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(Robert R. Livingston) Sig. Clipped, Letter to U.S. Sec. of State James Madison

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 1,800.00 USD
(Robert R. Livingston) Sig. Clipped, Letter to U.S. Sec. of State James Madison
Autographs
(Robert R. Livingston ) Signature Clipped & Lacking, Letter Written by Livingston to U.S. Secretary of State James Madison from Paris, July 28, 1803
(ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON) (1746-1813). American Lawyer, Politician, and Diplomat from New York, as well as a Founding Father of the United States. Administered the Oath of Office to George Washington when he assumed the Presidency April 30, 1789, Minister to France under Jefferson, Negotiated the Louisiana Purchase.
July 28, 1803-Dated, Autograph Letter, signature of Robert Livingston has been cut-out below the written text and is not present, measuring 8” x 12.5”, Paris, Very Fine. Robert Livingston writes to U.S. Secretary of State James Madison, noted at bottom as being addressed to: “His Excellency / The Minister of Exterior Relation”. This letter, reads in full;

“Paris 28th July 1803 -- Sir / Being about to make a journey to Switzerland (via) England for a few weeks, Mr Shipwith (the) Commercial agent of the United States at Paris, will have the honour to receive Such communications, as you will be pleased to make me thru him; he being charged So to do During my absence. He is also particularly charged to give certificates of Citizenship to the Citizens of the United States of which I pray your Excellency to apprise the minister of police that no difficulty may arise on that subject. I seize this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my high consideration”.

Robert R. Livingston was the U.S. Minister to France in 1803 when negotiations were taking place for the Louisiana Purchase. It is documented that on the very next day, July 29, 1803, Livingston wrote a letter to James Madison, the U.S. Secretary of State, regarding the purchase. Here is an excerpt from that letter July 29th letter (not present with this lot):

"I can only say that there never was a crisis in the affairs of this country that called for unanimity and promptitude more than the present. The First Consul [Napoleon Bonaparte] has expressed his willingness to treat for the whole of Louisiana; and his wish that the United States should be the purchasers. The price he demands is enormous, but it will purchase an empire. He has appealed to the policy of the measure, and to the benefits that will accrue to both nations from it, in such strong and pointed terms, that I have no doubt of its being his sincere wish to bring it about, if he can do so on terms that will not be injurious to his country."

Livingston goes on to explain that the U.S. had not expected such an offer from France, and that it was a "most important and delicate negotiation." He believed that the purchase would secure the future of the United States and that the opportunity could not be missed. Livingston and James Monroe, who was also in Paris as a special envoy, had earlier negotiated the Louisiana purchase with French officials, and on April 30, 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was signed, which added a vast amount of territory to the United States.

Docket on the back page of this current letter reads, in full: “The American Minister’s (R(obert) R Livingston) Correspondence constituting His as Chargé d'affaires during his absence from Paris.” Further notation in a later hand in pencil reads: “July 28, 1803 / July 27, 1803”