noff's cruelty and despotism would reach the Emperor; set in vogue, no doubt, by some rascals whom he had punished. This continued to increase as communication became more frequent, and it seems to have grown up as a custom of the country and been transmitted as a legacy to its purchasers: for no federal official to-day can conscientiously do his duty and carry out his instructions, without having reason to apprehend that a petition for his removal, from the rabble, will be forwarded by the next mail to Washington. Resánoff arrived at Kodiák in 1804, and set himself to work to inaugurate certain measures of reform. He is represented to have been an able and humane man, and possessed of great capacity and humanity. Baránoff and himself never were in accord as to the proper mode of governing the colonists; and I am inclined to side with Baránoff, for several years' experience in this Territory convinces me that a different method of rule is required here from that of more civilized communities. When an Indian commits an outrage upon a white man, unless promptly and suitably punished therefor, he becomes insolent and more dangerous. He attributes immunity from punishment to fear upon the part of the white man, never giving him the slightest credit for magnaminity or mercy. Likewise with the descendants of the Russian colonists: so long have they been under imperial rule that they construe liberty to mean license, and American citizenship to consist in being supported in idleness. In the year 1805 the brig Juno arrived at Sitka from Rhode Island, laden with provisions and an assorted cargo of merchandise for the purpose of exchanging for sea-otter skins. Her arrival was most fortunate, as the colony was on the verge of starvation, and the scurvy had also broken out among the troops and Russian laborers. Resánoff bought the brig and whole outfit, and landing the cargo, sailed in ballast for San Francisco, and brought back within a reasonable time a cargo of flour and wheat, which saved the inhabitants much suffering. Soon thereafter he sailed for Kamchatka, intending to make the journey overland through Siberia to St. Petersburg; but succumbed to the fatigue and exposure of the hardships of the winter, and died on his way March 1, 1807, at Krásnoyarsk, Siberia. Whatever his measures of reform, whether for the best or not, they were soon set aside by Baránoff, who had little of the humanitarian about him. He continued to pursue the same policy which had always characterized him. He opened up a thriving and lucrative trade with the Spanish settlements in California, trading furs for groceries, flour, wheat, bullocks, hides, etc. He further strengthened his company by obtaining from the Government Financial Bureau an additional credit of 200,000 silver roubles. The Russian mercantile flag, with the addition of a double-headed black eagle, was granted to the Company to be used as a special flag, and naval officers were permitted to enter the Company's service. In 1808, on account of frequent complaints being made to the Directory, they concluded to have Baránoff superseded; and accordingly one Koch was selected to relieve him, but he died on his way in Kamchatka. It is presumed this statement, made on authority of Dall, is correct; although Khlebnicoff in his notes states that prior to this Baránoff, on account of declining years and becoming feeble therefrom, had requested the Directory to appoint his successor. Again did he narrowly escape being overslaughed. An individual named Báronowólokoff was sent in the ship Neva from Ochótsk to relieve him, but she was wrecked in Sitka sound on January 9, 1813, and the new Governor was lost, together with thirty seven men. In 1812 the Russians effected a settlement near Bodega bay in California, which was named Fort Ross. Kuskoff was the immediate man in command, but the concurrence of the Spanish Government was obtained by Baránoff and the expedition fitted out under his auspices. The Roman Catholic missionaries in California exhibited great opposition to the foundation of this colony. The bay was called in Russian Rumyanzoff, and the river Slaviánka, which river is known to-day in Sonoma county, as Russian river. Here grain was raised and shipped to Sitka, meat dried, etc. The Spaniards were always jeal ous of the Russians, and annoyed them in many ways. Worn out at last with the vicissitudes and cares of office, having extended the fur trade and factories from the Pribyloff islands to Cross sound, erected settlements amongst the principal of the Aleutian islands, and having effectually broken the power of the Aleuts, Koloshians, and Thlinkets, and feeling that his sands of life were well nigh run, Baránoff, after having faithfully served his monarch for twenty-seven years, peremptorily tendered his resignation to the Board of Directors; it was finally accepted, and on the 23rd day of January, 1818, he was succeeded in command by Captain Leontius Andriánovich Hágenmeister. On the 6th day of October he sailed for Russia, and on the 28th day of April, 1819, he died at Batavia on his way home, aged about eighty years. hood gradually wore away, and shortly before being relieved, his countenance became wrinkled and his step infirm; but his intellect was unclouded, and his will as firm as ever. He taught himself astronomy and navigation, and with imperfect instruments did he guide his vessels, wholly inadequate for the service, skillfully and successfully through the numerous reefs, shoals, rocks, and dangers unknown of the Alaskan coast. Vessel after vessel was built under his direction only to meet disaster. Ships from Russia were lost from time to time, until it seemed as if the wheel of fortune had decided against him in the negative. No sooner would he establish a factory than it would be destroyed by the natives, and its occupants murdered; but still he held on and persevered, and after years of battling against the elements and the hostiles and overcoming unforeseen obstacles, in the evening of life he had succeeded in establishing a snug and secure haven at Sitka, and created a new empire for his Imperial Master. Historians differ materially as to his personal habits; some assert that he was given to deep and frequent potations, but others maintain strictly to the contrary. A Russian officer of the sloop of war Kamchatka, which visited Sitka a short time previous to the retirement of Baránoff, speaks of his life and habits in most favorable terms. He rose early and only ate one meal a day, without regard to any regular hour, and was exceedingly temperate. He spoke German fluently, and learned the English language in the colonies. His word was law, and his rule was despotic. More than once was his assassination unsuccessfully attempted, but he seemed to bear a charmed life. Surrounded as he was by desperadoes and outlaws, he rallied about him a chosen guard of henchmen, a Prætorian band, composed of the same material. The material. He literally fought the devil with fire, and paid them principally in rum. They were devoted to his interests and obeyec his instant bidding. Such was the state o society that he had no other recourse. The monks and missionaries were against him and incited rebellion against his authority When he first landed in the colonies, Russia only exercised control over two unimportant trading posts. He enlarged her possessions by conquering and adding thereto sixteen and one-half degrees of longitude, and a large portion of the coast of what was then known as New Albion. During his incumbency he sent to Russia furs valued at $20,000,000, and when he turned over the Company's property to his successor, the capital invested in buildings, ships, goods, wares, merchandise, and furs was estimated to be of the value of $3,000,000. An engraving of him in my possession, which bears his autograph, was fallen upon by chance, and is probably the only one extant in this country; it is supposed to have been made over sixty years since. Baranoff was rather short in stature, but of vigorous frame and strong endurance. The hardships experienced by him and his extended life of toil and adventure were sufficient to have broken down earlier in life one of much more powerful frame. During his latter years the youthful vigor which characterized his early and mature man A number had been sent to the colonies by the Russian government, who upon arrival demanded they should be supported by the Company; but Baránoff refused to support them in a life of idleness, and compelled them to work for a living. This being entirely antagonistic to the Russian clergy, and exceedingly distasteful to the missionaries, they formed a league against him; but they were quickly and quietly disposed of, and relegated to the same position as all others who attempted to set at defiance his authority. Had he wavered, his life would not have been worth a bauble. Baránoff never submitted the general accounts of the Company to the Board of Directors; hence, when he was relieved by Hágenmeister, he compared his accounts with those of ship captains who had dealt with him, and found everything correct save the single item of rum, the whole expenditure of which was not strictly accounted for. He did not use this himself; it was bought on Company account and disbursed as before stated. The Company held him in great esteem during his long period of faithful service, and when the same was reorganized the Board of Directors offered to present him with twenty shares, valued at $10,000, which he declined to accept, but paid for them in full. Notwithstanding the opportunities presented to him for acquiring riches, he died comparatively a poor man, thus refuting another of the many scandals laid at his door. It is impossible within the limits of this article to give more than a cursory sketch of the career of this remarkable man. He invariably had in view the love of his native land, the glory of his Sovereign, and the promotion of the interests of his Company; and when, at a ripe old age, full of years and honor, amidst the soft and spicy breezes of the Indian Ocean, he yielded up his spirit to the God who gave it, then disappeared from public gaze one of the most intrepid, determined, and successful explorers of the nineteenth century. In 1835 K. M. Khlebnicoff published a biography of Baránoff, and in 1850 Prince Emanuel Goletzin published in French a "Notice Biographique sur A. A. Baránoff in Nouvelle Anales des Voyages N. 2." To the foregoing volumes, and Professor William H. Dall, of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, I am indebted for most of the foregoing facts. Wm. Gouverneur Morris. VOL. III.-5. ALL-HALLOW EVE. SHE too grows old. She does not know me any more, To have my fortune told. One room-all still: The ceiling bulges, black with rains; The straight walls tremble, loose and thin; And through the six uneven panes Remorseless night stares in Across the sloping sill. The lamp is lit A little lamp of ancient brass With tarnished figures, quaint and tall; It throws huge shadows as I pass Against the rocking wall: She draws close under it. She stoops her head: Her black gaze on the chimney-place, Her blanket-shawl of red. From two gray hands The heavy, low, black-cushioned chair. Against her crumpled cheek, How tall and still she stands! My palm in hers, With nods and cries and baleful signs, With ancient charms of mumbled phrase, With hard brows bent in knotty lines, She muses and demurs. We two alone: I burn the chestnuts on the hearth, Strange warning, crooked crone! Our eyes have met I cross the seamed and crumbling floor It rains-the stone is wet. My fate is told! I stumble down the lilac way— A narrow footpath, flagged with blue So soon-so soon-I dare not say, But if I prove it true I'll tell you when I'm old. Dora Read Good DONELLY'S BABY. Tom and I had been married fifteen years, without ever owning a home, when Uncle Amos died leaving us a snug little place a few miles from Oakland. We were remorsefully grateful to think how ill we had taken the grim old gentleman's scoldings about our extravagance-we were not extravagant however, having nothing to be extravagant with-when he had really cherished such a kindly purpose toward us. We took possession of our small estate with swelling hearts, Tom striking an attitude on the threshold to quote "Here will I spend the evening of my days, and my children's children shall sport among the trees which I have planted." This was delightfully inappropriate, for we had no children, and we had not planted any of the trees. We were enthusiastic over the orchard, the Jersey cow, the pony and phaeton; and had idyllic fancies of managing our freehold with our own hands. A few days divested this idea of its romantic charm, and Tom advertised for a married man of all work: "for," said he, "times are so hard, that single men must be left to the last." any other man in the state did in the same length of time. Tom went to his office in the city every morning, and I often dreaded his return at night, when I thought of the catalogue of Donelly's mishaps to be rehearsed. There was something winning about the fellow, in spite of his errors of omission and commission, and one could not help feeling an odd interest in that small girl of his. A fortnight after he was domiciled with us he returned from his weekly Sunday visit with red eyes, and a look of exhaustion that made me apprehensive. Sure, mum," he said, divining my misgiving, "it isn't the whishky at all, at all; but the baby does be cutting tathe, and the wife has had no shlape all the wake; so last night I just walked the flure wid her mesilf, and the eyes of me is ready to drop out. Sure, but the tathe is a power of thrubble!" "Cutting teeth already ?" I asked in astonishment. I knew very little about babies, but this seemed unreasonable. "I don't know rightly mesilf, mum, but Aileen does be saying so." I pondered over this subject not a little. A broad-shouldered fellow of three and Tom and I were both so unfortunate as to twenty was the first applicant. be without sister or brother; and, having no “I wanted a man of family," said my hus- babies of our own, regarded infants as solband, dryly. emn mysteries. Was this child of Donelly's phenomenal in precocity of dentition; or was it only the fancy of the inexperienced young parents? The new-comer opened wide the merry black eyes that gave piquancy to his Hibernian features. "Don't yez be callin' a wife and baby a family?" "Certainly," admitted Tom. "Thin I hope ye'll be after hirin' me; sorra bit of work I've had since I losht my place shtoppin' home along of the baby.” "How old is your baby?" I asked. "Jist six wakes, mum," with a deferential bow: so, on account of the baby we engaged Donelly. I wish he had been more satisfactory, but think he broke and lost more things than At all events, the father generally came back from his home decidedly limp and sleepy from vigils with Norah, who seemed like Dickens's famous Tetterby baby in the way of cutting teeth. Bring your wife and little one out some Sunday," I asked, having a vivid curiosity in regard to both. "Thank ye, mum, kindly; but Aileen's the timidest woman entirely; she can scarce look a stranger in the face, and ye're quite |