of circumstances occurring which should again determine the Sublime Porte to call for the naval and military assistance of Russia, although, if it please God, that case is by no means likely to happen, engages to furnish, by land and by sea, as many troops and forces as the two high contracting parties may deem necessary. It is accordingly agreed, that in this case the land and sea forces, whose aid the Sublime Porte may call for, shall be held at its disposal.

Art. 4. In conformity with what is above stated, in the event of one of the two powers requesting the assistance of the other, the expense only of provisioning the land and sea forces which may be furnished shall fall to the charge of the power who shall have applied for the aid.

Art. 5. Although the two high contracting parties sincerely intend to maintain this engagement to the most distant period of time, yet, as it is possible that in process of time circumstances may require that some changes should be made in this Treaty, it has been agreed to fix its duration at eight years from the day of the exchange of the Imperial Ratifications. The two parties, previously to the expiration of that term, will concert together, according to the state of affairs at that time, as to the renewal of the said Treaty.

Art. 6. The present Treaty of Defensive Alliance shall be ratified by the two high contracting parties, and the ratifications thereof shall be exchanged at Constantinople within the space of two months, or sooner if possible.

The present instrument, consisting of Six Articles, and to be finally completed by the exchange of the respective ratifications, having been agreed upon between us, we have signed it, and sealed it with our seals, in virtue of our full powers, and have delivered it to the Plenipotentiaries of the Sublime Ottoman Porte in exchange for a similar instrument.

Done at Constantinople, the 26th June, 1833; (the 20th of the moon Safer, in the 1249th year of the Hegira)

SEPARATE ARTICLE.

(Translation.)

IN virtue of one of the clauses of the first Article of the Patent Treaty of Defensive Alliance concluded between the Imperial Court of Russia and the Sublime Porte, the two high contracting parties are bound to afford to each other mutually substantial aid and the most efficacious assistance, for the safety of their respective dominions. Nevertheless, as his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, wishing to spare the Sublime Ottoman Porte the expense and inconvenience which might be occasioned to it, by affording substantial aid, will not ask for that aid if circumstances should place the Sublime Porte under the obligation of furnishing it, the Sublime Ottoman Porte, in the place of the aid which it is bound to furnish in case of need, according to the principle of reciprocity of the Patent Treaty, shall confine its action in favour of the Imperial Court of Russia to closing the strait of the Dardanelles, that is to say, to not allowing any foreign vessels of war to enter therein under any pretext what

soever.

The present Separate and Secret Article shall have the same force and value as if it was inserted word for word in the Treaty of Alliance of this day.

Done at Constantinople, the 26th June, 1833; (the 20th of the moon of Safer, in the 1249th year of the Hegira.)

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS OF RUSSIA WITH

THE COURT OF PEKIN.

PART II.

During the Congress, which lasted a considerable time, Count Sawa Wladislawitche employed himself in giving a good organization to the Russian Mongols dwelling to the south and east of Lake Baikal. Among the members of his council there were several of the elders of the Mongols and Bouriates, who, having a perfect knowledge of the country, were very useful in the discussions relative to the demarcation of the frontier. The habitations of the Russian Mongols were not yet sufficiently fixed, and the necessary surveillance was not yet properly established among the different tribes. The chiefs of the Tsongol, Sartol, Khori, and Bodgorodskoi tribes, were ennobled for the services they had rendered during the Congress. They received also annual pensions for themselves and for their descendants. Other elders were made members of the tribunals of the provinces, and the jurisdiction over their subjects was entrusted to them. Each tribe received a standard, which was unfurled on solemn occasions and at the general review. The elders of the Bouriates, that is to say, the Taichi, Dzaisang, Chuklinge, and Dzasohl, again took the oaths, and were obliged punctually to remit the tribute of their subjects, and to maintain (in proportion to the strength of the tribe) armed men to protect the frontiers. Every advanced post of these horsemen is commanded by a Russian subaltern.

The Chancellerie of the frontier, composed of the requisite judges, was established at Selenginsk: from that place the couriers for Ourga or Pekin were to start. Nine wersts from Selenginsk, and on the banks of the Tchikoi, was erected the small fort of Strelka, with a church dedicated to St. Peter and VOL. III.NO. XXVI,

UU

St. Paul. This place, to which merchandise destined for the caravans could be conveyed by water, became its principal depôt, and the Custom-house for the trade with China was established there.

When the Congress of the frontiers, which lasted from the 10th of August, 1727, to the 21st of October of the same year, had finished its labours, and when the new treaty was signed, a caravan of two hundred and five persons was immediately sent to Pekin under the direction of Lange, the agent.

The following year, the first Russian guard-house was established near the Kiakhta, which rises in a high and wooded country, twenty-six wersts to the south of the Selenga. It flows from thence into Mongolia in a southerly direction. This fort received the name of Troitzoi Sawsk Krepost, after that of its church and of the Count Sawa. It is also simply called Kiakhta. By the treaty, the limit and the seat of commerce had been fixed at the distance of three wersts from Troitzkoi, in a valley watered by the Kiakhta. Two frontier columns were erected there, by which were placed the entrepôts of commerce on each side close to the frontiers, at the distance of one hundred and twenty toises from each other. On the Chinese column are the following words :

On the east

sian entrepôt, which, like the Chinese, is of a square form, is the bazaar built of wood, in which is a chapel of stone. is a Russian church, and on the south, near the Chinese gate, are the barracks, the great guard-house, and the house of the commandant. The habitations of the merchants occupy the rest of the space. This place is surrounded by chevaux de frise, and in the middle of each of the four sides is a gate surmounted by a belfry. The Cossacks destined for the service of the frontier live with their families outside the place. In their little suburb, surrounded in like manner with chevaux de frise, are the imperial

depôt of rhubarb, the offices of the government, the chancellerie a guard-house, and three chapels.

The fort of Troitzkoi Sawsk, situated higher up, contains a depôt of merchandize, with a church surrounded by chevaux de frise. The chancellerie and custom-house, afterwards transferred hither from St. Peter and St. Paul, or Strelka, are near the gate of the church. The house of the director of the customs and of commerce is opposite. The road which leads to it is bounded on each side by a very high parapet; it is crossed by a rivulet: the bridge which passes over it is closed by chevaux de frise, which are raised to afford free access to carriages. A sentinel is always on duty there. Merchandize and travellers, who go to the frontier, or who come from thence, are obliged to pass through this gate. The guard-house is on the left, and a second great church is opposite. From this place the road to the Chinese frontier turns to the south: on the right of this road is the chancellerie for the affairs of the frontier; this is a long building, near which is the residence of the commandant of the frontier. This place has a very considerable population; the streets are spacious, and the houses, though built of wood, are very neat. The crowd of traders with their servants, the garrison, the Cossacks of the frontiers, make this little town very lively. Among the inhabitants are merchants from Moscow, Koursk, Kazan, Siberia, Boukhares, Bouriates, Mongols, Eleuts, Toungouses, and many persons belonging to other nations, who resort thither for the purposes of trade. A suburb beyond the north-west gate is appropriated to commercial travellers and traders, and particularly to the Russian Mongols, who constantly bring cattle hither, to exchange them for merchandize. A great number of the latter encamp there under felt tents. They have commercial brokers, chosen from among their countrymen. They often hire themselves, to the number of fifty, for annual pay, to replace the Cossacks in the service of the frontier. The environs of Kiakhta are wooded, and abound in springs and in meadows. The Russian peasant makes a considerable profit by carrying goods to Kiakhta, where he exchanges furs, skins, and tallow for Chinese commodities.