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it's soon done, many will remove their Families; this is a general conversation whenever two or three meets. I am with great respect yours Sincerely

[To G. C.]

[No. 3574.]

Christ'r Tappen.

Governor Clinton's Reasons for Declining to Grant Mr. Livingston a Pass to New York for the Benefit of His Distressed Mother.

Beverwick near Morris Town, 12th March 1781.

Dear Sir, On my Return from Maryland from whence I am just come, I stopp'd at my mother's in Princeton, whose peculiar Situation and at present distress'd Condition, has induced me to lay before you a State of Facts and in Consequence thereof to make application to your Excellency for a Favor, which nothing, but her wants, and a Conciousness of your Friendship, could ever induce.

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She has hitherto been strugling hard with difficulties innumerable to support her little Flock. Her two Sons, Peter and Maturin, have just entered College and bid fair to be an ornament to Society. By taking in young gentlemen to Board with her and some little assistance which she recieved from her Father's Estate, she has been able, heretofore, to support them in their Education and to surmount in a great measure the diffi culties of the Times. But Doctor Witherspoon, who was her Landlord, by renting the House in which she lives over her Head without previous notice, because he could get a little more from some other Person, has entirely cutt off her Resources; and where she and her Family will put their Heads after the first of May next, God only knows, unless she takes a Room in the Col

lege. Such at present is her Condition.

Your acquaintance

with her will justify the assertion that she ought to be relieved, and there is no one to whom at present she can look but myself. I have it in my Power, and thro' your goodness hope to accomplish it.

There is not another House in the Place that she can Rent, and but one for Sale, to remove from that Place will be impos sible, and was there no Injury to accrue to her Family, I must confess I know not where she can fly for maintainance and shelter.

Thus Circumstanced, I made application to Mr. Samuel Ogden, a Friend of mine, and a near neighbour to us, to endeavour to obtain Permission thro his Friends in New York, for himself, and me, to come in, my Reasons for which were these:

I have a Lott of ground which fell to me on the Decease of my Brother James, near the Ship yards in New York, which I purpose to sell, worth in former Times £1000. My Aunt Betsy Liv. ingston in her Will devised to me, my Brother & Sisters each £200, which will amount to £1000 more. William Smith is sole Executor, and for the Payment of the Legacies is empowered to sell her House in New York immediately. Thro his Interest there, I am also in hopes of parting with mine, and the monies arising from the whole, I shall apply to the purchasing of this House in Princeton, which is large and commodious, will enable my mother to take in a Dozen young gentlemen to Board, to pay for the Education of her Children, free her from all Incumbrances and finally place her above want. And unless I go in, she never can be relieved. Representation after Representation has been made to her Brother in New York; he has from Time to Time given Promises of relief, but the Day of her Distress is'

now near at Hand and something more than empty Promisses

is necessary.

Thro Mr. Ogden's Intercession I have obtained a Promise of a Passport to New York, and in Consideration, thereof, I have engag'd to obtain Permission for him on this Side. He married a Sister of Gouverneur Morris's. Old Mrs. Morris is dying with a Dropsy. Gouverneur goes into New York next Wednesday to see her, and Mr. Ogden wishes to see her also. In Consequence of a Quarrel between him and Governor Livingston, which has been very high, I despair of obtaining his Permission for us to go in from this State, nor indeed would Mr. Ogden be under Obligations to him for it. I have, therefore, proposed to him to make application to you, and that we would, provided you would be so obliging as to favor us with a Pass go in from your State by the Way of Kings Bridge. If, therefore, your Excellency will, from the above motives (which are truly deserving of the Title of Humane) give a Passport to him and me to go in from your State for a few Days (for my Stay there as I am sure it will be disagreable shall be short) and inclose it me by the first Post, I will give you my word of Honor, that both he and myself will strictly comply with such Restrictions as you shall think proper to lay us under, and that our going in and coming out shall be known but to few. In doing which you will relieve the distressed and particularly oblige, dear Sir, your sincere Friend and most Obed't Serv't

Wm. S. Livingston.

P. S. The year for dividing her Father's Estate is now come, and I am not without hopes, but that by being on the Spot with Billy, I may also effect a Division at least in Part for her Support. It is at present under John's Direction; he is committing

dayly Waste, (you know his Character) and his Sister is in dayly want.

To His Excellency George Clinton, Esq.

Pokeepsie 3d April 1781.

D'r Sir, Your Letter of the 12th Ultimo reached me at Albany a few Days ago. I flatter myself it is unnecessary to say any thing to induce you to believe it woud give me Pleasure to comply with your Request in Favour of Mrs. Livingston, if it coud be done consistent with my Duty & the Respect which I owe the State in which she at present resides. The Resolution of Congress on the Subject, as it applies to Mrs. Livingston's Case, makes the consent of the Executive Authority of New Jersey necessary to her obtaining a Pass into New York; without this any Interferrence of mine woud be improper & with it unnecessary. Besides the peculiar Situation of this State exposed in almost every Quarter renders it necessary to prevent as much as possible any Intercourse with the Enemy. Influenced by this Consideration, I have been constrained to refuse similar Indulgences to many of the distressed Refugees under similar Circum-, stances with Mrs. Livingston, actualy residing within the State, who wou'd have Reason to complain of partiality shoud I interpose in the present Case.

[G. C.]

[To Wm. S. Livingston.]

[No. 3575.]

General McDougall's Proposition to Provide Lands for Soldiers. Philadelphia, March 12th 1781.

Dear Sir, I intended to have written to you very fully, by this

Conveyance, but being indisposed for some days, I must defer

it till another opportunity offers. I have not attended Congress, since the first instant, when the Confederation was compleated.

Colonel Floyd from his Circumstances, will be oblidged to leave this, when the Roads are settled; and as the Confederation requires two Delegates at least to represent a State, ours will be unrepresented, unless some of the Delegates come on about that time.

The Question of the New Hampshire Grants, will soon be settled, as the State of that Name, urge its Delegates to press for a Decision, and there is great Reason to expect it will be a just and honorable one for our State. The Session made by Virginia to the United States, has removed the Cause of opposition, which Maryland gave, to have our dispute settled; and the other small States not near us, will cease their opposition, as the Cause of it is removed. Pennsylvania will urge a determination of their dispute with Connecticut, as soon as the business of their Legislature is over. This I had from their President, in a confidential Conversation with him, on the Subject of the New England encroachments. The influence of the Officers of the New Engand Lines, is considerable in their States; and the habits of thinking which they have acquired in the army, are more conformable to the genius of our Constitution, than the yeomanry of those States, who will unavoidably come into ours; and it is necessary the levelling principles of the Latter, should be tempered by those of the former. It will be a good Stroke of Policy, to grant those gentlemen, Land in our State, and it might be expedient to extend it to those of New Jersey; Vacant Lands in the Grants might make a part of it. If this should be judged prudent, the grant should extend to

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