FRANCIS DANA.

_St Petersburg, May 8th, 1783._

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TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

St Petersburg, May 9th, 1783.

Sir,

Having very little doubt that this letter will be opened at the post
office, I do but enclose a copy of the Memorial spoken of in my last,
which I sent yesterday to the Vice Chancellor, and of my letter
accompanying it. They will not, I presume, detain the letter merely to
give themselves the trouble of copying or translating papers, the
original of which is in the hands of the principal Minister. I have
only to apologise to you for the slovenly appearance of this copy,
with its interlineations and obliterations. I have not time to make a
fair copy for this day's post, and though but a few days might be lost
here by waiting for the next post, yet an opportunity might be lost
for a long time by it, of forwarding it from some port in France.

I have the honor to be, &c.

FRANCIS DANA.

* * * * *

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

St Petersburg, May 9th, 1783.

Sir,

By this day's post I have sent you, by the way of France, a copy of
the Memorial, which I yesterday delivered to the Vice Chancellor. In
that I have expressly declared, that I could not reply to the answer I
had received from instructions, and desired that it might be
considered as containing my private sentiments only upon the subject.
This I thought it advisable to do, not only because it was the strict
truth, but that Congress might be more at liberty, if they should
judge it expedient, to disavow the whole. A reply I deemed absolutely
necessary for me to make, to endeavor to show that the objections,
which had been made to my immediate reception were invalid in
themselves. Whether I have succeeded in the design, is for others to
judge. It is to be observed, however, that I have thought myself under
the necessity of omitting to urge some very obvious and forcible
reasons, from an apprehension, that from the extreme sensibility of
her Imperial Majesty, they would give offence, which I was determined
to avoid as far as possible, without sacrificing the honor of the
United States.

What the effect of this Memorial will be, it is impossibl