston, and William Churchill Houston) … (Jay Papers)
The Embarrassm t which the Depreciation of the currency had created in our publick affairs at the Time of your Departure for Europe, were, as you well remember, very distressing and have till lately continued to increase . Congress greatly anxious to avail themselves of every possible Means of checking this Evil, in Nov r last
68To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 26 August 1780 (Jay Papers)
I received yours from of the 23 d May from Madrid with Duplicates thereof & ^ of ^ the Letters you wrote from Cadiz & Martinico. The original of the first of these came to hand shortly after I wrote my Letters of the 22 d . Dec r . The last never— You had I flatter myself before this time rec d four Letters which I directed to the care of Doct r Frankling. I sh d
69To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 4 March 1779 (Jay Papers)
Your Letter & one I lately rec d . from Morris have given me pain. They have represented me to myself as negligent of the duties of a man, & a citizen, as buried in indolence, or lost in the pursuit of enervating pleasures— When I consider these charges as coming from those who should, & do, know me better than I do myself, & who see my faults with the eye of freindship, thro’ the narrow end...
70To John Jay from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 23 June 1782 (Jay Papers)
The only letter, I have recieved from you, since that of the 6 th . of February last, was a few lines which covered an account of the surrender of Fort S t . Phillips, this success is important, as it not only weakens an Enemy, and operates against their future resources, but as, it gives reputation to the Arms of a Nation, that have our sincerest wishes for their prosperity, notwithstanding...