Robert R. Livingston to John Jay, 17 July 1775
[17 th July 1775 Belvedere]
D r . John
I take the opportunity of Bensons 1 going to New York to let you know what pleasure I should receive in hearing from by the return of the Post, since Benson will return in a few days & deliver safely any Letter you may enclose ^ him ^ & and I shall wait here till [ illegible ] ^ you think ^ that it is necessary I should come to you–
I must confess that after breathing the pure air of the country I dread the Idea of a hot room at Philadelphia–
I am sorrey to say that the spirit of toryism is far far from being subdued in this province–One Liester is very active in Dutches County, & has got several signers to a counter Assotiation how far it might be proper to apprehend him I leave to your judgmt. 2 for my own part I dread a division among our selves infinitely more than the power of Great Britain–It may not however be improper to mention to you that there is one Voluns 3 (or some such name) a young lad who pretends to have escaped from the Man of War. He is what they call a candidate for the ministry, & is now gone either to New York or Philadelphia to be ordained–he preaches both in high dutch & english–the most violent Tory sermons, prays for success to the Kings armies & has hyems composed for the purpose. As the Germans are extreamly ignorant & much attatched to him he will do an infinite deal of mischief if he is not prevented.
I told you some time before I left you that many of our Tenants have refused to sign the assotiation, 4 & resolved to stand by the King as they called it, in hopes that if he succeeded they should have their Lands–since troops have been raised in the province & two of my Brothers have got comissions 5 they have got ^ been ^ frighted & changed their battery in order to excuse themselves assert that they can not engage in the controversy since as their leases are for lives their families must want when they are killed–Tho this is common to them & every other man whose family is supported by their ^ his ^ labour, yet to deprive them of all excuse, my father has declared to them that every man a new lease shall be given to the family of every man who is killed in the service & M r . Livingston has come to the same resolution–Notwithstanding which the scoundrels have as we are informed sent in a petition to the congress replete with falsehoods & charges injurious to the memory of my Grandfather & M r . Livingston– 6 I sh d . be glad to hear the particulars. my father has made them a general offer of that if any man of [ illegible ] reputation appointed by the congress or any other way can shew a single instance of injustice that he will repay it threefold You who know the lenity of of his disposition & the extream low rents (not equal to one per Cent on the value) of the Lands, will take care to set this matter right if such petition should be presented you, & at the same time use some prety strong language to intimidate fellows who act on no principle but fear, & will if they meet with the least encouragement throw the whole country into confusion.
I wish exceedingly to hear what you are about, & how long you expect to stay at Philadelphia, for my own part I can not help thinking no place can be worse chosen on every account–many advantages would attend your removal nearer to the scene of action the center of which w d I conceive at present be Albany since the conduct of the Canada expedition 7 will be of the utmost importance & require your most constant attention, besides that you will by that means be 180 nearer to Boston than you now are–But a reason that weighs much with me is one that we can not mention: the necessity of a serious regard to the affairs of our own province–I suppose you have by this time been applied to about giving leave to sell tea 8 I wish something could be done in that matter to relieve some of the truest friends to liberty who will otherwise be ruined & the laws of the Congress brought into contempt by an open violation of them. & Pray let me hear from you immediately after this comes to hand for fear Benson sh d leave town before he receives your answer, & by that means my pleasure be delayed & I myself prevented from coming to you since I am resolved to wait for your answer to this–I am D r John Your–s most sincerely
Rob t R Livingston Jun r .