Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Livingston, Robert III, 1708-1790 to "your Excellency" re: settling the line between Massachusetts and New York

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03107.03703 Author/Creator: Livingston, Robert III, 1708-1790 Place Written: s.l. Type: Letter Date: circa 1783-1815 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 31.1 cm, Width: 21.4 cm Order a Copy

[Robert, Jr.] writes that now that his "Excellency" is the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony, he may finally resolve the violent boundary dispute between Massachusetts and New York. He adds that it is unfortunate that such hostilities persist between the two colonies, especially at a time when Great Britain is engulfed in a war with "a powerful enemy." He concludes: "And as to such a Settlement I am so far from any apprehensions about my title to what I possess that I would use my utmost Endeavours to Encourage & Expedite it; And if the Claim of the Massachusets Shall be found to Stand the test before a proper judicature, I must peaceably asquiese, but as to being dragoon'd out of my Estate, I shall always beg Leave to be excused."

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources