Peter Van Brugh Livingston

Peter Van Brugh Livingston to John Kean, April 25, 1786   

Kean Galleries and Collections, Liberty Hall Collection   

Audio Credits:   

Reader: Jonathan Spivey  

Audio Director: Christopher Mallari, Audio Engineer, Kean University  

Sir  
The subject of your letter of yesterday is of the most important nature, and requires the most serious and deliberate consideration, as happiness in this world in a great measure depends on a prudent choice.  

The ties of natural affection are so firmly fixed in every considerate parent for promoting the comfort and prosperity of their children, that it is an object that lays very near their hearts. As I would not wish to counteract the inclinations of my children who are  
arrived to years of maturity incapable to judge for themselves without sufficient reason, in having heard your general good character, I shall lay no obstruction to your wishes to obtain the consent of my daughter as a partner for life. But at the same time I would not have you entertain an opinion that it is in my power to give her a fortune on marriage, my circumstances during our late troubles are greatly attuned, and therefore I cannot  do what I could wish and what I might have done before the war, and can only say at present that I intend to make an equal distribution of what property I may be possessed of at the time of my death amongst my children, and as my daughter whose affections you wish to obtain lays as near my heart as any of them and never has by her behavior incurred my displeasure, I think her intituled to an equal portion.   

I mean never to interfere or control her in her choice, and therefore you have my full consent to pay your addresses to her, and whatever the rest may be I shall ever wish you every desirable blessing. I am  
  
Sir your most obedient servant  
Peter Van Brugh Livingston  

New York  
April 25th 1786  

  
John Kean Esquire  

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