From Hastings, Broadway pushes on to Dobbs
Ferry. Here stands the so-called Livingston
mansion. The house was built by a Dutch
farmer, and it was probably not until many
years after that the name of Livingston was
connected with it. But it is best remembered
as the home of Van Brugh Livingston; later it
was owned by Stephen Archer, and the Has-
brouck family have been recent occupants.
The house has of late struggled bravely against
decay. But although the yard and the roof
and the veranda may be shabby, the treasures
within-doors are carefully preserved. One room
is shown in which the Evacuation papers were
signed. This is in the middle of the btulding,
the front portion having been built on since
Revolutionary days. A rosewood table, with its
accompanying rosewood and haircloth chairs,
is called "the Lafayette table," tradition hav-
ing it that in times of large entertainments this



Conference at Dobbs Ferry 255

long and groaning board would be stretched
diagonally across the room.
In May of 1783, General Washington, with
Clinton and their suites, went down the river to
meet Sir Guy Carleton who was to come up the
river in a frigate and meet them at Dobbs Perry.
Here at the Livingston Mansion the conference
between the commanders took place. On May
8th the American party dined on board the sloop,
where they were received with military honors
and entertained with stately courtesy by General
Carleton.
A monument standing near the house records
the fact that "here, in 1781, the French allies
tmder Rochambeau joined the American army.
