Alaska, pp. 379380.

25

Russian traders. The increasing trade by foreigners, together with the numerous exploring and surveying expeditions dispatched to the north-west coast of America by various Powers, were no doubt distrusted by the Russian traders; but at the same time these traders were often obliged to depend on such foreigners for support and assistance.

Nowhere in the annals of the times previous to, and during the operation of the Ukase of 1799, do we find any reference to attempts to interfere with or restrict the operations of foreigners upon the American coasts or in the Aleutian Islands. Even the scientific expeditions of the period were often largely interested in trade as well as in exploration, but all vessels meeting with the Russians report a favourable, if not a hospitable, reception.

Such an attitude on the part of the traders and the Company is, in fact, strictly in accord with the Ukase of 1799, which is purely domestic in its character, and in which no exclusive rights against foreigners are asserted.

UKASE OF 1799.

The following is a literal translation of the Ukase in question, taken from Golovnin, in "Materialui dla Istoriy Russkikh Zasseleniy," i., 77-80:

By the grace of a merciful God, we, Paul I, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias, &c. To the Russian-American Company, under our highest protection, the benefits and advantages resulting to our Empire from the hunting and trading carried on by our loyal subjects in the north-eastern seas and along the coasts of America have attracted our Royal attention and consideration; therefore, having taken under our immediate protection a Company organized for the above-named purpose of carrying on hunting and trading, we allow it to assume the appellation of "Russian-American Company under our highest protection;" and for the purpose of aiding the Company in its enterprises, we allow the Commanders of our land and sea forces to employ said forces in the Company's aid if occasion requires it, while for further relief and assistance of said Company, and having examined their Rules and Regulations, we hereby declare it to be our highest Imperial will to grant to this Company for a period of twenty years the following rights and privileges:

1. By the right of discovery in past times by Russian navigators of the north-eastern part of America, beginning from the 55th degree of north latitude and of the chain of islands extending from Kamschatka to the north to America and southward to Japan, and by right of pos session of the same by Russia, we most graciously permit the Company to have the use of all hunting grounds and establishments now existing on the north-eastern [sic] coast of America, from the above-mentioned 55th degree to Behring Strait, and on the same also on the Aleutian, Kurile, and other islands situated in the north-eastern ocean.

26

2. To make new discoveries not only north of the 55th degree of north latitude but farther to the south, and to occupy the new lands discovered, as Russian possessions, according to prescribed rules, if they have not been previously occupied by any other nation, or been dependent on another nation.

3. To use and profit by everything which has been or shall be discovered in those localities, on the surface and in the bosom of the earth, without any competition by others.

4. We most graciously permit this Company to establish Settlements in future times, wherever they are wanted, according to their best knowledge and belief, and fortify them to insure the safety of the inhabitants, and to send ships to those shores with goods and hunters, without any obstacles on the part of the Government.

. To extend their navigation to all adjoining nations and hold busis intercourse with all surrounding Powers, upon obtaining their e consent for the purpose, and under our highest protection, to ble them to prosecute their enterprises with greater force and vantage.

5. To employ for navigation, hunting, and all other business, free 1 unsuspected people, having no illegal views or intentions. In sideration of the distance of the localities where they will be t, the provincial authorities will grant to all persons sent out as tlers, hunters, and in other capacities, passports for seven years. rfs and house-servants will only be employed by the Company with e consent of their land-holders, and Government taxes will be paid - all serfs thus employed.

7. Though it is forbidden by our highest order to cut Government mber anywhere without the permission of the College of Admiralty, is Company is hereby permitted, on account of the distance of the e Admiralty from Okhotsk, when it needs timber for repairs, and casionally for the construction of new ships, to use freely such timer as is required.

8. For shooting animals, for marine signals, and on all unexpected mergencies on the mainland of America and on the islands, the Comany is permitted to buy for cash, at cost price, from the Government tillery magazine at Irkutsk yearly 40 or 50 pouds of powder, and om the Nertchinsk mine 200 pouds of lead.

9. If one of the partners of the Company becomes indebted to the overnment or to private persons, and is not in a condition to pay them om any other property except what he holds in the Company, such roperty cannot be seized for the satisfaction of such debts, but the ebtor shall not be permitted to use anything but the interest or ividends of such property until the term of the Company's privileges expires, when it will be at his or his creditors' disposal.

7

10. The exclusive right most graciously granted to the Company for a period of twenty years, to use and enjoy, in the aboveescribed extent of country and islands, all profits and advantages lerived from hunting, trade, industries, and discovery of new lands, prohibiting the enjoyment of those profits and advantages not only so those who would wish to sail to those countries on their own account, but to all former hunters and trappers who have been engaged n this trade, and have their vessels and furs at those places; and other Companies which may have been formed will not be allowed to Continue their business unless they unite with the present Company with their free consent; but such private Companies or traders as have their vessels in those regions can either sell their property, or, with the Company's consent, remain until they have obtained a cargo, but no longer than is required for the loading and return of their vessel; and after that nobody will have any privileges but this one Company, which will be protected in the enjoyment of all the advantages mentioned.

11. Under our highest protection, the Russian-American Company will have full control over all above-mentioned localities, and exercise judicial powers in minor cases. The Company will also be permitted to use all local facilities for fortifications in the defence of the country under their control against foreign attacks. Only partners of the Company shall be employed in the administration of the new possessions in charge of the Company.

In conclusion of this our most gracious order for the benefit of the Russian-American Company under highest protection, we enjoin all our military and civil authorities in the above-mentioned localities not only not to prevent them from enjoying to the fullest extent the privileges granted by us, but in case of need to protect them with all their power from loss or injury, and to render them, upon application of the Company's authorities, all necessary aid, assistance, and protection.

To give effect to this our most gracious Order, we subscribe it with our own hand, and give orders to confirm it with our Imperial seal. Given at St. Petersburgh, in the year after the birth of Christ, 1799, the 27th day of December, in the fourth year of our reign. 'Signed)

PAUL.

American State

THE UKASE OF 1799 CONSIDERED.

The Ukase, it will be observed, granted to the RussianAmerican Company exclusive rights as against other Russian subjects only, and in no way interfered with the rights of foreigners, notwithstanding that the representations which led to its promulgation contained, as has already been indicated, complaints of competition by foreigners.

It will be noticed, for instance, that the details incorporated in clause 10 of the Ukase respecting the rights of independent traders are such as to be applicable to Russian subjects or Companies alone.

28

The rights and privileges under the grant extended to the hunting grounds and establishments then existing on the main coast of America from Behring Strait down to the 55th degree of north latitude.

The southern limit of the exclusive coast privileges granted to the Company extended on the Asiatic side to Japan.

Not only were the main coasts of Asia and America thus covered by the Ukase, but the same privileges were granted on the Aleutian, Kurile, and other islands "situated in the North Eastern Ocean."

It will be noted, therefore, that the area over which the exclusive privileges were granted to the Russian-American Company extended both on the coast of Asia and of America far beyond the limits of Behring Sea.

Special privileges in regard to the purchase of powder for shooting animals "on the mainland of America and on the islands" were conceded, and the exclusive right "to use and enjoy in the above-described extent of country and islands" the hunting and trading.

THE UKASE OF 1799 PURELY DOMESTIC.

The Ukase in no way claimed any exclusive jurisdiction over the sea, nor were any measures taken under it to restrict the commerce, navigation, or fishery of the subjects of foreign nations, and this although, within the very area covered by the Ukase, as has already been shown by the facts stated, vessels of various nations had been navigating and trading.

It will be seen, by the account of the years following 1799, that these operations on the part of foreigners continued.

Referring to the Ukase of 1799, Mr. Middleton, the United States Minister at St. Petersburgh, writes, 7th (19th) April, 1824, to Mr. Adams, the Secretary of State of the United States, as follows:

The confusion prevailing in Europe in 1799 permitted Russia (who Papers, Foreign alone seems to have kept her attention fixed upon this interest during Relations, vol. v, that period) to take a decided step towards the monopoly of this trade, by the Ukase of that date, which trespassed upon the acknowl

p. 461.

9

edged rights of Spain; but at that moment the Emperor Paul had declared war against that country as being an ally of France. This Ukase, which is, in its form, an act purely domesic, was never notified to any foreign State with injunction to respect ts provisions. Accordingly, it appears to have been passed over unoberved by foreign Powers, and it remained without execution in so ar as it militated against their rights.

HISTORICAL OUTLINE RESUMED.

The accuracy of the views expressed by Mr. Middleton appears clearly from the facts. disclosed by the chronological statement relating to the period subsequent to the year 1799:

In 1800, the ship "Enterprise," from New York, arrived Alaska, p. 389. at Kadiak.

The name of the seven trading-vessels on the north-west coast are given in this year.

North-west Coast, vol. i, p. 308.

Ibid., p. 310.

Robert Green

United States'

In 1801, there were at least thirteen United States vessels on the north-west coast. These vessels exchanged with the natives of the coast for furs parts of their cargoes, and, how, Librarian of proceeding to China, returned to their respective countries Department of with cargoes of teas, &c. Upwards of 18,000 sea-otter State, "History of Oregon and skins, besides other furs, were in 1801 collected by United California," pp. States traders alone for the China market.

266, 267.

North Ameri

Article XVIII.

404-409.

In 1802, the Russian Establishment at Sitka was de- can Review, 1822, stroyed, and nearly all the Russians there were massacred See Appendix, by the natives. According to Lisiansky, the natives were vol. i, No. 3. assisted by three deserters from a United States vessel, the "Jenny," which had called at Sitka not long before. Alaska, pp. Shortly afterwards, an English vessel, the "Unicorn," Captain Barber, arrived at Sitka, and two other vessels, reported by the Russian survivors as English, but one of these Bancroft believes to have been the United States vessel "Alert." In this year also Krusenstern, having visited China, presented a Memorial to the Russian Government calling attention to the advantages offered by the trade in furs from America direct to Chinese ports, and suggesting that Russia should engage in it.

30

Of the vessels trading on the north-west coast in this North-west year, the names of ten have been recorded.

Coast, vol. i, pp. : 11, 312.

In 1803, Baranoff contemplated the abandonment of Unalaska, owing to disease and nonarrival of Ibid., p. 417. supplies. He ordered that the best men should be moved to the Pribilof Islands to collect there the furs accumulated by the natives. These islands had not been visited for many years.

Captain O'Cain, of the United States vessel "O'Cain," exchanged goods for furs with Baranoff at Sitka, and also took Aleutian hunters to the Californian coast to hunt furseals and sea-otters. "Thus was inaugurated a series of Alaska, pp. 477, hunting expeditions beyond the borders of the Russian Colonies, which continued for many years."

The names of five vessels trading on the north-west coast are known.

*The rights of Spain are here mentioned because, by the Ukase of 1799, Russia claimed territory which Spain was also understood to claim. In 1824 the United States was committed in its own interest to support the old Spanish claim, in consequence of the Spanish cession to the United States in 1819.

478.

North-west Coast, vol. i, pp.

312-317.

Tbid., pp. 318, 319.

Ibid., p. 320.

In 1804, Sitka was reoccupied and rebuilt by the Russians. Two United States vessels, one being the "Juno," were there. The names of four vessels are known as trading on the north-west coast.

In 1805, the "Juno" and another vessel from the United States were at Sitka, and we hear of six vessels, including the "Juno," as trading on the north-west.

In 1806, the Russian Envoy Rezanoff visited the Pribilof Islands on the "Maria," and endeavoured to stop the wasteAlaska, p. 446. ful slaughter of fur-seals. He recommended the Emperor to "take a stronger hold of the country," as the traders in ships from Boston were undermining the trade with China. He reported that the "Bostonians" had armed the Kolosh Indians.

Ibid., p. 451.

Ibid., p. 454.

479.

In the same year the "Juno," with her cargo, was purIbid., pp. 478, chased by Baranoff, and the "Eclipse" (Captain O'Cain) sailed for China with furs; but was lost on the way back. The names of four vessels trading on the north-west coast are known in this year.

Ibid., p. 461.

Ibid., pp. 479, 480.

Alaska, p. 467.

Ibid.,

P. 470.

North-west

Rezanoff, in 1807, sent the "Juno" to the Californian coast for provisions. The "Myrtle," an English ship (Captain Barber), was purchased by Baranoff. Six north-west coast trading-vessels are known by name for this year.

In 1808, the United States vessel "Mercury" obtained at Kadiak 25 bidarkas, or skin-boats, for hunting and trading to the southward.

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Four United States trading vessels are known to have been on the Alaskan coast in 1808 and 1809.

In 1810, the Russian sloop-of-war "Diana" visited Sitka. There were several United States vessels in the port at the time. Shortly after the United States vessels " Enterprise" and "O'Cain" arrived. The "Enterprise" went to Canton with furs.

Galovnin, Commander of the "Diana," writes that at this time an American sailor and a Prussian skipper composed the Diplomatic Corps of the Russian-American Company.

In 1810 and 1811, four foreign vessels were engaged in Coast, vol. i, P. sea otter hunting, under Russian contracts.

Alaska, p. 429.
Ibid., p. 483.

In 1811, the "Enterprise" returned from and went back to China with furs. In this year the Ross Colony was founded in California to provide agricultural products for North-west use on the north-west coast. Five vessels engaged in tradCoast, vol. i, P. ing and hunting, besides the four vessels under Russian contracts, were seen on the coast of Southern Alaska in this year.

Alaska, p. 472.

Ibid., p. 480.

In 1812, the United States ship "Beaver" disposed of her cargo to Baranoff at Sitka, and was then sent to the Pribiloff Islands for fur-seal skins as payment.

Between 1809 and 1812, Baranoff made six additional hunting contracts with United States vessels. He received a proportion of the skins, which were chiefly sea-otters. Between 1812 and 1814, there was scarcely any trade, Coast, vol. i, P. owing to the war between England and the United States. In 1814, Captain Bennett (United States) sold two vessels with their cargoes to Baranoff, and took fur-seal skins

North-west

329.

Alaska, p. 503.