MINOR TOPICS

COLONEL HENRY BEEKMAN LIVINGSTON

The following letter written from Canada in October, 1775, by Captain (later Colonel) Henry Beekman Livingston to his father, Judge Robert R. Livingston of Clermont, contains information of much value. The Mr. (Captain, later Colonel) James Livingston referred to, and of whom some interesting particulars are given by Mr. Schuyler in the January number of the Magazine of American History, 1889, was a cousin of Henry Beekman Livingston. Both were descended from the Rev. (Mess.) John Livingston, to whom Charles II. swore allegiance to the Scottish covenant-Henry Beekman Livingston of Clermont through Robert, the youngest child of the Rev. John, who was the first emigrant of that ilk and the first proprietor of the Livingston manor, James, through Robert "the nephew," son of the James who was one of the oldest children of the Rev. John.

But there was another and nearer relationship; the mother of Colonel Henry, Mrs. Robert R. Livingston, was the only child of Colonel Henry Beekman, by his wife Janet, daughter of Robert "the nephew." John, the father of Colonel James Livingston, was a son of the same Robert. Few of the colonels of the Revolution saw harder service or were more actively engaged in the field than Henry Beekman Livingston or James Livingston, and yet their lives remain unwritten. The several allusions to General Richard Montgomery greatly add to the value of this letter. As stated therein, the refusal of the vanguard to advance compelled the general to retreat, but he not only found means to bring the same men back, but to march them around the dreaded ramparts of St. John's. This is an example of how he trained the troops that presently conquered Montreal and followed where the Bayard of America found death on the heights of Quebec.

It was not necessary for him, in parting from his Janet, to whisper, “You shall never have cause to blush for your Montgomery."

Nothing relating to the General lacks interest. I therefore add a line found in a letter written by his mother-in-law, dated Claremount, March 29, 1774: "Janet and Montgomery, who is one of the tenderest of men," etc., etc.

"I just rec'd Your Letter. Your illness gives me great unesincss. I hope it will be of no duration. With Yours I rec'd a letter from Robert, Dated 20 Sep': he tells me nothing new. After you left me at Albany, we marched to Fort George

in three Days, Where I was obliged to stop till Col' Gates, who commanded there, would please let us cross the Lake, which was in about three Days: we had a Favourable passuage across, being but one Night by the way: the next morning we came to Ticonderoga; as soon as we came there, I waited upon Col' Hinman, Commanding Officer at that Place and begged leave to be permitted to proceed with the first Boats for the Army, then at Il, au Noix; this I obtained for myself but not for my Company, there not being a sufficiency of Boats to carry them off-I therefore took my departure and Ordered my Lieut to Follow, the first opportunity. when I came down I found all in Health at the Army except gen! Schuyler. A party of them, about 500, had been sent down the Lake as far as we now are, under the Command of General M [Montgomery]: they were attacked upon their Landing by a Party of Indians, who were beat off by our People with the loss of about 9 killed & wounded; the Enemy had 15 their Number Killed upon the spot and some wounded-our People intrenched themselves in two places, about a Mile apart, along the Banks of the River Sorrel (this part of the Lake takes that Name :) the next morning they went back to the Isle, having made the discoveries they tho! necessary-All this happened before I came down. When I came there, Col' Ritzma was detatched with a Party of Picked men, to take Possession of Lapree, a Village about 15 Miles the other side St. John's, in order to cut off all Communication between Canada and that Place, from his own and a Conneticut Regnt: Gen! Montgomery followed with another Party, consisting the same Number, to see us safely landed; (I obtained Leave to come in Character of Aid-de-Camp to Col' Ritzma, upon this Occasion, as my Company was not yet come ;) we Landed safely, at the upper Breastworks, about a mile from this we now Occupy. and Marched them within 200 Yards of this Place, where was another Breastwork, a Flanking Party having been sent out from the Front to scour the Woods. While we were coming down, we who were in Front Found ourselves deserted of a sudden by Nine tenths of our Party; upon going back to learn the cause we found they had been affrighted by our Flanking Party, who came suddenly out of the woods upon them in order to join us. the Panick was so great that it was with dificulty we prevailed upon them to proceed on their March: we had not advanced a 100 yards farther, before we were attacked with musketry a little a Head of us & some Cohorns thrown from a Boat upon the Water. Our were again Affrighted & retreated with great precipitation, except about 30 who enter'd the Breastworks, where they found some Indians, Soldiers, and French, about 15 in number, who they Fired upon; an Indian and a Frenchman was killed of their Number, the rest made their Escape. next Day the Gen', who came to see us Land safely, was obliged to proceed upon his way Back with us all to the Isle, not being able to prevail upon the Detachment to go forward. however a Few Days after he brought down the same detachment, (having first made peace with the Indians) that they might have an Opportunity of retreiveing their

VOL. XXI.-No. 3.-18

Honour this they Effected: after staying a Day or two to compleat our Breastworks Gen! My March Round St John's with this Party and as he came out of the Woods, popped very unexpectedly upon a Body of about 400 of the Enemy, who attacked him with Field Pieces, but he Obliged them to retreat into the Fort: this they did in good Order, Carrying their Field Pieces with them, the Loss trifling on both Sides. the Gen! having effected his Purpose, ordered a Party to intrench themselves about 2 miles below St John's, upon the only two Roads that lead from that Place to the inhabited parts of Canada, Another Party was dispatched to Lapararee and Allen was sent into the Country to see what Number of Canadians would Join and take arms under him he engaged about Eighty and very imprudently marched with them to attack Montreal; they were Attacked near that City by 100 Regulars and some Tories, about 50; Allen and 20 of his men were taken Prisoners, the rest ran away. Our Party at Lapararee were more successful, having intercepted a Large Quantity of Wine, Rum and Cloathing, that were for the relief of the Garrison. Our Parties in the Country have taken about [illegible] Prisoners, they are sent to Hartford. 200 Canadians have joined us and intrenched themselves Strongly, on the East side the River Sorrel, Opposite St John's at about 500 Yards Distant from it.

"Mr. James Livingston has been exceedingly active, he had several skirmishes with the Enemy, since we came down and before. We have now Nine Hundred men the Other Side St John's strongly intrenched, about a Thousand on this side at the Main Camp in the same situation-we have a Mortar Redoubt, about 200 yards from them, and a 2 Gun Battery about a Mile from them, they bear upon the Fort and the Vessels of "

End of fourth page.

The rest of the letter is missing.

Capital letters in the above are given as in

the original. Both in their usage and non-usage the writer appears to have been guided by a purpose.

NEW YORK CITY.

MATURIN L. DELAFIELD

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS

IMPRESSIONS OF WASHINGTON

From a letter from Chief-Justice Sir William Dunkin to his nephew Robert Henry Dunkin, Esq., of Philadelphia, dated Calcutta, India, April 20, 1797." Never before published.

46

[Contributed by Rev. Maunsell Van Rensselaer, D.D.]

"I never felt myself so interested about a great man I never saw, as I have long felt for your Mr. Washington. Surely there must be too much gratitude in Americans, too much discrimination of character, too much of well-founded judgment, to suffer any competition to be successful against him. Many great, many good men there may certainly be found amongst you; but a man so tried in difficulties of awful danger, so successful in surmounting them, so firm and yet so unassuming in the plenitude of power, I believe, and all who reflect must believe, is hardly, if at all, to be found in America or in any other quarter of the globe."

UNPUBLISHED LETTERS OF ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON

CHANCELLOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

THE FIRST UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

[Contributed by Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth]

To His Excellency, Thomas M'Kean, President of Congress :

Sir,

Clermont, Manor of Livingston 25th Aug. 1781

I was yesterday favored with your letter of the 11th inst. inclosing a resolution of Congress appointing me Secretary of Foreign Affairs. I feel myself extremely honored by this mark of their attention, and by the obliging manner in which your Excellency has communicated it.

I am too conscious of my own insufficiency and too solicitous for the welfare of my country, not to wish, that the choice of Congress had fallen upon some person better qualified to fulfil the duties of that important Department.-Though I agree in sentiment with your Excellency on the expediency of filling this place as soon as possible, & am sorry to interpose the smallest delay, yet, I feel myself embarassed in coming to a determination, from not having seen the act of Congress constituting the office, nor do I know how far the Secretary of Foreign Affairs is to be consulted in the appointment of an interpreter, Secretary, and such clerks as he may find necessary, tho his reputation may depend on their discretion and fidelity; nor what provision is made for defraying the necessary expenses of the Department. When Your Excellency shall do me the honor to communicate the resolution of Congress on these subjects, I shall, without delay inform you of my determination to accept or decline the office, and in either case, I shall retain a grateful sense of the honor that Congress have done me by the appointment, I have the honor to be, Sir,

with great respect & esteem Your Excellency's

most obedient humble servant Rob R. Livingston

[SECOND LETTER]

To His Excellency, Thomas M'Kean, President of Congress:

Sir,

Office of Foreign Affairs Philadelphia, 29th October 1782.

I have the honor to enclose for the inspection of Congress a letter from Mr. Harrison So much of it as relates to the state of his accounts has been sent to the office of Finance - As this subject has before been strongly insisted upon by Mr. Jay, I doubt not that Mr. Morris will pay every attention to it which the means in his hands will permit.

Mr. Harrison is so well spoken of by Mr. Jay & has manifested on many occasions a watchfull attention to the welfare of the United States & discovered such disinterestedness in every transaction which related to them, that I cannot but hope that Congress will think him worthy of public notice. Should they be of opinion that it would be improper to appoint him consul at a time when he could not be received in a public character, & when an attempt to display it might draw upon the United States new indignities, yet it would give me pleasure to be enabled to assure him from Congress that they entertain a just sense of his services & that