New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-11-24
RUSSIA.
THE RECENT ACQUISITIONS II CHINA.


To& Editor Of Tie Loed0H Times.
SIR: AS there seems to be good deal Of confusion
in the accounts which reach Europe Of the new terri
rory acquired by Russia in the extreme east Of ASIA
beg to offer the following remarks, IN the hope they
may throw some bgbf On the subject.
In the abstract of the treaty framed ny Gen.
Muravef with the Chinese Government it l. stated
that tie frontier line between Russia and China IS
70 be the 18Th parallel of latitude east Of the River
rsur and TO the westward of that, the River im0or
From the China papers recently received however
appears that the lot bank of the AMOR is ceded
Ito Russia, rs well IA the coast territory the right
bank OF tine Usuri, north of the I'D parallel OF la
"tude." The two accounts, therefore, differ most
materially. Ii the latter statement be correct, Rossia
has annexed territory second 10 none IN the world for
richness Of soil and mineral wealth. Yea will observe
from the recently published Admiralty chart, that this
coast line includes series of harbors which, from
setual observation, may be stated to be most COM
modious and peculiarly adapted for defense
In latitude IS 8 ere two gulis, extending some way
10 the northward from Victoria Bay. 1t was here
We found the natives in possession of gold to
q considerable amount, which they willingly ey-
changed for buttons, &c. From French sailor, who
had lived among the people little to the northward
we gathered that there are abundant gold ines the
neighborhood worked during certain times oi the year
with ease, and without any machinery
AtSybiile Bay in II 40. the country isrch beyond
belief Extensive forests of oak and birch spread
the upands, the soil teens with wild fruits and flow
ers OF every description, while deer and wild fowl offer
the strongest induceent 20 the sportsman to shoulder
his gun. When were there, in the ship which gave
its name TO the bay, the natives were burning down
the oaks and other trees fast they could to bring
the land uuder cultivation They were evidently CHI
nese settlers, very distinct from the rude tribes little
30 the nOithward. We had one or two conversations
with some Of them If correspondence carried by
writing Chinese characters with stick on the sand
may be called conversational from which we learnt that
they considered themselves Chinese subjects e. chung
kwOh jim y, and That there was large town or village
little way to the westward, where u Mandaian
resided.
AT Bullock Bay, lat. AZ s, we found abundance of
oaen under charge Of certain Chinese erdsnlen who,
however, willingly sold the beasts for pecuniary con-
sderaiion.
So much for the territory between the parallels of
49, and iSo. Supposng Russia has absorbed this,
do not hesitate to say she has acquired territory OF
unequsled richness ard fertility, and succession of
hsrl,ors for her ships capable of afording them
the sccurest shelter, aud placed at moet convenient
distances.
II the territory, however is to reckon from the 18th
parallel, she has not gained omuch. Between Fish
River, in As and Low Cape, in u 80, the coast is
unsurvcyed; but little to the northward-viz., in
4go-is Il splendid hsrbor, called in our chart Bara-
coua IarbOr, but by the Russians, believe Imperial
Raw II was here we discovered, IN May, 1856, the
burned remains of the Russian iri2atc Palas. She
had been burned in the early Spring by the Rassian
geison TO the edge of tho ice, IN hopes that before
we arrived the haw would have begun, and she would
have sunk in deep water leaving no trace behind
10 tell the story OF her fate; but we happened to
arrive in time TO find her as she was aud to be able
to save the Russians the trouble oil keeping secret
The ice in this bay did not break up in 1896 till the
end Of May. The inhabitants are "iish-skn Tartars,
or Ghiliaks, who pay solt Of tribute to the Alant
choOs, and live on the fish and game which abound IN
their districts. The Russians had built two strong
forts here and had lett q Of their dead country
men behind them, decenty buried, and with small
wooden crosses their graves, from the inscrp-
tions on which learned that there had been set
Tenant here from about 1857. The natives spoke of
them as "Loochas" and by their gestures, &C.,
described them us having suffered very much from
sickness and priYation. -
tries, of which need not speak The whole of TINS
coast is subject to very Winters, the ice setting
in about November, aud not breaking mp TIL May or
June. OF "Castries Bay enough rs known to the
public from the excellent survey OF la Perouse.
xi only add that the Russians expressed themselves
very strongly 10 the bad holding ground OF TINS an
ehorage, although we never FOUND their representa-
tcus borne out by cur experience there.
Casries Bay is only few miles from Lake kisi,
which communicates with the Amoor close 10 Nicho-
ovski.
Viii you allow me TO say a word with reference to
the annexation of the northern portion OF the island
of Ssghahen effected by Count Puatne in his treaty
with Japan The second article Of that treaty,
ratified in December, 1886, declares that Saghalien
remains, az heretofore, JOINT property of Russia
aud Japan We have here an instance OF a
Diplomatic ruse not unfrequenty practiced. Sagha-
hen never the property Of Russia; it has
always been claimed by CHINA, aud is under the
Colonial Office at lekin, but within the immediate
Jurisdiction OF the authorities cf fetune I'm Maht-
chooriai. II served Russias turn, however, to beg
TIE question" and, by an easy figure Of speech,
TO cover the weakness Of her cause. Suffice 1t,
however. Russia has got tho north of Saghahen, and
with it q territory aoounding with coal. From Bay
dEsiaug. in lat. 70 deg to Jonquere Bay in 81 deg.
borjh VEINS of coal crop ont at intervals, and the
whoe ses beach IL covered with fragments of il.
brought home specimens of this coal, aud have sub.
utted them to the analysis of Mr. ONand chemist OF
this town. who declares the mineral TO be OF excellent
quality aud highly bituminous.
Thus briefly have stated few facts in reference IA
THIS territory the whole OF which was visited by our
ships in 1856 Russia has certainly most inter
c.,nS future in store for her. What with the gold OF
socns the itch pas,ars OF Mantohooris with It's rv
Hs ana pays, and the coafelis OF Saghaleo, We may
saiey speak ct the destiny OF this immense empire In
ths rss, a, grand beyond power Ia comprehend.
F't~'$M No'' q :. h.