91From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 10 August 1795 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of July 6, having been addressed to Williamsburg, instead of Orange Court House , did not come to hand till two days ago. Your gloomy picture of the Treaty does not exceed my ideas of it. After yielding terms which would have been scorned by this Country in the moment of its greatest embarrassments, & of G. Britains full enjoyment of peace & confidence, it adds to the ruinous...
92From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 16 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 4th instant, accompanying the transactions of the society for promoting Agriculture, Arts & Manufactures; and am very much obliged by your goodness in sending them to me. Works of this sort are of the most interesting importance to every country; and it is much to be regretted that similar societies, are not more general in our own—or not more attended to...
93From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 8 February 1795 (Madison Papers)
I am much obliged by your favor of the 30th. Ult. The information it gives on the subject of the Treaty is more exact on some points than any I had before received, particularly in relation to the footing on which the Posts are to be left. If Mr. Jay has really turned our exclusive right into a thoroughfare, which will in its operation be almost an exclusive right to G. Britain, it will...
94From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 29 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Philadelphia 29th April 1794 Circumstances have rendered it expedient to recall Mr Gouvr Morris from his Mission to the Republic of France. Would it be convenient and agreeable to you to supply his place? An affirmative answer, would induce an immediate nomination of you, for this appointment to the Senate, and the signifi cation of your sentiments, relatively thereto, as...
95From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 3 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed you by the Revd. Mr. Toulmin of the Unitarian Sect from England, whose attachment to liberty has led him to this land of it. You will find him intelligent, and modest, and in every respect deserving the attention I solicit for him. I was lately called on by a French gentleman who said he was your neighbour, and afforded me an opportunity of dropping you a few lines which I...
96From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 6 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Mr. Ciracchi, a very celebrated sculptor from Rome, proposing to go to New York to explain the device of a monument which he proposes to erect for the United states, I take the liberty of recommending him to your advice and good offices. Independantly of his talents as an artist, you will find him a man of very superior worth; and your attentions to him will be acknoleged as...
97From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 4 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Unremitting business since the meeting of Congress has obliged me to a rigorous suspension of my correspondencies, and this is the first day I find myself at liberty to resume them, and to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of Dec. 10. The drawings &c. were immediately laid before the board of arts, who, adhering to a general rule, desire a model of your invention and a more ample...
98From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 8 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly recieved your favor of the 1st. inst. and have withheld acknoleging it in hopes of finding time to consider it thoroughly. But this hope advancing before me, like my shadow, I must hasard thereon the ideas which occur extempore. I think it ingenious, well worth trying, and that probably it will lessen the friction. One consideration occurs to me. Suppose it the case of the tub mill,...
99From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 31 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The new and busy scenes in which I have been constantly engaged since my arrival in this place, and which will not allow me to pay that pointed attention to the favors of my friends that my inclination would lead me to do, will, I trust apologize for this late acknowledgment of your letter of the 15th instant. To you, Sir, and others who know me, I believe it is unnecessary for me to say, that...
100From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, 22 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote to you on Wednesday evening, respecting the circumstances attending the suppression of a certain proclamation issued by the Council for the temporary Government of the Southern district, on account of the conduct of Sears Lamb and Willet in stopping Rivington’s press. It runs in my mind very strongly, that I was informed by Mr. Benson & yourself that the Governor had stayed the...
101From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, [18 March 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Some short time after the evacuation of this City, on the occasion of certain irregularities committed (I think by Sears and others in regard to Rivington) The Council for the temporary government came to some resolution, or agreed upon some proclamation of a spirited nature for discountenan[c]ing such proceedings which was delivered to the Governor to publish. He kept it in his hands and did...
102From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 6 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof is a Mr. Dupont son to a gentleman of my acquaintance here of great worth and knowlege, and holding a very distinguished office in the department of Commerce. He was the friend of the late M. Turgot and wrote his life, which perhaps you may have seen. He sends his son to America to finish his education under the patronage of the Count de Moustier, believing that he may...
103From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 4 January 1787 (Jay Papers)
I was this Day fav d . with yours of the 27 Ult. The one inclose d . was immediately sent to the post office The Terms of y r . agreem t with Massachusets have not yet transpired, but I have no doubt of the[ir] being proper ones—It is an Event that gives me much pleasure, for I think it will tend to make us & our Eastern Neighbours better friends than heretofore. That Consequence independent...
104From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 18 December 1786 (Jay Papers)
The inclosed are Copies of Papers I rec d . from the Presid t . of the Council of Maryland. Expecting the pleasure of seeing you here, I delayed my answer ’till Yesterday, when I wrote to the Presid t . that I would be an arbitrator in the Case mentioned in his Letter, if the Matter could be settled here. As he will be anxious to recieve your answer also, the sooner you write the more he will...
105From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, [23 May 1786] (Hamilton Papers)
We have talked over the Question. Who of the Commissioners are to go to the Southward? And it seems to be decided that you and myself are to be of the number and that a third must be either Mr. R. C. Livingston or Mr Ganseevort, as they may arrange it between themselves. I understand the meeting is to be sometime in September. I remain with sincere esteem Sir Your obed & hum ser ALS ,...
106From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 5 September 1784 (Jay Papers)
On the 17 Aug t . I rec d . from M r . Lewis your Favor of the 30 July, and on the 18 Aug t . I answered it. The Day before Yesterday Your’s of the 26 Ult. reached me, and I am mortified to learn from it that mine to you had not come to Hand—it went by the Post, and was put into the office with my own Hands. I flatter myself that You have since rec d . it— As to the Letters rec d . from You...
107From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 18 August 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your kind Letter of the 30 Ult. was delivered to me Yesterday by M r Lewis. I thank you very sincerely for your friendly Congratulations on my Return, and assure you that among the Pleasures I have long promised myself from it, that of renewing our former Intercourse & Correspondence is not the least. I lament the unfortunate accident which has happened to your eldest Daughter; and which has...
108From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 11 April 1784 (Washington Papers)
Give me leave to introduce to your Civilities the Marquis de Fontinelle, Colonel of Infantry in the Service of France and a Gentleman of Merit & Fortune. The Marquis Was Aid to Count de Estaing at the Siege of Savanna and is now on a tour from Charleston to Boston—he is accompanied by Colo. Senf. I am Dr Sir Yr most Obedt Hble Servt ALS , NHi : Robert R. Livingston Papers. Robert R. Livingston...
109From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 15 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
It gives me great pleasure to have it in my power to inform you, that Sir Guy Carleton has announced to me his intention, to relinquish the Posts he holds on York Island, as far as McGowens pass inclusive, on the 21st inst., Herricks and Hampstead with all to the Eastward on Long Island on the same day, and if possible to give up the City, with Brooklyn on the day following; and Palus Hook,...
110From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 12 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
At your Farm, with your Family, in Peace, and in Plenty, how happy is your Situation! I wish you may not have retired too soon. It is certain you may do much good where you are, & perhaps in few Things more; than in impressing by Precept Influence and Example the indispensable necessity of rendering the continental and State Governments more vigorous and orderly— Europe hears much, and wishes...
111From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 15 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
France England Spain and America are all agreed, but M r: Hartley is Sanguine that the Treaty will not be signed, because he says the Comte de Vergennes dont mean to sign it. His Reasons for his opinion I know not. and I think he is mistaken. It is very certain however, that the French Minister is embarass’d and would not perhaps be sorry to find good Reasons for postponing the Signature for...
112From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 13 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, I went to Court with D r: Franklin, and presented to the Comte de Vergennes, our Project of a definitive Treaty, who told us he would examine it, and give us his sentiments upon it. It was Ambassadors day, and I had Conversation with a Number of Ministers, of which it is proper I should give you an Account. The Dutch Ambassador Berkenrode, told me, that last Saturday the Comte de...
113From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 13 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday at Versailles the Baron de Waltersdorff came to me and told me, he had delivered to M r: Franklin, a Project of a Treaty between the Court of Denmark, and the United States, and asked me, if M r: Franklin had shewn it to me? I answered him, that I knew nothing of it.— He said he wondered at that, he presumed it was because of my Absence at the Hague, for that it had been shewn to M...
114From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 13 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Question before the French Cabinet, whether they shall involve themselves in a War against two Christian Empires, in order to support a Turkish one is of a Serious Nature on many Accounts—If the Turks should be driven out of Europe, France would lose some of the Levant Trade and some of the coasting Trade of Italy: and these commercial and Naval Considerations are reinforced by others...
115From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, [13 August 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here two days ago. Being in company with Mrs. Schuyler I was induced, in complaisance to her, to pass through New York. But I was sorry not to find any satisfactory ground to believe that the suspicions entertained of the arrival of the definitive treaty were well founded; though Rivington when it is mentioned to him shrugs up his shoulders and looks significantly; and Sir Guy has...
116From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 10 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
On the sixth I left the Hague, and last night arrived here; I had several Interviews, on some of the last days, at the Hague, which I had not time to give you an Account of as a great Part of my time, was taken up with visits, to take Leave of the Court, the President, the Grand Pensionary, Greffier &c. Ceremonies which must be repeated at every coming and going, and upon many other Occasions,...
117From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 3 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Fiscal Systems of the Powers of Europe, have such an ill Influence on Commerce, that they deserve the Serious attention of Congress and their Ministers whenever they have under Consideration a Treaty with any foreign Power. In Conversation yesterday with M r: D’Asp the Chargé des affaires of Sweeden, I enquired of him what Imposts were payable in their Ports upon the Importation and...
118From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 2 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r: Berenger the Secretary of the French Legation has this Moment left me He came in to inform me of the News. The Empress of Russia has communicated, to the King of Prussia, a Treaty of Alliance between the Emperor of Germany and her, defensive against the Christian Powers and offensive against the Turk. The King of Prussia has answered her “That he is very sensible, upon this Communication...
119From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 1 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
I had last evening some Conversation with D. Joas Theolonico de Almeida the envoy extraordinary of Portugal who desired to meet me to day at any hour at his House or mine. I promised to visit him at twelve, which I did. He said he had heard that the French Minister had proposed to the Duke of Manchester, at Versailles, to reduce the Duties upon French Wines in England, to the level of those...
120From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 31 July [1783] (Adams Papers)
The last Evening, at Court, in the House in the Grove, where all the foreign Ministers supped, the Comte Montagnini de Mirabel, the Minister Plenipotentiary from the King of Sardinia, took an opportunity to enter largely into Conversation with me. As he and I were at a Party of Politicks while the greatest Part of the Company were at Cards, for two or three hours, We ran over all the World,...