Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-05

| FROM a FOn9OrrkN GRAVE
H0ess Paid 70 the Rsuaains e shs WA q
IN Americas Pasesse
| re AccrDKxrAr. DncovKnY o. rHR DoDY o.
| MRS. RoBrRr r. LIVINGSTON N TIE Old rlrs-
| ByrERlAx eRAvEyAxp-Trs REMOVAL 10 TIE
| LIVINGSTON MAxol-A sKETcn OF TEE LIVING
/ sToNs.
| A CITING UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
"A Mr.. Smith Tompson, tho Warrington rep
rcsentative Of tho family, an undertaken last
week removed from the old Presby terrain grave
yard tho remains Of the wife of Hon. Robert R
Livingston, disting uished member Of ono Of the
most notable families that has ever resided in
this country. Tho fortunate discovery Of the
remains was due to the merest accident and
had it not been for the finding in tho grave OF .
silver plate bearing an identifying description
the body OF this wife Of an eminent husband
would in ali probability have been recon-
signed in a burial lot owned by Q family
named Lucas. At the head Of the grave
was plo: containing the earthly remains Of
lady named Lucas. A footstone, on which
was cut the letter L, originally marked the
spot, but it had been removed to the head Of
the Livingston grave. When the sexton was
| ordered to disinter the Lucas body and told
tina. stone marked the spot he unhesitatingiy
began to open the Livingston grave. The
| coffin had been walled in secureiy and about
every two feet he dug marble label the length
OF the grave was disclosed. At last, when four
OF these had been removed. the body was
| struck, and lying on its upper portion, In an
excellent and readable condition. was fonnd the
heavy solid silver plate bearing the inscription,
! which convinced the sexton that tho wrong
grave had been opened.
| notice OF the finding was made In TIE STAR
| AZ the time and New York psper copied IT
under the head Of "How Soon I'VE Are Forgot
ten. 1t came beneath the eye Of Mr.. Clermont
Livingston, the aged occupant OF the Living
| ston manor on the Hudson, and no immediate ly
| nouned his relative, Mr.. Smith Tompson of this
city, TO order the remains taken up and for
warded to "Clermont" where they will DO placed
beside the dust OF the great chancellor IN the
family vault
MRS. LrvrSosroN's DEATH.
Mrs. Livingston died in 1914 while on visit
| to Washington. This incident recalls to mind
| the history of this celebrated family. The com
mon ancestor Of tho Livingstons in this coun-
| try was John Livingston, celebrated preacher
OF the Reformed church in Scotland, who was
exiied from that rugged land in the seventeenth
| century for non-eonformity to the established
church. He sought religious freedom in the
land OF tho Dutch and there lived universally
| beloved until his death, which occurred about
iVo years before the American colonies declared
| themselves free and independent. shortly
| after his son Robert emigrated to New York
and purchased from the Indians large tract
OF land on the Hudson river. Subsequently
the governor Of that province granted him the
land, with the privilege Of holding court
baron. George confirmed tho grant
tanned between 120 600 ard $50, 90 acres OF
| land and took in ninety-two counties. OF this
| immense tract great deal passed out of the
possession OF the Lvingstons, but to this day the
| manor OF Livingston still exists. Robert Liv-
lngston married into the Schuyler family one
| OF the richest in the province, and three sons
were the fruit Of the union. Philip, ono Of
| these, signed the Declaration Of Independence,
while Roberts name will be mentioned always
| with those OF Washington, Jefferson and others
| Of that great period.
During the revolutionary war shot fred BY
the British struck the roof Of the manor house
and tore great hole in it. The occupant ever
afterward refused to allow that roof to be rene
died, but carefully tackled the splinters 30 that
the winds might not blow them away and In
| that beshelled condition the old mansion re-
mains to this day. relic Of the days "that tried
mem souls"
THE CAREER or ROBERT h. LIVINGSTON.
Robert r. Livingston was born in 17A6, and
at the age Of eighteen graduated from Kings,
now Columbia College. He studied law under
| William Smith, the historian and afterward be.
| came . business partner Of the great John Jaw,
He was sent delegate from New York to the
Congress Of rs, and had the honor Of being
chosen one Of committee Of five to draft the
Declaration Of Independence, which, owing to
his being called away to New York to attend the
provincial congress- he was unable to sign On
the day the province Of New York was changed
/ in name to the state Of New York he took his
scat in the provincial convention.
! nuripv Init l. Z
man SO signalized himself by his zeal and Ell
cheney in the cause Of Independence that ali
now rank him with the most nlustrious charac-
tiers Of that notable period. He was the first
chancellor the empire state ever had and in
his Official capacity administered the oath OF
Office to Washington on his Inauguration az
President OF the United States The ceremony
took place at the city hall, then fronting on
Wall street. On this memorable occasion
Chancellor Livingston, after having admin.
pressive tones: Long live George Washington,
President Of the United States For several years
| he ably filed the important Office Of secretary
| of foreign affairs tor the United States and in
| 1888 was chairman OF the New York convention
| which considered the Constitution, and wa
principally instrumental in securing its adop-
ton. President Washington seeing the fitness
| of the chancellor for that position rendered
him the pos. of minister to France. At first
he declined it, but at later period, after refus-
|
Cabinet Of jefferson, he was prevailed upon ia
accept it, and was appointed in 1901 minister
pienipotentiary.
AT THE FRENCH COURT.
Upon his arrival in the country which had
given us Lafayette he Was received by Nspo-
leon Bonaparte, then first consul with marked
respect and extreme cordiality, and during his
| whole stay he enjoyed the warm friendship OF
Bonaparte. It is said the American was Ma
poleon's favorite OF all the foreign ENJOYS.
While he was serving the young republic,
Louisiana, which then embraced much of the
territory now occupied by the states imne-
diately west of tho Mississippi, was added to ita
domain.
Although Mr.. Monroe was also member OF
the commission appointed to arrange the mat
ter with the French government be did moi
arrive in Paris until MIR. Livingston had nearly
perfected the terms of the cession. The share
Of this future President in the transaction was
principally in afixing his signature a. one OF
the commission. Minister Livingston also did
much to make the French government settle
for the numerous spoliations on our commerce.
After resigning his position at the French cap
ital he travelled extensively in the old world,
and on his return to Paris found Napoleon oc.
cupying the imperial chair. The old friend
ship between them was renewed and on the
day Of the Americans departure Bonaparte
presented him with handsome snuff box con.
tanning miniature likeness Of himself, painted