The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-15

"Westward the Star OF Empire takes It's
.way;n and the West coast of America is
destined to witness mighty things, overlook
ing the virgin Pacific to China, Japan, 81
IBERIA, and Tie Australian shores beyond. A
voyager entering the port Of New Archan-
gel found there the following mercantile
feet 1t speaks Of life, Of energy, and Of
the speed Of civilization
2. Alexander, 300 :. H. Qua-pak, 50 .
!. Richal, zoo horse s- power ,sr'''''' =
6ohs,ap e; Ie9 10 Moore, steamer
I. Chchakof, $50 9 li& Is Two other small
s. Polypheme, $50 g steamers.
3. Promyse, 80
This would do credit tomany proud port
IN Europe OF the United States We must
learn more about that land Her fleet is
occupied almost exclusively on those north
ern shores-above the famous "a 40, run
ming to the Aleutan isles, to the kutile
isles which reach to Japan, to kamschatka,
and to Ochotsk in Siberia, except an occa-
sional trip to Oregon fol -four, ortothe Sand
wich Islands for sugar and other supplies.
Sir George Simpson, governor OF the great
northern British portion OF our continent,
speaks of the establishment of Mr.. Moore,
the American in the employ Of Russia in
terms Of high commendation the entire
work Of ali engine, the casting, forging and
finishing being finely done. s'He is man
Of superior ingenuity, and has taught FIVE
or six Of the natives to do the work almost
as well as himself"
II, New Archangel, the capital Of Russian
America, is situated on the island Of Sitka,
which is separated from the main land bv a
narrow arm Of the sea. Its population is
about 1900, besides two Indian suburban
villages. Smaller posts are stationed at
many points along the coasts all the way to the
peninsula Of Alaska, and thence even along
the chain Of Aleutian islands, which form ma
tural stepping stones to Siberia Recently
some posts have been formed on Behring's
Straits ! TO protect the fur trade OH the east
side from the Schuktchi These are the dwell
lers on the western side, and once year at
the great fair at OstTovnoy e, in Siberia they
purchase tobacco and other articles, and 18th
these they are powerful competitors, every
summer, with the Russian company, among
the extreme northwestern Indians Of our con.
tinent
The climate Of Russian America is mild
for its latitude, like Western Europe, = in
both cases the prevailing westerly winds from
the ocean temper the land No part OF the
coast north Of Oregon grows wheat, but po-
tatoes and other garden Vegetables are album
dant, even to Cooks Sound and Asshka -
Cattle thrive well The forests are filled
with game, and the waters swarm with fish
especially the salmon That extremity Of
our continent is destined TO support coisl.
derable population, though their -four mus,
come from Oregon
Our northern neighbors thele ale social
people New Archsngel, saws Sir George,
Notwithstanding It's isolated position, is a
very gay place. Much Of the time Of its n-
habitants IS devoted TO testivitv; balls and
dinners run perpetual round, and are man
aged IN style which, in tins part Of the
world, may be deemed extrayagant" Their
Easter holidays are especially full OF life, and
then our own ancient fashion Of sporting col
ored eggs, delights the children Of Sitka
though the custom has travelled the other
way round the globe
No people in the world posses, constr
tuition equal to the Russians, and when once
their intellectual powers shall be, developed
we may well be apprehensive that they viii
Use superior to any other nation the world
has yet seen. Speaking Of the sailors
Simpson says, "they are decidedly the stout.
.st body Of fellows ! ever saw" This iron
John Bull is much And again, "the otii
GERS appeared to be each more skiliu am
vlgilsnt than another; and the men were fine
steady and active, with voices seldom heard
The Russian sailors are conspicuous for ,hei
good conduct, and as an eminent proof 0
this, they are rearly guilty Of desertion
though they have more liberty than those il
any other service, and are never watched
beng considered 10 be upon their honor
VI the Alexander, one Of their merchant YES
sells on that out-ot-the-way coast, he saws
"her accommodation ior her officers, crew
and passengers, Were superior 10 those O
any merchantmen had ever seen y Such
things should be known, for the character Of
the Russian nation is not generally appre-
ciated.
The clergy Of Russian America are nu-
merous, and they are supported wholly BY
the government The Bishop, whose do.
csse extends from Japan to near Oregon
j. thus portrayed: she looks as il destined