lished in 1801, says: "The principal object of all these voyages was the examination of that long archipelago, known under the collective name of the Aleutian or Fox Islands, which the Russian charts divide into several archipelagoes under different names; of all the part of the coast which extends east and west under the parallel of 60° and comprehends a great number of islands situated to the south of the mainland, some of which were visited, and others only perceived by Beering; lastly, of the Peninsula of Alaska, and of the other islands situated to the north of this peninsula as far as the seventieth degree. It is on these Aleutian Islands, and on upwards of three hundred leagues of the coast, which extend beyond the Polar Circle, that the indefatigable Russians have formed those numerous settlements, those factories that support the fur trade, from which the Empire of Russia derives such great advantages in its commercial concerns and exchanges with the Empire of China."

1

Sir George Simpson, the governor in chief of the Hudson's Bay Company's territories in North America, says in his "Narrative of a journey round the world during the years 1841 and 1842":" "In justice, however, to Russia, I have no hesitation in saying that under the recognized principles of colonization she is fully entitled to all that she holds in America." The writer goes on to describe the discoveries as far as Kadiak, and states: ". . . no other nation having previously penetrated, or even pretended to have penetrated, farther north than the parallel of 530." And he continues: "But the Russian discoveries were distinguished by this favorable peculiarity, that they were in a great measure achieved independently of the more southerly discoveries of Spain, being the result of rumors of a neighboring continent which in the beginning of the century the Russian conquerors had found to be rife in Kamchatka. Moreover, in the case of the Russians, discovery and possession had advanced hand in hand. The settlement of Kadiak was made four years before Mears erected his solitary shed in Nootka Sound, and Sitka was established fully ten or twelve years earlier than Astoria. According to this plain summary of undeniable facts Russia had a better claim, at least down to the parallel of 56°, than any other power could possibly acquire."

In a confidential memorandum submitted by Mr. Middleton, United States Minister, to the Russian authorities during the heat of the subsequent controversy between the United States and Russia, it is said: "About this time, but a little later, in 1697, the Russians penetrated, by Siberia, as far as Kamchatka, and from thence embarking at the ports of Okhotsk and Avatcha, between the years 1710 and 1741, they pushed their discoveries in the northern latitudes of the Great Ocean. From these discoveries Russia derives her rights to that long chain of islands intervening between the western and the eastern continents, and even to a very considerable portion of the continent of Americarights which have never been contested."

*

"It is, then, demonstrated that Russia, in the year 1790, was far from forming any territorial claim for herself upon the continent of North America on this side of the sixty-first degree of north latitude."3

Marchand's Voyage, translated by C. P. Claret Fleurieu, London, 1801, vol. I, introduction, p. xxxv.

Ibid., vol. I, p. 270.

American State Papers, Foreign Relations, vol. v, p. 450.

IMPERIAL RUSSIAN EDICTS RELATING TO THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN COMPANY.

CHARTER OF 1799.1

First charter of the Russian American Company.

On the original is written in His Imperial Majesty's own hand: "Be it thus."-Peterhoff, July 8, 1799.

"By the grace of a merciful God, we, Paul the First, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias, etc. To the Russian American Company under our highest protection. The benefits and advantages resulting to our empire from the hunting and trading carried on by our loyal subjects in the northeastern seas and along the coasts of America have attracted our imperial attention and consideration; therefore, having taken under our immediate protection a Company organized for the above-named purpose of carrying on hunting and trading, we allow it to assume the appellation of Russian American Company, operating under our Highest Protection;' and for the purpose of aiding the Company in its enterprises, we allow the commanders of our land and sea forces to employ said forces in the Company's aid if occasion requires it, while for further relief and assistance of said Company, and having examined their rules and regulations, we hereby declare it to be our highest Imperial will to grant to this Company for a period of 20 years the following rights and privileges:

I. By the right of discovery in past times by Russian navigators of the northeastern part of America, beginning from the fifty-fifth degree of north latitude and of the chain of islands extending from Kamchatka to the north to America, and southward to Japan, and by right of possession of the same by Russia, we most graciously permit the Company to have the use of all hunting-grounds and establishments now existing on the northeastern coast of America, from the above-mentioned fifty-fifth degree to Bering Strait, and also on the Aleutian, Kurile, and other islands situated in the Northeastern Ocean.

II. To make new discoveries not only north of the fifty-fifth degree of north latitude, but farther to the south, and to occupy the new lands discovered, as Russian possessions, according to prescribed rules, if they have not been previously occupied by, or been dependent on, any other nation.

III. To use and profit by everything which has been or shall be discovered in those localities, on the surface and in the interior of the earth, without competition from others.

IV. We most graciously permit this Company to establish settlements in future times, wherever they are wanted, according to its best

1 For Russian text, see Tikhmenief, vol. 1, app., p. 19, and Golovnin, in Materialui, I, pp. 77-80.

2 Sic.

knowledge and belief, and fortify them to insure the safety of the inhabitants, and to send ships to those shores with goods and hunters, without any obstacles on the part of the Government.

V. To extend their navigation to all adjoining nations and hold business intercourse with all surrounding powers, upon obtaining their free consent for the purpose, and under our highest protection to enable them to prosecute their enterprises with greater force and advantage.

VI. To employ for navigation, hunting, and all other business, free and unsuspected people, having no illegal views or intentions. In consideration of the distance of the localities where they will be sent, the provincial authorities will grant to all persons sent out as settlers, hunters, and in other capacities, passports for seven years. Serfs and houseservants will only be employed by the Company with the consent of their landholders, and Government taxes will be paid for all serfs thus employed.

VII. Though it is forbidden by our highest order to cut Government timber anywhere without the permission of the admiralty college, this Company is hereby permitted, on account of the distance of the admiralty from Okhotsk, when it needs timber for repairs, and occasionally for the construction of new ships, to use freely such timber as is required.

VIII. For shooting animals, for marine signals, and in all unexpected emergencies on the mainland of America, and on the islands, the Company is permitted to buy for cash, at cost price, from the Government artillery magazine at Irkutsk, yearly, 40 or 50 pouds of powder and from the Nertchinsk mine 200 pouds of lead.

IX. If one of the partners of the Company becomes indebted to the Government or to private persons and is not in a condition to pay them from any other property except what he holds in the Company, such property can not be seized for the satisfaction of such debts, but the debtor shall not be permitted to use anything but the interest or dividends of such property until the term of the Company's privileges expires, when it will be at his or his creditor's disposal."

X. The exclusive right is most graciously granted to the Company for a period of twenty years, to use and enjoy, in the above-described extent of country and islands, all profits and advantages derived from hunting, trade, industries, and discovery of new lands, prohibiting the enjoyment of these profits and advantages not only to those who would wish to sail to those countries on their own account, but to all former hunters and trappers who have been engaged in this trade and have their vessels and furs at those places; and other companies which may have been formed will not be allowed to continue their business unless they unite with the present Company with their free consent; but such private companies or traders as have their vessels in those regions can either sell their property, or, with the Company's consent, remain until they have obtained a cargo, but no longer than is required for the loading and return of their vessel; and after that nobody will have any privileges but this one Company, which will be protected in the enjoy ment of all the rights mentioned.

XI. Under our highest protection the Russian American Company will have full control over all above-mentioned localities, and exercise judicial powers in minor cases. The Company will also be permitted to use all local facilities for fortifications in the defense of the country under their control against foreign attacks. Only partners of the Company shall be employed in the administration of the new possessions in charge of the Company.

UKASE OF 1821.1

Edict of his Imperial Majesty Autocrat of all the Russias.

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 sigued 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 northwest coast of America appertaining unto Russia, is subjected, because of secret and illicit traffic, 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 original is signed by the Directing Senate.

Printed at St. Petersburg, in the Senate, 7th September, 1821. [L. S.]

On the original is written in the handwriting of His Imperial Majesty, thus:

Be it accordingly

KAMENNOY OSTROFF, 4th September, 1821.

ALEXANDER.

RULES ESTABLISHED FOR THE LIMITS OF NAVIGATION AND ORDER OF COMMUNICATION ALONG THE COAST OF EASTERN SIBERIA, THE NORTHWEST COAST OF AMERICA, AND THE ALEUTIAN, KURILE, AND OTHER ISLANDS.

SEC. 1. The pursuits of commerce, whaling, and fishery, and of all other industry on all islands, ports, and gulfs including the whole of the northwest coast of America, beginning from Behring's Straits to the 51° of northern latitude, also from the Aleutian Islands to the eastern coast of Siberia, as well as along the Kurile Islands from Behring's Straits to the South Cape of the Island of Urup, viz, to the 45° 50' northern latitude, is exclusively granted to Russian subjects.

SEC. 2. It is therefore prohibited to all foreign vessels not only to land on the coasts and islands belonging to Russia as stated above, but also to approach them within less than a hundred Italian miles.

1 Translation as sent out by the Russian Government in 1821.

The transgressor's vessel is subject to confiscation along with the whole

cargo.

SEC. 3 An exception to this rule is to be made in favor of vessels carried thither by heavy gales or real want of provisions, and unable to make any other shore but such as belongs to Russia. In these cases they are obliged to produce convincing proofs of actual reason for such an exception. Ships of friendly governments merely on discoveries are likewise exempt from the foregoing rule (Sec. 2).

In this case, however, they must previously be provided with passports from the Russian Minister of the Navy.

SEC. 4. Foreign merchant ships which, for reasons stated in the foregoing rule, touch at any of the above-mentioned coasts are obliged to endeavor to choose a place where Russians are settled, and to act as hereunder stated.

SEC. 5. On the arrival of a foreign merchant ship, wind and weather permitting, a pilot will meet her to appoint an anchoring place appropriate for the purpose. The captain who, notwithstanding this, anchors elsewhere without being able to assign a proper reason to the commander of the place shall pay a fine of one hundred dollars.

SEC. 6. All rowing boats of foreign merchant vessels are obliged to land at one place appointed for them, where in the day time a white flag is hung out, and at night a lantern, and where a clerk is to attend continually to prevent im- and exporting any articles or goods. Whoever lands at any other place, even without an intent of smuggling, shall pay a fine of fifty dollars; and if a person be discovered bringing any articles ashore a fine of five hundred dollars is to be exacted and the goods to be confiscated.

SEC. 7. The commanders of said vessels being in want of provisions, stores, etc., for the continuation of their voyage are bound to apply to the commander of the place, who will appoint where these may be obtained, after which they may without difficulty send their boats there to procure all they want. Whosoever deviates from this rule shall pay a fine of one hundred dollars.

SEC. 8. If it be unavoidable for the purpose of repairing or careening a foreign merchant ship that she discharge the whole cargo, the master is obliged to ask the permission of the commander of the place. In this case the captain shall deliver to the commander an exact list of the nature and quality of the goods discharged. Everyone who omits to report any part of the cargo will be suspected of smuggling and shall pay a fine of one thousand dollars.

SEC. 9. All expenses incurred by these vessels during their stay in the Russian territories must be paid in cash or bills of exchange. In case, however, the captains of these ships have no money on board and nobody gives security for their bonds, the commander can at their request allow the sale of such articles, stores, or goods required merely for defraying the above stated expenses. These sales, however, can be made only to the company and through the means of the commander, but must not exceed the expenses of the ships under penalty of the cargo being seized and a fine paid of one thousand dollars.

SEC. 10. As soon as said foreign merchant vessels are ready for their cargoes, stores, provisions, etc., they must immediately proceed to take them in, and after an examination if they have loaded all the above-stated articles, and a written certificate of their not having left anything behind, they are to set sail.

Such vessels as have not been unloaded are likewise subjected to sail, without the least delay, as soon as they are able to proceed to sea.