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Robert Livingston (1746-1813) judge, drafter of Robert Livingston (1746-1813) judge, drafter of the

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Robert Livingston (1746-1813) judge, drafter of Robert Livingston (1746-1813) judge, drafter of the
<B>Robert Livingston (1746-1813) judge, drafter of the Declaration of Independence, fine content Autograph Letter Signed,</B></I> "<I>R Livingston</B></I>", three pages, 7.75" x 9.5", Philadelphia, Feb. 15, 1780 likely to Governor George Clinton of New York relating news of John Jay's arduous voyage to Spain to assume his post as American minister to that court. Livingston writes in part. "<I>We are all very happy the day before yesterday at rec[eivin]g a letter from Mr [John] Jay, but on opening we found it dated at Martinique - where he was driven after loosing all his Masts, & Bowsprit, on the Banks of Newfoundland - He got in to Martinique the 19th Decr and left it in a french frigate the 26[th] all well on board on the day of their arrival the English fleet from St Lucy engaged a fleet of merchantmen under convoy of a frigate & notwithstanding a gallant attempt of Monr. La Motte Piquet with 3 ships to relieve them took 12 of them - The English have a decided superiority at sea in the west Indias, owing to the storm that divided the French fleet - The Minister tells me that he has acc[ount]s from Europe so late as Nov[embe]r the combined fleet was then preparing for sea under Mr. Chaffunt, Count D'Olivers being removed from the command - great preparations were making on both sides to carry on the war with spirit the ensuing summer, & very little prospect of a peace.</B></I>" Despite the seeming danger, Jay arrived safely with his wife in Cadiz on January 22, 1780 -- about a month after he left Martinique. While serving as Minister to Spain, he was also appointed by Congress to join the peace commission with Benjamin Franklin and John Adams in Paris. There, he would play a pivotal role in the negotiations to end the war with Great Britain. Light creases, margins just a tad rough, else Fine condition. A fine specimen. From the Henry E. Luhrs Collection. Accompanied by LOA from PSA/DNA.