The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-05-24 00:00:00

TOE lITCRTTART OT STATE TO MR. TOLTTICA.

Department of State. Washington,
February 25, 1822.
Sot have had the honor of receiving your note of the
11th mat., esschoiiihr a print. d copy of the regulations adopt-
erl:by the Romeo's American Company. auJ croctioned by
hi. Imperial Mojesty, relating to the commerce"( foreigner,
in She waters bordering oil the cs.tahlislimessto of that Com-
'pant upon the north-wen coast of America.
lam directs-I by the President of (be United States to in-
form yon, that he has men with surprise in this edict, the as.
-serums of a territorial claim trio the part of Rsseis, extend-
ing to the blot &erre of north latitude on shit continent:
Lost a regulation liars dieting to all commercial teosels, other
than Rowan, upon the penally of seizure nod confiscation,
the approach upon the high seas, a i•lain one hundred Italian
molts of the shores to which that claim is made to apply.
The relations of the Visited Mists s wish his Imperial Majesty
bare aSways been of the most friendly character; and is is Oho
earnest demise of she Government to pre ccccc them is lbat
•tale. It was expected, before eft art abich should define
the boundary hi tween she tend., is sot the Ursa. d States and
R eosin on this continent, that she same would have been sr-
• by treaty between the parties. To exclude the yea.
vets of Mir citizens 1.10111 the .hare, bey I the ordinary dis-
tawre to which that territorial Jurisdiction extends, has ex-
cited still greater surprise.
. . . . . .

Thus Orlilllillee offers' so deeply the rights of the United
States, and of their citizens. that 1 am instructed to inquire
%Pettier you are oath., izeil In give explanations of she
grounds of right, upon yrs...ivies recurnised by the
is.,. and USAttS of nsiauos, ssl,ith tau warrant she claims
stud regulations coniaiiii d its is.
I 'sail myself of this occasion to assure you of my distils-
su,stied consideration. JOHN QUINCY A DCIIS.
The Chevalier de Poletiest, Envoy E•trsordinaiy
sad Munster Pleuipott mussy Crum Russia.

[TRANSI..4TION.]

vir CHEVALIER DI POLETICA TO THE SECRETARY OF

IIATE.

SIR—I received, Iwo days since, the letter which you did
me the honour In address to me, MI the saute day, by order
cs, Inc President of the United Slat. s, in ao.wcr In nu' Slots
of sir 11th current, by winch I disclose tt Gi I Ise orders of my
Government In commuouraiing to you the clew regulation
adapted by the Hosanna Americas Company, •nd sauctioued
by his 51...0i1y the Emperor, my august Sovereign, ion the
411, 161b)tleptember, l$ 1. relative in foteugs comm. rce in
she wata.rs which horsier *Too the establishments of the said
Company, on the Not th•west coast of America.
readily yielding, Sir, to the dcsi C prcwed by you in
' -4g the rights and pi 'mink s upon which
'taste humus of the Rigatoni possessious
it of America lions fiehring's Strait to
ttiincle, I am happy to fulfil this task
attention to the follovriog historical
of which cauuut be contested. The
Russians on the scorth-west comfit...at
111 lb, time of the Dormice Peter I.
111.'m plc myde towards the End of the
ionaurli, to find • pussy from ace Icy
hr....
wit Captain Behrioy; made 12;$ first

diernvelics aitrairt.d the attention of
I the Empres. Anne imirsmed to Cap.

expediiroil in these same
seed. s. She sent wish him the academicians Gme IMhie
sie la Cr.yere, Muller, Steller, Fisher. Kvariluicoff, Krat-
ctiresidical, sod others; and the first ctivrt of these omit-
tripe which is known, was the remelt of their labours, pub-
limited in 17b8, Besides the Strait which bears the same of
the chief of this expedition, he discovered a great part of
the islands which are found between the two contineuts.—
Cape ur Mount St. Elias, whirl still bears ibis statue upuu
all the charts was su called by Caplan) liehriog, is bo
dis-
<reered it on the day of the feast of this Swint ; and his se-
cure, Captain Tehiricot, pushed his discoveries as far as
ale 48th degree of north latitude.
The first private expeditious undertaken upon the oorth-
west coast of America go back as fur as the year 1713.
In 17113 ilia Russian establishments had already extended
smear as the island of Kodiak (or Kiclitark.) In 1778,
Cook farad slime at Ossualaslikr, and some Russian inscrip-
tion,. at Kodiak. V saw the Rusaisu establishment
in the bay of Kivai. In tine, Captains Mum. Pos sloth, La
Peyroum, unsainsusisly attest the existence of Russian eats-
Mishears.a is these latitudes.

If the Imperial Gueerisuseist lied, at she shit. published
the di ice mask by the Russian navigators. *fits BA.
ram and Tchirieolt viz. ailed'leg Serebresuleoff, Kress'{oil-
cuff. Psyiroff. Puusdestreff, Lszercif, Medeedrff, Solowieff,
lovasbar, Kresatsita, aid others, ou uuc could tern*. to

„,....~3;,..`y~

•
Asia the right of first discovery, as eklil even any one
deny her that of find oreepetioa.
Moreover, when D. Jam Martine. was Dent in 1789 by the
Court of Madrid to form an establishment in Vancouver's
Island, sad to remove foreigners from thence, nailer tbe pre-
! text that all that coast belonged to Spain, he gave not the
least disturbance to the Russian colonies and navigators.
Yet the Spanish Government was not ignorant of their ex-
istence. for this very Martinez had visited them the year be-
fore. The Report whieh Captain Maleopine made of the re-
sults of his voyage, proves that the Spaniards very well knew
of the Russian ;• and in this very Report it is seen
that the Court of &Wild aeknowledged dist its po ions
upon the coast of the Pacific Ocean cued not to extend to
the North of Cape Blanc, taken from the point of Trinity,
situated under 42 deg. 50 min. of north latitude.
When, in 1789, the Emperor Paul I. granted to the pre-
sent American Company its first charter, be gave it the ex-
clusive possession of the north-west coast of America, which
belonged to Russia, from the 55th degree of north latitude to
Behring's Straits. He permitted them to extend their dis-
coveries to the south, and there to form establishments, pro-
sided that they did not encroach upaa the t • ory occupied
by other Powers.
This art, when inade public, excited no claim on the part
of other Cabinets, not even on that of Madrid, which con-
firms that it did not extend its pretensions teethe 60th degree.
. _

Whets the Government of the United States treated with
Spain fur the cession of a part of the north-went coast, it was
able to acquirr,by the Treaty of Washington, the right to *II
that belonged to the Spariards north eef the 41d degree of
latitude; but this Treaty says nothing positive concerning
the northern boundary of ibis cession, because, in set, Spaiet
well knew that she could not say that the coast as as the
60th degree belusged to her.
From this faithful exposition of known facts, it is easy,
Sir, as appears to use, to draw the coorlnsion, that the rights
of Russia to the extent of the sort's-west coast, specified in
the regulation of the Remiss American Company, rest epos
the three bases required by the general law of natioos and
immemorial triage among rations—that is, upon the title of
first discovery; upon the title of first occupation; and in
the last place, upon that which results from a peaceable and
uncontested possession of more then half a century—an
epoch, consequently, several years anterior to that when the
United States took their place among iodepeodent nations.
It is moreover evident that, if the right to the possession
of a certain extent of the worth-west coast of America,
claimed by the United States, only devolves upon them i•
virtue of the Treaty of Wasibingtosr, 1919 (and I believe it
would be difficult to make good any other title), this Treaty
could not confer upon the American Government any right
of claim against the limits assigned to the Russian posses-
sions upon the same coast, because Spain herself had never
pretended to such • right.
The Imperial Government, in assigning for limits to the
Russiau possessions on the north-west coast of America, on
the one stele Behring's Strait, and on the other, the 61st de-
gree of north Istitude, bas only made a moderate use ems in-
contestible right, since the Russian navigators, who were the
first to explore that part of the American continent in 1741,
pushed their discos. ry as far as the 49th degree of north
latitude. The Slat degree, therefore, is no more than a mean
point between the Russian Establishment of New Archangel,
situated ender the 57th degree, and the American colony at
the mouth of the Colombia, which is found under the 46th
degree of the same latitude.
Ail these considerations united, have concurred in inspir-
ing the Imperial Government with an entire conviction that,
in the last arrangements adopted in Russia relative to her
possessions ma the unrth.west toast, the legitimate right of
no foreign Power has been infringed. In this convict ims,the
Emperor, my magma Sovereign, has judged that his good
right, and the obligation imposed by Providence ttpoo him
to protect, with all his power, the interests of his subjects,
sufficieatly justified the measures last taken by his Imperial
Majesty to favour of the Russian American Company, with-
out its being necessary to clothe them with the sanction of
trestles.

I shall he more succinct, Sir. in the expositioa of the mo-
tives whirl, determined the Imperial Government to prohibit
fureigo vessels from approaching the north-west coast of
America belonging to Russia, within the distance of at kast
1011 Italian miles. This measure, however it may at
first view appear, is after all bat a measure of preveutiou.
It is exclusively directed against the culpable enterprises of
foreign adventurers, •ha, not content with exercising upon
the coasts above-mentioned an illicit trade, very prejudicial
to the rights res. eyed entirely to the Russian Ames can Com-
pany, take upon them besides to furnish arms and ammuni-
tion to the natives in the Russian p ions in America,
exciting awns, likewise, in every manner, to resistance and
revolt against the authorities there established.
The American Government, doubt!. sr, recollects that their
regular conduct of these adventurers, the majority of whom
was composed of American citizen's, lies hero the object of
the most pressing remonstrances un the part of Russia to
the Federal Government, from the time that diplomatic mis-
sions were organised between she two countries. These res-
munstrances, repeated at different times., remain constantly
without effect, and the inconvenience, to which they ought to
bring a remedy, continues to increase.
The Imperial Goverament, respecting the intentions or the
American Government, has always abstained from attributing
the ill success of its remonstrances to any other motives
than those which how, if I may be allowed the expression,
from the very nature of the institutions which govern the
national affairs of the Ammar's Federation. But the high
opinion which the Emperor boo always entertained of the
rectitude of the American Government cannot exempt him
from the care *bleb his
subjects imposes! upon him. Pacific means not haring
brought any alleviation to the just grievances of the Russian
American Company,against foreign navigation in the waters
which esvirun their establishments on the north-weat coast
of America, the Imperial Government saw itself under the
necessity of baring recourse to the means of coercion, sod
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, our examining closely the last regulation of the
Rosales American Company, that no spirit of hostility bad
811 thing to do with its formation. The Moat minute pee.
captions have been taken in it to prevent *bows of authority
on the pint of commanders of Rn'ssian cruisers appointed
fur the esecotion of raid resolution. At the same lime it
has not beets neglected to give all the limply publicity neer&
sary to put those on their guard against whom the mensisie
is aimed.

Its action, therefore, ran only mach the foreign vessels.
which, in spite of the notification, will expose themselves to
seizure by Infringing upon the Hoe marked out in the regula.
Lion. The Government flutters 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 po►snssiuns in the Pacific Ocean extend uu
the north-west coast of America, from Behring's Stroll to the
olat degree of north latitude, and on the ospo•ite side of
Asia mad the Minot*, adjacent, from th► same strait to the
450,,kgree„ The extmt of .es, of which these possessions
form the limits, compi.hends all the conditions which are
ordinarily attached to shut seas (mem fermees); and the
Russian Government might conserlueutly judge itself autho-
rised to exercise upon this silt the rights of sovereignty,
and especially that of entirely iiiterdicting 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 va-
lue upon the ussintenanee of the relations of amity sad good
endersisuding which bave till cow subsisted between the two
coratries. The dispositions of his Imperial Majesty in this
regard have Hirer failed appearing at all times, sben an oc-
casion has ',resented itself in the political relations of the
United States with the Eurupeau Powers ; ■nd, surely, in the
midst of ■ general peace, Russia does not think of aiming a
blow at the maritime interests of the United Gates, die who
has constantly respected th►m is those difficult dream-
Mantes in which Europe has beer sees In be placed is She
latter times, sad the Influence of which the United States
have been unable to avert.

I have the honour to he, with high consideration, Sir, your
must übedieut humble Small',
PIERRE I.E POLETICA.
Washington, Feb.2B, 182 g.

TUB sICRITIIIT OT sTATIR TO MR. DR POLCTICA.
Deparimesa or State, Washiogion, March 30.
310—I have bad the haulm: of reeelvieg your letter of the

211th tilt, which has been submittal to the consideration of
the President of ehe United States. . _ .

From the deduction which it contains of the growl& upon
which the articles of regulation of the Russian Ameriean
Company have now, for the Ann time, extended the claim of
Russia on the north-weed moot of America to the 51st dec.
of north latitude, its only foundation appears to be the ex.
lettuce of the small sett lenseo t of Nov Archaisgelsk, 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 Slit degree is egos.
distant from the settlement of Nov Archangelak and the
establishment of the United States at the mouth of Colum-
bia river. But (ism 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 deg.
of latitude; and that, is 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, nut only with refer.
once to the creation of territorial right, but also to that
piohibitio• to the vessels of other notion., including those
of the United States, to approach siibio 100 Italian miles of
the coasts. From the period of the existence of the United
States as ao independent nation, their vessels have freely na-
vigated those seas, and the right to navigate them is a part
of that independence.
With regard to the suggestion, that the Russian Govern-
ment might have justified the exercise of sovereignty over
the Pacific Ocean, as a close sea because it claims territory
hot on its Ann-rican and Asiatic shores, It may suffice to
say, hal the distance from shore to shore on this sea, in lati-
tude 1 worth, is out less than 90 degrees of longitude, ur
4,000 des.
. .. _

As little ean the United States accede to the justice of the
reason asaigoed for the prohibition above mentioned. The
right of the citieene of the !Jailed States to hold commerce
with the aborigsal natives of the north wept coast of Anse.
rico, without the territorial jurisdiction of other nations,
even in arms and munitions of war, is as clear and indis-
putable as that of navigating the seas. That right ban
never been exercised in a spirit unfriendly to Resell' ; and
although general complaints have occsoioaally been made on
the subject of this commerce by some of your predeeesnors
no specific ground of eberge has ever been allegtorhy them
of any transaction in it which the United Stales were, by the
ordinary laws and usages of nations, bound either to restrain
or to punish. Had say such charge been made, it would
bsve received the must pointed atientio,of this Govern.
meat, with the sincerest and firmest disp6isition to perform
every act and obligation ofjostice to your, which could have
been required. I am commanded by the President of the
United States to assure you, that this disposition will con-
li•ue to be entertained, together with the earnest ries.re
that the well harmonious relations between the two coun-
tries may be preserved.
Relying upon the asnurance in your note of similar disposi-
tions reciprocally entertained by his Imperial Majesty to-
wards the United States, the President is persuaded that the
eitirens of this Union will remain unmolested in the prose-
cution of their lawful commerce, and that no effect will be
given to au interdiction manifestly incompatible with their
rights.
I am happy to renew the asstoraneee of my dirtingui.hed
consideration. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

The Chevalier De Poletiesi, Envoy Eatraordivary
and Minister Pleniputentary from Russia.
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