Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03107.00539 Author/Creator: Livingston, James Place Written: Edinburgh, [Scotland] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1700/01/04 Pagination: 1p. + addr. 31.4 x 19.6 cm

Summary of Content: James Livingston writes to his brother about life in Scotland. He writes that Robert (the son) has arrived at his home, and will be settled once used to the surroundings. James writes that William Livingston's son Andrew was being held captive at the prison at Carthagina in Colombia, where he was "worse treated than their slaves." James also writes of the failings of the Scottish colony at Darien in Panama and the petitioning of King William III to allow a Scottish Parliament to sit in session. Docketed on address leaf.

Full Transcript: Edinburgh,[Scotland] 4 January 1700
Dear Brother
I have yours of the 17th October last as also that of the 3d thereof by Capt Drumond he Arived in the west of Scotland ...before the end of November but till we receaved yours of the 17th October by way of London we never heard anything of your son his being come upon the 25th [December] I went to Capt Drumond to enquire annent the child who told me that he had left him well in the shipp and being called in my [Least] could not bring him with him however blessed be the Lord [inserted: he] is now very well comed and has his health very well only somthing troubled with a [hoast] by the cold which is no wonder having been keeped near as long in the shipp after her Arrival as all the sea voyage was I think it not strange that his Mother was loath to part with him for he appears to be a very pleasant child and will be fitt for anything we have not yet thought how to settle him till he be a litle acquainted with his freinds in the place My brother has gott a lamentable Letter from his son Andrew from the prison of Carthagina [Colombia] of the 28 June is worse treated then their slaves which gives me just cause to judge that if my son John be on life he is in the same condition amongst thos people that worse than savages our collonie in Darien [Panama] their deserting has been matter of greatt Greift in this Countrie which appears to have had its Ryse more from the Managers than any want of provisions there went out hier the 24th of sept last four shipps with 1400 Recruitts with provisions and artillerie and two other shipps with provisions [inserted: Capt Macoy] in November & [inserted: another in] [December] last we hear that the two shipps that went from Leith the 11th of May Capts Stork & Jameson have repossest the plant & if they keep it till the other Recruits Com up we are hopfull they may mantain their Interest Butt our great loss is the not having a solled corespondence in som of the Inglish plantations to fordward the Companys Letters or order them what they stand in need off Butt Matters of that natture cannot be Caryed on without great discouragments at the beggining other proclamations in the west indians discharging intercommoning with the Scotts has made a greatt nois hier but I am apt to belive thos proclamations were not the cause of our peoples deserting This nation is most fordward in Carrying on the desing and are petitioning the King that the parlmt May sitt at the tyme to which it is adjoined [inserted: being] 5 March nixt that effentuall methods may be taken theranent shall enlarge no further being obliged to writte oftener to you the having enlarged your interest in this place with my kind Respects to your self & dear spouse and children is from
Dear brother
Your most affectionate brother
Ja[mes] Livingston
Delivered yours to my Heire Janet Miller who with her mother and other two sisters kindly salutt you & yours.
[docket:]
Alb[any] 13 May 1700 Brother James Letter from Edinburgh 4 Jan
[address:]
For Mr Robert Livingston senior Marcht at Fort Albanie
See More

People:

Historical Era: Colonization and Settlement, 1585-1763

Subjects: Children and FamilyPrisonerPrisoner of WarSlaveryLatin and South AmericaMilitary HistoryImmigration and MigrationPetitionGlobal History and US Foreign PolicyGlobal History and US Foreign PolicyGovernment and Civics

Sub Era:

Order a Copy Citation Guidelines for Online Resources

Copyright Notice: The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.