Name/Title
LETTER PROPOSING PURCHASE OF SAW KILL FROM ROBERT DONALDSON TO LOUISE DAVEZAC LIVINGSTONEntry/Object ID
MP.2005.659Description
Handwritten letter from Robert Donaldson to "Mrs. Livingston," January 16, 1841; he is happy that she is "willing to cooperate...in the / proposed arrangement with Mr. Cruger," offered $7,000, Mr. Cruger asked for $9,000, details financial arrangements between them; horizontal rectangular embossed insignia in upper left corner of first page and third page; writing on first, second and third pages; red marks and lines in center left of fourth page; partial seal on left and right center of fourth page; red, circular postage mark on lower center of fourth page, "NEW-YORK (sic) / JAN / 17."
Text as follows:
D 45
PAGE 1
New York Jany 16th 1841 /
My Dear Madam /
I have been favored with your / Lettters of the 6th & 14th – and I am happy to find / that you are willing to cooperate with me in the / proposed arrangement with Mr. Crugere /
After convening with Mr. Van keusen (sic) this / morning I had an interview with Mr. C. – at / which I offered $7,000 for the lower Mill & , He / asked $9,000 – but as your wishes are not fully / ascertained – I declined to make any agreement / & no (IW) /
When I proposed to you to bear / only 1/3rd of the expence of the purchase / I calculated on keeping up the old Mill to repay / partly the larger amount that I should pay. /
But W. Van keusen informs me that he thinks / you expct the Mill to be removed & a stipulation / on my part not to erect mills of any description / on my side hereafter – and my purpose / in writing now is to request you to favour /
PAGE 2
Me as soon as it may be convenint to your / with a distinct expression of your wishes on this subject /
It is probable that for $7,000 or $7,5000 / that Mr. Cruger may be induced to sell this / property to us – if we bind ourselves never / to allow mills of any kind to be errected / - givm him at the same time the priviledge / of removing the old mills – I have no / objection to this plan – provided you are willing to bear ½ the expense – say $3,500 /
The arrangement then would be this, / We would bear equally \ except that you would give / a Bond payable in 2 years \ & I would pay cash \ / the expense of the purchase - & mutually restrict / each other from ever erecting any kind of mills upon / the Island - & the old mill to be removed as soon as possible / the middle of the stream would then be our / dividing line & the road to the mill would be / closed – thus securing privacy to the grounds / there , which would be treated as ornamental / greouns & the stream used for purposes of / embellishment – & fish ponds too. /
PAGE 3
Unless the low price of $9,000 may induce / some one to buy the lower mill & (IW) (IW) / it is probable that he will sell the Farm / & then be enabled to hold the Mill property - / until he visits Europe – next Fall – where / he may manage to sell it much to our / annoyance. /
I shall me no agreement with C / until I hear more conclusively from you / = In the mean time I beg you to rest assured / that I have no other wish in this matter / than that we may be equally benefited / by it /
Believe me Madam /
Very truly yours /
Robert Donaldson /
Mrs. Livingston /
Phila a. (sic)
PAGE 4
Mrs. Edward Livingston /
318 Chestnut St., /
Philadelphia
Circular postal mark in red ink with “NEW – YORK / JAN / 17” within.Condition
Notes
Remarks: Slight chipping at bottom left fold; hole at center left of third page; fold and horizontal tear at center right side of third page; foxing, surface dirt and staining.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Louise Davezac LivingstonNotes
RecipientGeneral Notes
Note Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Union Church, Storage, Shelf 27BNote Type
DepartmentNote
Library