Name/Title
LETTER PROPOSING PURCHASE OF SAW KILL FROM ROBERT DONALDSON TO LOUISE DAVEZAC LIVINGSTONEntry/Object ID
MP.2005.657Description
Handwritten letter on folded paper from Robert Donaldson to "Mrs. Edward Livingston, " December 16, 1840; suggests Mrs. Livingston join him in a joint purchase from John Cruger of the "lower mills & water Power (sic) from the Cataract (sic) to the River (sic)," he will "bear 2/3rds of the expense," purchase might remove the mill, their "pleasure grounds extended to the creek from the Cataract to the River - & a lake for fish formed, with ornamental water falls - which would render the places all that could be desired;" embossed rectangle in upper left corner of first page; writing on first and second pages; hand-drawn map in pencil on third page detailing estates of Blithewood and Montgomery Place with the "Cataract," "Reservoir," "Rustic / Bridge," The Hudson River;" partial seal on center right of third page and on center right and left of fourth page; red, circular postal stamp of "NEW YORK / DEC" in lower center of fourth page.
Text as follows:
RECTO
PAGE 1
Mrs. Edward Livingston, New York, Decr. 16th 1840 /
Madam /
I should not trouble you with / a letter of Business – if I did not feel assured / that your interests, even more than my own / are involved in the subject of this communication /
To prevent Montgomery Place & Blithewood / from being injured by the errection of Factories / on the stream which flows between them, I / think it is very advisable to buy out W. Crugers (sic) / lower mills & water Power from the Cataract / to the River. /
I am willing to bear 2/3 rds / of the expense if you will bear the other 1/3rd /
I annex a sketch which may serve to / remind you of the (IW) position of things / then. And you will at once perceive / that if a Factory should be erected (IW) / the six acre lot at the Cataract adjoining / the grounds of Montgomery Place. these
PAGE 2
Would be so much (IW) between Barrytown /& theMills that all privacy & secutity (IW) / be be would be destroyed. In fact our / Places then would scarcely be habitable if a / Factory or two should be built there. /
If we buy the stream – the mill may be / removed. Our pleasure grounds extended to the / Creek from the Cataract to the River. & / a lake for fish formed, with ornamental water / - falls – which would render the places all that / be desired, -
The Lower Mill & the water power could be / purchased at a low price (IW “now?”) I think / But the Tarriff desciptions on (IW) will / probably increase the value of Water Power /
If you are not inclined to cooperate with / me in this purchase – I will very cheerfully / visit Phila. to explain it more fully to you / Your bond for 3,000 Dolls. Will only be required – probably at present (?) /
From very Respectfully /
Yrservnt (sic) /
Robert Donaldson
PAGE 3
Hand drawn, in pencil, map of MP, etc.
PAGE 4
Mrs. Edward Livingston /
Care of Mr. Barton, /
Philadelphia
Red, circular postal stamp with “New – York / DEC / (date illegible) “Condition
Notes
Remarks: Small creases along top and bottom of first page; upper right corner folded down; small vertical tear at bottom right fold; small holes in vertical folds of third page; surface dirt, staining.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Louise Davezac LivingstonNotes
RecipientGeneral Notes
Note Type
Curatorial RemarksNote
The first of a series of nine letters which form 'the convenant" related to the purchase and use of the Sawkill. This letter contains what might be called "the spirit" of the agreement, although the entire transaction is not complete until March 1841. There is no single document which could be cited as "the convenant." [Jessa J. Krick, 9/10/2015].Note Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Union Church, Storage, Shelf 27BNote Type
DepartmentNote
Library