Robert R. Livingston to John Jay, 21 April 1779
ClerMount 21 st Ap l 1779
Dear John
A fortnight has already elapsed since I received yours of the 14 th . Ult., I feel my self ashamed of my neglect, tho– as far as business & company may plead my excuse I am excusable, since I have Opened my court at Albany, transacted some business for Duer there, & been ever since crouded with company. But I am more willing to own my fault than to offer an appology which you will too often have it your power to return, to make it politick in me to admit–
I can not as I at first proposed be with you this month, being detained here till the middle of May in order to see my sister Getty 1 married, after which I shall hope to have the pleasure of seeing you at Philadelphia– I hardly know how to admit your excuse for the reserve & caution which (to use your own phraze) mark your Letter since safe conveyances–are very frequently afforded & I do not find that one of our Letters have miscarried– I long for that free & open communication of sentiment that make the soul of friendship– And put more value upon one letter that is written from the heart, than on twenty that are designed for the press. 2 Politicks you may communicate or not as you please, not that I w d have you suppose me indifferent to them– On the contrary I am very desirous of knowing what passes, & speak according to knowledge on the present subjects of every conversation– Your grand secret begins here to be considered by many as a political term :– Tho from what I can learn of it, it is not exactly what I wish– 3 Yet ^ I am ^ so desirous of peace & see so manifestly the impossibility of carrying on another campaign without some thing better than a paper exchequer– Or even with specie if the enimy should remove the seat of war far eastward, from the difficulty of collecting, & transporting provissions, that I am willing to make the most of it– And I do not know whether upon the whole in our present tumultuous situation ^ Congress ^ should seem rather to acquiess in the terms that may be offered from attention to its allies, than agree to them–
Never was the spirit of discontent more alive among us than at present, the people are uneasy & know not to what object to direct their complaints, they see things go wrong but know not how to mend them, this will produce many changes in our legislature, among others I beleive Benson will lose his seat– 4 You have I suppose heard the history of our last sessions. You rightly judge of the spirit that actuated it– Never was there a greater compound of folly, avarice, & injustice, than our confiscation bill, to which Bensons compromising genious not a little contributed. 5 Many preparetory steps were taken to produce a change in the delegation, which will take ^ place ^ shortly– Morris & Schuyler will I think undoubtedly be left out the first opportunity– 6 I have freequently wrote to the first to intreat him to break out & shew him self here, to remove prejudices that accumulate during a Man–s absence– You can mention this matter to him– I sh d write to him but I am unwilling to expose myself to further neglects, since I can ascribe them to no motives that do not lessten him in my esteem–
I wrote to M r . Duane about M r . Tetard who has been with me the whole winter– He is entitled to some provission from Congress, he promissed to procure for him the place of chaplain in the Highlands or interpreter to Congress, since which I have heard nothing from him, tho– I have written twice pressingly to him upon the subject– You would do a charitable deed, & oblige me, by providing for him in some way or other. His memorial lays before congress & his poverty is extream– 7 present my comp s . to M rs . Jay & believe me D r . John Most sinsirely Your–s
Rob t . R. Livingston
How goes the Vermont business. I am fearful that you will be blamed for not procuring some settlement of it.–