Robert R. Livingston to John Jay, 8 October 1778

RhineBeck 8 th : Oct r . 1778

Dear John

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 1 & Doc r . Cooper, they agree in orders: regular diet, & exercise, & a suspension of all business together with a change of air–€” I must therefore get you to appologize for my not attending on the Legislature this sessions & if you sh d . think that the publick business will suffer by my absence you will at your discretion resign my office in to the hands of the Council for which you are hereby sufficiently empowered since I have no wish to keep it at the expence of the publick–€” I shall in a few days set out upon some journey in quest of that health which it seems I cant find at home so that I shall probably be out of the state near two months–€” Morris writes me that Duer will resign; in what manner will the deligation be filled up?–€”there never was a time which needed greater abilities. 2 The Congress is far from standing high either with the people or the army for money is so much worth depreciated as hardly to be current–€” And as a necessary consequence of this our expences have encreased beyond all conception. According to a calculation which I have made it costs us as much to maintain the army two months now–€”as it did to maintain them for the whole of the year 1776.–€” 3 It is absolutely necessary that we sh d get out of it ^ this war ^ soon.–€”

Tell Benson 4 that I sh d . have drawn the laws we talked about but have not been well enough to do it since he left me–€” I write now with my head on my hand so that you will excuse my not adding any thing but that I am D r . John Most sincerely yours

Rob t . R. Livingston