To Robert R. Livingston. St Petersburg, July 27th, 1783, 501 Having received the resolutions of Congress, permitting his return, he will not wait for an audience.--Conceives his instructions direct him to conclude a commercial treaty with Russia. To Robert R. Livingston. St Petersburg, August 8th, 1783, 504 Informs Count Ostermann of his intention to return. To Robert R. Livingston. St Petersburg, August 17th, 1783, 505 Encloses his letter to Count Ostermann, stating ill health to be the cause of his departure.--Interview with Count Ostermann relative to his return. To the President of Congress. Cambridge, December 17th, 1783, 510 Announcing his return. THE CORRESPONDENCE OF JOHN JAY; MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE COURT OF SPAIN, AND ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR NEGOTIATING PEACE. THE CORRESPONDENCE OF JOHN JAY. CORRESPONDENCE CONTINUED. * * * * * ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO JOHN JAY. Philadelphia, December 13th, 1781. Dear Sir, My last letter of the 28th of November, sent by the Marquis de Lafayette, must for the most part have been unintelligible to you, owing to an unfortunate mistake of Mr Thompson, who delivered me a cypher sent by Mr Palfrey, which you never received, instead of that sent by Major Franks. The duplicate enclosed is in the last, so that you will no longer be at a loss for my meaning. Since the date of that letter the enemy have thought it prudent to abandon Wilmington, in North Carolina. This port was extremely important to them, not only as it checked the trade of that State, but as it directly communicated with the disaffected counties. For it must be confessed, that though in other parts of the continent they had only well wishers, in North Carolina they had active partisans. These they have left to the mercy of their country, and abandoned as disgracefully as the capitulation of York did those of Virginia. It is not improbable, that when General St Clair joins the southern army, the enemy will evacuate Savannah, as they are at present extremely weak there; and unless they reinforce from New York, may be attacked with a prospect of success. Your letter of the 20th of September has been received and read in Congress. They have not been pleased to direct any particular answer thereto, so that you are to consider it as their wish, that you execute the commission with which they have intrusted you.