The mansion is beautifully situated, and, like all the villas in this neighbourhood, commands a fine prospect of the Katzbergs. It was described, as long ago as 1812, as "one of the most commodious houses in the State, having a river front of 104 feet, and a depth of 91 feet, and consisting of a main body of two stories and four pavilions," in one of wjiich the chancellor had "a library of 4,000 wellchosen volumes." There he died in the spring of 1813.

"Mr. Livingston," says a contemporary, "was a very useful and benevolent man, a scholar of profound erudition, an ardent patriot, and a prompt and decided promoter of all the essential interests of the country." He took special interest in improvements in agriculture and manufactures, and on his return to the United States, from an embassy to France, at the beginning of the present century, he introduced into this country some of the finest specimens of the Merino sheep, from the celebrated flock of Rambouillet in France. As early as 1812, it was estimated that there were in the United States at least 60,000 descendants of the Clermont flock, of which about 1,000 were at Clermont.

Mr. Livingston's chief honour as a man of science, and promoter of useful interests, is derived from his aid and encouragement in eff'orts which resulted in the entire success of steam navigation. As early as 1797, he was engaged with an Englishman named Nesbit in experiments. They built a steamboat on the Hudson river, at a place now known as De Koven's Cove, or Bay, about half a mile below TivoH, or Upper Red Hook Landing. Brunei, the engineer of the Thames Tunnel, and father of the originator and constructor of the Great Eastern steamship, was the engineer. The enterprise was not successful.