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LIVINGSTON, ROBERT R. Autograph letter signed ("Rob R Livingston") to M. Decrée[?] , Minister of the Marine and of the French Colonies, New York, 20 January 1806. 3 pages, 4to, minor restorations to fold, in French.
AN AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HAILS "NAPOLEON THE GREAT"
A fine, outspoken letter of the distinguished diplomat. Livingston, from an influential New York family, was a delegate to the Continental Congress, and one of the committee of five appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence. From 1781 to 1783 he was the first secretary of the newly created department of foreign affairs, played a key role in negotiating the Treaty of Paris, and as Minister to France from 1800 to 1804, he was instrumental in the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, earning the reputation among the French of a "most importunate" negotiator (DAB).
Here, in retirement, he congratulates his friend on Napoleon's recent victories in Ulm and Austerlitz. "I have not forgotten your friendliness to me when I was in Paris, and would not wish to be completely forgotten now that I am in America. Thus I am seizing this favorable opportunity to pass on to you my congratulations on the astounding victories of Napoleon the great. You know, my friend, if you remember the conversations that we had, that I was one of the first to predict, and to recommend, his ascent to the imperial throne. You will therefore not wonder at my anticipating posterity by giving him the title that he will bear, while his military glory, joined to his love of his country and of humanity, will earn him the respect of mankind. I hope that before you receive this letter he will have forced his enemies to make peace, and that he will have stifled forever all the schemes against France, teaching Austria a lesson in moderation, and creating a new barrier for France through the gift of a crown and territorial expansion in Bavaria. You see, Monsieur, although I am far from the theater of action I still have a passion for making plans. But in truth, you almost made me into a Frenchman (though I say it to you in poor French), and I hope that you will not give me the occasion to have to choose between my duty to my country and my love for yours. We are at present feeling quite bitter toward the English, and I think that we will deliver them blows sufficient to upset forever their commerce with the United States. These blows would be stronger if we did not have reason to expect a very serious quarrel with Spain. She has undertaken a pirate war against us in the islands, pillaged all of our vessels that she has encountered at sea, mistreated our sailors, and has even made incursions into our territory in the regions ceded by your Commissioner, such as Louisiana. General Miranda [former General of the French Republican Armies, deported from France and living in England since 1803] is here, just arrived from England, certainly not in order to put out the fire. Whatever happens, I hope that we, France and the United States, will always remain friends, and that we will have the good offices of the Emperor to help us resolve our differences with Spain...".
AN AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HAILS "NAPOLEON THE GREAT"
A fine, outspoken letter of the distinguished diplomat. Livingston, from an influential New York family, was a delegate to the Continental Congress, and one of the committee of five appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence. From 1781 to 1783 he was the first secretary of the newly created department of foreign affairs, played a key role in negotiating the Treaty of Paris, and as Minister to France from 1800 to 1804, he was instrumental in the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, earning the reputation among the French of a "most importunate" negotiator (DAB).
Here, in retirement, he congratulates his friend on Napoleon's recent victories in Ulm and Austerlitz. "I have not forgotten your friendliness to me when I was in Paris, and would not wish to be completely forgotten now that I am in America. Thus I am seizing this favorable opportunity to pass on to you my congratulations on the astounding victories of Napoleon the great. You know, my friend, if you remember the conversations that we had, that I was one of the first to predict, and to recommend, his ascent to the imperial throne. You will therefore not wonder at my anticipating posterity by giving him the title that he will bear, while his military glory, joined to his love of his country and of humanity, will earn him the respect of mankind. I hope that before you receive this letter he will have forced his enemies to make peace, and that he will have stifled forever all the schemes against France, teaching Austria a lesson in moderation, and creating a new barrier for France through the gift of a crown and territorial expansion in Bavaria. You see, Monsieur, although I am far from the theater of action I still have a passion for making plans. But in truth, you almost made me into a Frenchman (though I say it to you in poor French), and I hope that you will not give me the occasion to have to choose between my duty to my country and my love for yours. We are at present feeling quite bitter toward the English, and I think that we will deliver them blows sufficient to upset forever their commerce with the United States. These blows would be stronger if we did not have reason to expect a very serious quarrel with Spain. She has undertaken a pirate war against us in the islands, pillaged all of our vessels that she has encountered at sea, mistreated our sailors, and has even made incursions into our territory in the regions ceded by your Commissioner, such as Louisiana. General Miranda [former General of the French Republican Armies, deported from France and living in England since 1803] is here, just arrived from England, certainly not in order to put out the fire. Whatever happens, I hope that we, France and the United States, will always remain friends, and that we will have the good offices of the Emperor to help us resolve our differences with Spain...".