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several of the Natives, who had heretofore volunteered on board of some one of our Vessels, in their fur excursions, two of whom had acquired a sufficient knowledge of our language to speak it with some ease, and were extremely solicitous to embark with us.

I regret that I could not collect sufficient data upon which to ground an estimate of the furs gathered on the Columbia: it was impossible, for reasons that are obvious. Humboldt has undertaken to number those of the otter, taken on the Coast and shipped to China, of which he assigns five-sixths to the American: he may be correct in the quantity, but I doubt whether the proportion be quite so great, as it frequently happens that the English Adventurer confides his stock to our Countrymen, in order to participate in the benefit of a market, from a direct intercourse with which he is excluded by the Laws of his Country.

Perhaps I have gone too much into detail; but it appeared to me that, by exhibiting the importance of the position only, I should not have fulfilled the object of the President; that it was equally incumbent upon me to present a view of the Country, of its Inhabitants, of its resources, of its approach, and of its means of defence. I shall now conclude with the relation of an occurrence which may and ought to influence the course to be adopted and pursued as to this Station.

The speculations of Humboldt, his glowing descriptions of the soil and climate of this Province, have probably given a new direction to the ambition of Russia, and determined its Emperor to the acquisition of Empire in America. Until 1816, the Settlements of this Power did not reach to the Southward of 55,* and were of no consideration, although dignified by them with the title of Russian America. In the commencement of that Year, two distinct Establishments were made, of a different and of a more imposing character: the first at Atooi, one of the Sandwich Islands, the other in this vicinity, within a few leagues of St. Francisco, the most Northerly possession of Spain, in 37. 56. The Sketch I subjoin, marked D, was procured from a Member of the Government at this Place; from whom I also learned that its augmentation has since become so considerable, as to excite serious alarm. Two Russian Ships left this, on their way thither, a few days anterior to our arrival, the one having on board Mechanics of every description, together with implements of husbandry. We passed sufficiently near the spot assigned to it, to distinguish the Coast with some precision, and ascertained that it was an open road, a circumstance that renders the position liable to many objections, if intended to be permanent: in other respects the choice is judicious for an infant Colony.

Chart of the Discoveries of Russian Navigators, published by order of the Emperor, in 1802; referred to by Humboldt, in his View of New Spain; Translation, Page 270, 2d Vol. (Note.)

It enjoys a climate still milder than that of Columbia, is environed by a beautiful Country, and its proximity to an old Settlement enables the Russian to partake of the numerous herds of black cattle and horses that have been there multiplying for the last 50 years. The Port of St. Francis is one of the most convenient, extensive, and safe, in the World, wholly without defence, and in the neighbourhood of a feeble, diffused, and disaffected Population. Under all these circumstances, may we not infer views to the early possession of this Harbour, and, ultimately, to the Sovereignty of entire California? Surely the growth of a Race on these Shores, scarcely emerged from the savage state, guided by a Chief who seeks not to emancipate, but to enthral, is an event to be deprecated! An event, the mere apprehension of which ought to excite the jealousies of The United States, so far, at least, as to induce the cautionary measure of preserving a Station which may serve as a Barrier to a Northern aggrandizement:

I have not been able to gather other information respecting the Settlement at Atooi, than that of an assurance of its existence, a fact corroborated by the visit of the 2 Ships to those Islands, in their route hither. The Russians are not yet such enterprising Navigators as to augment sea risks, by extending a voyage several thousand miles without an object. Such was the case in this instance, unless connected with the Settlement, as they had sailed from Lima abundantly supplied, a few weeks prior to my first visit to that City, in April last.

These Islands yield the sandal wood, so much esteemed in China, and have been resorted to by our Vessels for years past, not only in search of this valuable article, but of the necessary stock of fresh provisions to supply the Crew during their Cruise on the North-west Coast. How far this intercourse may be affected hereafter by this encroachment, is also a subject for the consideration of the President.

I have taken the liberty to inclose a Note, marked E, of the Authorities, Spanish as well as English, that have fallen under my view, illustrating the discovery of the Columbia by Mr. Gray, in 1791. Its subsequent occupation in 1811, by which the Sovereignty of The United States was completed, to the exclusion of any European Claimant, is a fact, of which the Surrender of the sole Establishment on the River is conclusive evidence. I have the honour to be, &c. The Hon. J. Q. Adams. J. B. PREVOST.

(Inclosure A.)-Act of Surrender and Acknowledgment. IN obedience to the commands of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, signified in a Dispatch from the Right Hon. Earl Bathurst, addressed to the Partners or Agents of the North-west Company, bearing date 27th January, 1818, and in obedience to subsequent Orders, dated the 26th July last, from William H. Shirreff, Esq. Captain

of His Majesty's Ship Andromache, we, the Undersigned, do, in conformity to the first Article of the Treaty of Ghent, restore to the Government of The United States, through its Agent, J. B. Prevost, Esq. the Settlement of Fort George, on the River Columbia.

Given under our hands, in Triplicate, at Fort George, Columbia River, this 6th of October, 1818.

F. HICKEY, Captain of His Majesty's Ship Blossom.
JAMES KEITH, of the North-west Company.

I do hereby acknowledge to have this day received, on behalf of the Government of The United States, the possession of the Settlement designated above, in conformity to the first Article of the Treaty of Ghent.

Given under my hand, in Triplicate, at Fort George, Columbia River, this 6th of October, 1818.

SIR,

J. B. PREVOST, Agent for United States.

(Inclosure b.)-Mr. Keith to Mr. Prevost.

Fort George, Columbia River, 6th October, 1818. Now the Restitution and the Settlement have been made, and that the North-west Company are still allowed to occupy it in the prosecution of their commercial pursuits, permit me to submit to you the following important queries, to which I request a candid and explicit reply Whether, or not, you feel authorized, on behalf of The United States, to tender me any assurance, or to afford any security, that no abandonment, or relinquishment of said Settlement will be claimed by your Government in favour of any of its Subjects, to the ejectment and exclusion of said North-west Company, prior to the final decision of the right of sovereignty to the Country, between our respective Governments? And pending such discussion, as also in the event of such sovereignty being confirmed to The United States, may the North-west Company implicitly rely on the justice and equity of your Government, that adequate allowance will be made for any extension, or amelioration of aforesaid Settlement, or of the trade dependent thereon, of which circumstances may from time to time suggest the propriety? I have the honour, &c.

JAMES KEITH, acting for Self, and North-west Company. J. B. Prevost, Esq.

SIR,

(Inclosure b.)—Mr. Prevost to Mr. Keith.

Fort George, Columbia River, 6th October, 1818. In answer to your Note of this morning, I have the honour to state, that the principal object of the President in sending me thus far, was to obtain such information of the Place, of its access, and of its commercial importance, as might enable him to submit to the con

sideration of Congress, measures for the protection and extension of the Establishment. From hence you will perceive that, until the sense of the Government may be taken upon my Report, any assurances I might offer to meet the wishes expressed by you, would be as unauthorized as unavailing.

I, however, Sir, have no hesitation in saying that, should it hereafter comport with the views of the Nation to foster the Settlement, any claim of the North-west Company, justified by the usages of Nations, will be liquidated with great liberality; and that, should its policy induce a system of exclusion, it will never extend to your removal, without sufficient notice to prevent loss and injury to the Company.

I cannot take my leave, Sir, without expressing my approbation of the manner in which an Establishment so precarious has been managed, nor without offering a hope, that the same judicious course may be pursued under the change of Flag, for its success, until the pleasure of the President can be known. I have, &c.

James Keith, Esq.

J. B. PREVOST.

(Inclosure E.)-Note and Authorities.

RELACION del viase hecho por las Goletos Sutie y Mexicana, in 1792, published in 1802, Page 157.

Introduction to the same, Page 95.

Chart accompanying the Work, in which the Mouth of the Columbia is stated only as an entrance "seen" by Hacata and Quadra, to whom the discovery is ascribed.

Maurelle, the Pilot, who published an account of the Voyage.

This Work has been translated by Barrington, and is referred to in the Instructions to Perouse.

Vancouver, 1st Vol. Quarto Edition, 210, 214, 215.

2d. Vol. 74, Observations incorporated with the Report of Lieut. Broughton Mears, who also perceived indent, but could discover no entrance, and examined the Northern Point" Disappointment," which it still leaves.

(8.)-The Chevalier de Poletica to the Secretary of State.-(Translation.)

Washington, 30th January, (11th February) 1822.

THE Undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, in consequence of Orders which have lately reached him, hastens herewith to transmit to Mr. Adams, Secretary of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs, a printed Copy of the Regulation adopted by the Russian American Company, and sanctioned by His Imperial Majesty, relative to Foreign Commerce in the Waters bordering the Establishments of the said Company, on the North-west Coast of America.

The Undersigned conceives it to be moreover his duty to inform Mr. Adams, that the Imperial Government, in adopting this Regulation, supposes that a Foreign Ship, which shall have sailed from a European Port after the 1st of March, 1822, or from one of the Ports of The United States after the 1st of July of the same Year, cannot lawfully pretend ignorance of these new measures.

The Undersigned eagerly embraces this occasion, &c.
PIERRE DE POLETICA.

The Hon. J. Q. Adams.

(9.)—Edict of His Imperial Majesty, Autocrat of all the Russias, relating to Trade on the Eastern Coast of Siberia, the North-west Coast of America, and the Aleutian, Kurile and other Islands.-16th September, 1821.-(Translation.)

THE Directing Senate maketh known unto all Men: Whereas, in an Edict of His Imperial Majesty, issued to the Directing Senate on the 4th day of September, and signed by His Imperial Majesty's own hand, it is thus expressed :

Observing, from Reports submitted to us, that the trade of our Subjects on the Aleutian Islands and on the North-west Coast of America appertaining unto Russia, is subjected, because of secret and illicit traffick, to oppression and impediments; and finding that the principal cause of these difficulties is the want of Rules establishing the Boundaries for Navigation along these Coasts, and the order of Naval Communication, as well in these Places as on the whole of the Eastern Coast of Siberia, and the Kurile Islands, we have deemed it necessary to determine these communications by specific Regulations, which are hereto attached.

"In forwarding these Regulations to the Directing Senate, we command that the same be published for universal information, and that the proper measures be taken to carry them into execution." Countersigned, COUNT D. GURIEF, Minister of Finances.

It is therefore decreed by the Directing Senate, that His Imperial Majesty's Edict be published for the information of all Men, and that the same be obeyed by all whom it may concern.

THE DIRECTING SENATE.

On the Original is written, in the hand writing of His Imperial Majesty, thus:

Be it accordingly.

Kamenoy Ostroff, th September, 1821.

ALEXANDER.

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