William Livingston to David Brearley (May 19, 1787)

Burlington 19 May 1787

Dear Sir The State has added to our Delegates in Convention, Mr. Clark and myself. I suspect that by the middle of next week at farthest we shall have a full representation by the attendance of Mr. Clark and Mr. Patterson. Mr. Houston's ill state of health which I sincerely regret will I fear prevent his going tho' he told me that he intended it. It will be more agreeable to me, and what is of more consequence more useful to the State in my opinion that I should remain here during the sitting of the Legislature which I imagine will not be protracted beyond three weeks. After the rising of the Assembly, I will upon sufficient notice prepare for the journey chearfully take the place of any one of you that shall choose to return home and if our Delegation should during the sitting be unavoidably reduced to two I will leave the Legislature and go to the Convention rather than that the State should for a single day be unrepresented in it, but in that case I should wish to have notice sufficient to enable me first to go to Elizabeth Town where I should want two or three days to arrange my own affairs and prepare for the Journey.