He had played a prominent part in the affairs of the Revolution and in the ratification of the Constitution; had known Franklin and Washington and had negotiated with Napoleon the Louisiana Purchase.

His reply to Stevens is a good statement of the objections to the railway, as seen at the time, and of the public attitude towards it.
Robert R.Livingston to John Stevens "Albany, 11th March, 1812.
"I did not, till yesterday, receive yours of the 5th of February; where it has loitered on the road I am at a loss to say.

I had before read your very ingenious propositions as to the rail-way communication.

I fear, however, on mature reflection, that they will be liable to serious objections, and ultimately more expensive than a canal.

They must be double, so as to prevent the danger of two such heavy bodies meeting.
The walls on which they are placed must at least be four feet below the surface, and three above, and must be clamped with iron, and even then, would hardly sustain so heavy a weight as you propose moving at the rate of four miles an hour on wheels.