CHAPTER XXI.

PHILIP LIVINGSTON.

Bold, and unflinching in the cause of right,
He stood a hero in his Christian might-
His love of Freedom, and his honor'd name,
Won for the future an undying fame.

THE Revolutionary era was one marked with names of stern patriots-an epoch of momentous events. Patriotism in its unadulterated character, uncontaminated even by the slightest taint of corruption, was then exhibited by thousands of hardy yeomanry; and associated with the brilliant names of that retinue of distinguished men, none shone with a purer lustre, or stand more conspicuously before the world than that of LIVINGSTON. Like the name of WOLCOTT, from the early settlement of our country to the present time, that name has been honored and regarded with a sense of emulation. The subject of this biography, was born in Albany on the fifteenth day of January, 1716. He was descended from a Minister of the Gospel who, in 1663, emigrated from Scotland and settled in Rotterdam, where he died. His son Robert, father of Philip, subsequently came to this country, and under the privileges guaranteed to the patroons, obtained a grant of a large tract of land, upon the Hudson River, now in Columbia County, ever since known

as Livingston's Manor. He had three sons, of whom Philip was the eldest, and who became on the death of his father, heir to the manor. His two brothers, Robert and Gilbert, were influential men at that time. The former was the father of Chancellor Livingston, who administered the "Inaugural Oath" to George Washington, in 1789, on taking the Presidential Chair; and the latter was the father of the late Rev. John Livingston, D.D., President of Rutger's College, at New Brunswick, New Jersey.

After completing a preparative course of study, he entered Yale College, at New Haven, where he grad uated with distinguished honors in 1737. He at once turned his attention to commercial pursuits, and engaged in an extensive and lucrative business in the city of New York, where his integrity and upright dealings won for him the profound respect of the whole community. Mr. Livingston first entered upon public life in 1754, when he was elected an Alderman of the East Ward of the city of New York.* For nine consecutive years he was re-elected to that office, and always gave entire satisfaction to his constituents. When Sir Charles Hardy, the Governor of the Colony of New York, was appointed a Rear-Admiral in the British Navy, the government devolved upon the Lieutenant, Delancy, who at once, on the resignation of the Governor, dissolved the General Assembly and ordered new elections. These

At that time the city of New York contained only about eleven thousand inhabitants, and what is now called Wall street was quite at the north end of the town. Since then a "change has come over" the city of New York, greatly to its

advantage.

contests at that time were very warm, but the superior education and influence of the Livingston family secured for Philip and his brother Robert, seats in that body. It was a period of much alarm and agitation, and required sterling men in legislative councils. Mr. Livingston soon became a leader among his colleagues, and by his superior wisdom and sagacity, measures were set on foot which resulted in the capture from the French of several important frontier fortresses, and finally the subjugation of Canada. At that time the "French and Indian war," was at its height, and the brilliant successes of Montcalm upon the northern frontier of New York, gave the people great uneasi

ness.

For a long time before the Revolution, nearly all the Colonies had resident agents in England. The celebrated Edmund Burke was the agent in New York when the war broke out, and it is believed that his enlightened views of American affairs, as manifested in his brilliant speeches in Parliament in defense of the Colonies, were derived from his long-continued and constant correspondence with Philip Livingston, who was appointed one of a Committee of the New York Assembly, for that purpose. He was very influential in that body, and early took a decided stand against the unrighteous acts of Great Britain. He was the associate and leader of such men as General Schuyler, Pierre Van Cortlandt, Charles De Witt, and others, and so long as Whig principles had the ascendancy in the Provincial Assembly, he was the Speaker of the House. When Toryism took possession of the Province, he left the Assembly. In 1774 Mr. Livingston was elected a delegate to the

first Continental Congress, and was one of the committee who prepared the address to the people of Great Britain-an address replete with bold and original thoughts, perspicuous propositions, and convincing arguments. In reference to that Congress, and the address put forth by it, William Pitt, the great Earl of Chatham, said: "I must declare and aver, that, in all my reading and study-and it has been my favorite study I have read Thucydides, and have studied and admired the master-spirits of the world—that for the solidity of reasoning, force of sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion, under such a complication of circumstances, no national body of men can stand in preference to the General Congress at Philadelphia." The next year the Assembly presented such an array of Tories, that it was impossible to elect delegates to the second Congress. Accordingly, several counties, composed of New York, Albany, Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, Westchester, King's, and Suffolk, sent delegates to a Provincial Convention, which body elected delegates to a General Congress, among whom was Philip Livingston, and his nephew, Robert R. Livingston. These delegates were vested with power to act as circumstances should require. Mr. Livingston warmly supported the proposition for Independence, and he voted for and signed the declaration thereof. This was sanctioned by the Provincial Assembly of New York. When the State governments were formed, after the Declaration of Independence, Mr. Livingston was elected a member of the first Senate of New York, which met on the 10th of September, 1777. In 1778, although his health was in a precarious state, occasioned by dropsy in the

chest, he obeyed the call of duty, and took his seat in Congress, to which he had been elected. He had a presentiment that he should not return to his family, and accordingly, on his departure, he bade his family and friends a final adieu. On the 12th of June following, his presentiment became a reality, and his disease then suddenly terminated his life at the age of sixty-two years. No relative was near to smooth his dying pillow, except his son Henry, a lad of eighteen years, then residing in the family of General Washington. Mr. Livingston was zealous in the promotion of every enterprise conducive to the public welfare, and has left behind him a name and fame that kings might covet. He was one of the founders of the New York Society Library; also of the Chamber of Commerce; and was an active promoter of the establishment of King's (now Columbia) College.

Among the portraits which grace Independence Hall, and lend additional lustre to the room in which the Declaration of our Country's freedom was promulgated, is that of Philip Livingston. In the present arrangement of those brave heroes' names and likenesses, it is numbered Seven, and no patriot can gaze upon that countenance, which seems to speak through the living canvas, without emotions of unfeigned gratitude for the men who braved the storms of adversity, and guided the helm of experiment to the accomplishment of a national reality. The last moments of Mr. Livingston was spent at York, Pennsylvania, and the end of a good man is peace.