degree, and the American colony at the mouth of the Columbia, which is found under the 46th degree of the same latitude.

an

All these considerations united, have concurred in inspiring the Imperial government with entire conviction that, in the last arrangements adopted in Russia relative to her possessions on the north-west coast, the legitimate right of no foreign power has been infringed. In this conviction, the emperor, my august sovereign, has judged that his good right, and the obligation imposed by Providence upon him to protect, with all his power, the interests of his subjects, sufficiently justified the measures last taken by his Imperial majesty in favour of the Russian American company, without its being necessary to clothe them with the sanction of treaties.

I shall be more succinct, Sir, in the exposition of the motives which determined the Imperial govern ment to prohibit foreign vessels from approaching the north-west coast of America belonging to Russia, within the distance of at least 100 Italian miles. This measure, however severe it may at first view appear, is, after all, but a measure of prevention. It is exclusively directed against the culpable enterprises of foreign adventurers, who, not content with exercising upon the coasts abovementioned an illicit trade, very prejudicial to the rights reserved entirely to the Russian American company, take upon them besides to furnish arms and ammunition to the natives in the Russian possessions in America, exciting them, likewise, in every manner, to resistance and revolt against the authorities there established.

doubtless, recollects that the irregular conduct of these adventurers, the majority of whom was composed of American citizens, has been the object of the most pressing remonstrances on the part of Russia, to the Federal government, from the time that diplomatic missions were organized between the two countries. These remonstrances, repeated at different times, remain constantly without effect, and the inconvenience, to which they ought to bring a remedy, continues to increase.

cannot

The Imperial government, respecting the intentions of the American government, has always abstained from attributing the ill success of its remonstrances to any other motives than those which flow, if I may be allowed the expression, from the very nature of the institutions which govern the national affairs of the American Federation. But the high opinion, which the emperor has always entertained of the rectitude of the American government, exempt him from the care which his sense of justice towards his own subjects imposes upon him. Paci fic means not having brought any alleviation to the just grievances of the Russian American company, against foreign navigation in the waters which environ their establishments on the north-west coast of America, the Imperial government saw itself under the necessity of having recourse to the means of coercion, and of measuring the rigour according to the inveterate character of the evil to which it wished to put a stop. Yet it is easy to discover, on examining closely the last regulation of the Russian American company, that no spirit of hostility had any

thing to do with its formation. The most minute precautions have been taken in it to prevent abuses of authority on the part of commanders of Russian cruisers appointed for the execution of said regulation. At the same time, it has not been neglected to give all the timely publicity necessary to put those on their guard against whom the measure is aimed.

Its action, therefore, can only reach the foreign vessels, which, in spite of the notification, will expose themselves to seizure by infringing upon the line marked out in the regulation. The government flatters itself that these cases will be very rare; if all remains as at present-not one.

I ought, in the last place, to request you to consider, Sir, that the Russian possessions in the Pacific Ocean extend on the northwest coast of America, from Behring's Strait to the 51st degree of north latitude, and on the opposite side of Asia and the islands adjacent, from the same strait to the 45th degree. The extent of sea, of which these possessions form the limits, comprehends all the conditions which are ordinarily attached to shut seas (mers fermées); and the Russian government might consequently judge itself authorized to exercise upon this sea the rights of sovereignty, and especially that of entirely interdicting the entrance of foreigners. But it preferred only asserting its essential rights, without taking any advantage of localities.

The emperor, my august sovereign, sets a very high value upon the maintenance of the relations of amity and good understanding, which have till now subsisted between the two countries. The

dispositions of his Imperial majesty in this regard have never failed appearing at all times, when an occasion has presented itself in the political relations of the United States with the European powers; and, surely, in the midst of a general peace, Russia does not think of aiming a blow at the maritime interests of the United States, she who has constantly respected them in those difficult circumstances in which Europe has been seen to be placed in the latter times, and the influence of which the United States have been unable to avert.

I have the honour to be, with high consideration, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

PIERRE DE POLETICA. Washington, Feb. 28, 1822.

The Secretary of State, to M. de
Poletica.

Department of State, Washington,
March 30.

Sir;-I have had the honour of receiving your letter of the 28th ult., which has been submitted to the consideration of the president of the United States.

From the deduction which it contains of the grounds upon which the articles of regulation of the Russian American company have now, for the first time, extended the claim of Russia on the northwest coast of America to the 51st degree of north latitude, its only foundation appears to be the existence of the small settlement of Nov Archangelsk, situated, not on the American continent, but upon a small island in latitude 57. And

the principle upon which you state that this claim is now advanced is, that the 51st degree is equi-distant from the settlement of Nov Archangelsk and the establishment of the United States at the mouth

of Columbia river. But from the same statement it appears, that in the year 1799, the limits prescribed by the emperor Paul to the Russian American company were fixed at the 55th degree of latitude; and that, in assuming now the latitude of 51, a new pretension is asserted, to which no settlement made since the year 1799 has given the colour of a sanction.

This pretension is to be considered, not only with reference to the question of territorial right, but also to that prohibition to the vessels of other nations, including those of the United States, to approach within 100 Italian miles of the coasts. From the period of the existence of the United States as an independent nation, their vessels have freely navigated those seas, and the right to navigate them is a part of that independ

ence.

With regard to the suggestion, that the Russian government might have justified the exercise of sovereignty over the Pacific Ocean, as a close sea, because it claims territory both on its American and Asiatic shores, it may suffice to say, that the distance from shore to shore on this sea, in latitude 51 north, is not less than 90 degrees of longitude, or 4,000 miles.

As little can the United States accede to the justice of the reason assigned for the prohibition abovementioned. The right of the citizens of the United States to hold commerce with the aboriginal natives of the north-west coast of America, without the territorial jurisdiction of other nations, even in arms and munitions of war, is as clear and indisputable as that of navigating the seas. That right has never been exercised in a spirit unfriendly to Russia; and, al

though general complaints have occasionally been made on the subject of this commerce by some of your predecessors, no specific ground of charge has ever been alleged by them of any transaction in it which the United States were, by the ordinary laws and usages of nations, bound either to restrain or to punish. Had any such charge been made, it would have received the most pointed attention of this government, with the sincerest and firmest disposition to perform every act and obligation of justice to yours which could have been required. I am commanded by the president of the United States to assure you, that this disposition will continue to be entertained, together with the earnest desire that the most harmonious relations between the two countries may be preserved.

Relying upon the assurance in your note of similar dispositions reciprocally entertained by his Imperial majesty towards the United States, the president is persuaded that the citizens of this Union will remain unmolested in the prosecution of their lawful commerce, and that no effect will be given to an interdiction manifestly incompatible with their rights.

I am happy to renew the assurances of my distinguished consideration. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. The Chevalier de Poletica, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from Russia.

The Chevalier de Poletica, to the Secretary of State."

Washington, March 21 (April 2), 1822.

Sir;-I had the honour yesterday to receive the letter which you were pleased to address to

me, dated the 30th of March last, N. S.; and not being authorized to continue the discussion to which it refers, I find myself under the necessity of taking the contents of that letter ad referendum, reserving myself to communicate it to my government as soon as possible.

In the mean time I shall take the liberty of submitting to your consideration some observations which have been suggested to me by certain passages in your letter, which require particular notice.

In the first official letter which I had the honour of addressing to you, dated the 16th (28th) February last, I thought I had succeeded in clearly demonstrating that the rights of Russia to the possession of a certain extent of the northwest coast of America, as far as these rights can be rendered legitimate by the first discovery, the first occupation, and a possession not contested for more than half a century; that these rights, I say, go back to times considerably earlier than the reign of the emperor Paul I.

When this sovereign granted, in 1799, to the Russian American Society its first charter of incorporation, there had never been a question about abandoning to that company the right of sovereignty over one determinate portion of the north-west coast of America in all its plenitude. The question was purely and simply of conceding to the said company a part of the sovereignty, or rather certain exclusive privileges of commerce; and it is in this view that the acts of 1799, to which you refer, Sir, fixed the limits of the operations of the Russian American company. The rights of sovereignty belonging to Russia, could lose nothing of their local extent in

consequence of the concessions made to that company in the reign of the emperor Paul. That these rights extended, in the opinion of the Imperial government, farther south than the 55th degree of latitude, appears evident from the structure of the 3rd article of the act of incorporation, which authorizes the company to form establishments south of the 55th degree of north latitude.

But, what will dispel even the shadow of doubt in this regard, is the authentic fact, that, in 1789, the Spanish packet St. Charles, commanded by captain Haro, found in the latitude 48 and 49, Russian establishments to the number of eight, consisting in the whole of 20 families and 462 individuals. These were the descendants of the companions of captain Tchiricoff, who were supposed till then to have perished.

With such titles justifying the rights claimed by Russia, you yourself, Sir, will agree, that it is perfectly immaterial, whether the Russian establishment at Nov Archangelsk be small or large. If the right of territorial possessions were measured according to the dimensions of the points occupied, what would become of those of the United States upon a very considerable extent of the same north-west coast? for the only American establishment ever yet known is certainly very inferior in stability to that of Russia at Nov Archangelsk.

In the same manner the great extent of the Pacific Ocean, at the 51st degree of latitude, cannot invalidate the right which Russia may have of considering that part of the ocean as close. But, as the Imperial government has not thought fit to take advantage of

that right, all further discussion on this subject would be idle.

As for the right claimed for the citizens of the United States of trading with the natives of the country of the north-west coast of America, without the limits of the jurisdiction belonging to Russia, the imperial government will not certainly think of limiting it, and still less of attacking it there. But I cannot dissemble, Sir, that this same trade beyond the 51st degree will meet with difficulties and inconveniences for which the American owners will only have to accuse their own imprudence, after the publicity which has been given to the measures taken by the Imperial government for maintaining the rights of the Russian American

company in their absolute integrity.

I shall not finish this letter without repeating to you, Sir, the very positive assurance which I have already had the honour once of expressing to you, that in every case where the American government shall judge it necessary to make explanations to that of the emperor, the president of the United States may rest assured that these explanations will be always attended to by the emperor, my august sovereign, with the most friendly and consequently the most conciliatory disposition. Be pleased to accept, Sir, the assurance of my high consideration.

PIERRE DE POLETICA.

The United States of America, and his majesty the king of France and Navarre, being desirous of settling the relations of navigation and commerce between their respective nations, by a temporary convention reciprocally beneficial and satisfactory, and thereby of leading to a more permanent and comprehensive arrangement, have respectively furnished their full powers in manner following, that is to say the president of the United States to John Quincy Adams, their secretary of state; and his most Christian majesty to the baron Hyde de Neuville, knight of the royal and military order of St. Louis, commander of the legion of honour, grand cross of the royal American order of Isabella the Catholic, his envoy

COMMERCE between the UNITED Majesty the KING of FRANCE

extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary near the United States, who, after exchanging their full powers, have agreed on the following articles :—

Art. 1. Articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, imported into France in vessels of the United States, shall pay an additional duty, not exceeding 20 francs per ton of merchandise, over and above the duties paid on the like articles, also of the growth, produce,

or manufacture of the United States, when imported in French vessels.

2. Articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of France, imported into the United States in French vessels shall pay an additional duty, not exceeding 3 dollars