To the President of Congress. St Petersburg, September 15th, 1781,
Commerce of the southern shore of the Baltic.—The objections of the French Ambassador to his assumption of a public character are unsatisfactory.—Reasons drawn from the terms of the proposition of mediation, prove that the mediators intended to treat America as independent.—The mediators expected this proposition would be rejected by England, and would thus leave them to treat more decidedly with the United States.—If the Empress will not receive a Minister from America it had better be known at once.
To Robert R. Livingston. St Petersburg, October 1st, 1781,
Article in the project of a treaty proposed by France to Russia, stipulating, that French goods exchanged in Russia for the productions of the country shall be entitled to a drawback.—Reason given for this proposition, that otherwise France could obtain the same articles in America, and create a market for French manufactures there.
To the President of Congress. St Petersburg, October 15th, 1781,
Receives a copy of the propositions of mediation and of the French answer.—Confirmed by these documents in his former opinion, that the United States were to be treated as independent.—Has been informed, that one of the objects of the armed neutrality was a general pacification on the basis of American independence.—This plan was obstructed by the delays of Holland.—Count Panin.—Expectations from the neutral confederation.—The plan of a general pacification founded on a desire to preserve the balance of power by sea.
Robert R. Livingston to Francis Dana. Philadelphia, October 22d, 1781,
Announcing the appointment of a Secretary of Foreign Affairs.—Successes in the south.—Encloses resolutions of Congress relative to the propositions of the Empress of Russia, respecting the rights of neutrals.
To William Ellery. St Petersburg, January 17th, 1782,
Different offers of mediation by Russia.—Effect of the American revolution on the policy of the European powers.—Jealousy of American commerce in Russia.