The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-08-12

The RnSsian possessions in the Northwest
ern portion Of this Continent have attracted
so iitl.c notice on account Of the II !uJtcn .ss
OF their geographical position, the paucity
OF thcirwhita population, and the insignifi-
canoe of their commercial relations with 9th
or parts Of the world, that now, when at
tcnton is directed towards them by Russia
offer 10 transfer their ownership to US we
find il difficult to arrive at q proper knowl.
c lyc Of the territory pronarcd ia exchange
for some Of our supcrahundant millions.
But though comparatively unknown, the
l;u sian Possessions occupy a large space on
the map If North America. Extending a
distance not exactly measured ar und and
above NOo,sa Sound, and reaching inland to
lJl deg. of West Longitude, Russian Amer
lea embraces territory yariously stated at
from 2j9,UDO to 3Jl 900 square miles, with
an area equal To nearly States Of the size Of
Pyun-y ylyania. This territory is bounded
~. ia 10y the Arctic ocean, South and West
by the Pacific ocean and Behring's Straits,
and on the Llst by the line Of division from
British America, which commences on the
Arctic ocean at the l4l,l parallel of longi-
tudc West from Greenwich, down to the 90
parallel Of latitude, where ii diyerges and
TG~ fRHpc to Hfillu4SI IA on which il enters
m,n-c region docs not exceed fifty or sixty
thousand souls, o: whom ten thousand are
whites, principally Russians and other Euro
p,ans and their descendants, who are con-
ncc,cd with the various trading posts Of the
Russian Fur Company. The natives are
chiefly EsquimauX aud Nootka Indians, q
hardy and vigorous race, accomplished i'll
A. 1 4 4. t.,.. -.
cry respect mi,crably degraded aud unciyiii-
zcl They are held in state OF subjcction
by the whites, with whom they barter the
skins and pcltrics gained by the chase.
sitka, or New Archanccl, port and town
on the island Of Baranoy, in King Georges
Archipelago on the Northwest coast, is the
chief Russian settlement, and the principal
trading post of the Russian North American
COMPANY BaraHov, so named after its dis
covcror, but more generally known as Stka,
is the largest cf the Alcutia islands, and lies
or the main land of New Cornwall, at some
distance from the body oi Russian America.
/ The town is a mere asScmblagc Of wooden
/ houses, with that usual appcndagc Of Rus
/ sian towns fortress. From thence the
/ Fur Company direct its trade with Russia
proper, and also 10 a small extent with Chi
ma aud the Marquc-a Islands. OF late years
/ irc has also been sent from there 10 ,allior'
| MIA. Its whole trade does not exceed a hall
| a million Of dollars u year, and il is rated by
many at a much lower figure. The control
/ of Russian America is vested exclusively in
| the Company, whose directors reside at st.
/ Petersburg. and pay an annual trlbutct to the
/ Cznr, for the almost absolute privileges they
enjoy
We have thus briefly thrown together sucl
particulars us we have been able to gather
in relation to the territory which is row of
fcrcd us by Russia. The motive which la.
induced that offer is undoubtedly the Gar,
inability to hold it agains. .hc seizure threat
encd by England. The latter power hal
heretofore been srsci,vytcd of looking with
covotous eye upon the Alutan Islands ant
the present war affords an opportunity to oh
tain them, which she will not be slow Il
adopt. Our government has already bcci
notified 10y the British Minister at Washing
ton of her intention TO at once effect the sci
zurc. The Car prefers passing them owe
TO us rather than that her enemy should sc
cure them as spoils of war, and his Envoy /
ON his way TO this country empowered +
make the cesson. Should our Governmen
consent to the purchase, and complete it be
fore the English cruisers, already instructe
to seize Si,ka, can effect that object, G
course Great Britain would be forced to re
spcct our claim though she would probabl
contend that her notice OF intention to TAX
possession was designed to prevent the pun
chase. 1t is not likely, however, that thi
prctcnsion would he pushed to any danger
Gus lcngth,-Bditimoro ImerjedR.