already made a considerable settlement on Spanish territory at Port Bodega, in latitude 40°; and it is possible, that guided by the same spirit of philanthropy, which prompted the dismemberment of Poland, the august Emperor may choose to occupy the fertile but defenceless province of California, and annex it to his already extensive dominions. Notwithstanding the friendly relations that exist between the United States and Russia, we should deem it a serious evil to have, on our western frontiers, a formidable population, subjects of an ambitious and despotic government; and all the veneration we feel for the great leader of the Holy alliance,' awakens no desire to witness a nearer display of his greatness and power. Great Britain, we apprehend, will not be more desirous of such neighbours than the United States; and she may think fit to advance claims that will be found to conflict with those of Russia. The subject has recently been noticed in the British Parliament, and appears to have created considerable excitement. In justice to the memory of her celebrated navigators, Cook and Vancouver, we must declare, that the world is more indebted to their indefatigable labors for a correct knowledge of this coast, than to those of all other navigators. who have ever visited it. Her subjects were the first Europeans, who engaged in the fur trade, and a free access to the interdicted shores is, at the present time, quite as important to them as to those of any other power. Since the commencement of the present century, the British Northwest company,' following the steps of the enterprising Mc Kenzie, have extended their trading posts westward of the Rocky mountains, and established them, from the Columbia River, to the latitude of 55°, on the borders of several lakes and rivers, that empty into the Pacific ocean. At first the supplies for these posts were carried from Canada, by way of the lakes, and the Unjagah, or Great Peace River,' that has its source near the Pacific, and runs eastward, through the Rocky mountains. This mode of transportation was found hazardous and expensive, and arrangements were made, about 1814, by the company, with the proprietors of a settlement made by American. citizens, at the mouth of the Columbia, by which the company became possessed of that settlement. Since that time the posts westward of the Rocky mountains receive their supplies through that channel. Hitherto most of these supplies have Deen shipped from London to Boston, and sent to the mouth

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of the Columbia in American vessels. From an intimation, in the fifty second number of the Quarterly Review, we are prepared to learn that the united Northwest and Hudson bay companies have extended their settlements still further, and already fixed themselves on the borders of the Pacific. They will soon discover that the most direct and easy route, for conveying supplies to all their northern establishments, west of the Rocky mountains, and even to some of those on the eastern side of that range, will be by means of the river, called by Mr Harmon the 'Nate-ote-tain,' which empties into the Pacific a little south of 54°; and by Nass River,' which disembogues in a large bay, on the eastern side of 'Observatory Inlet,' about the lat. of 55°. The Indians of the coast describe both these rivers as communicating with euwon teēdor hūntles, (great inland waters) and represent the navigation of them as safe and easy for loaded canoes, with the exception of some short portages, at the rapids and falls. They make frequent journies to trade with the Teedor Hardī, (inland people) who are said to reside in numerous villages on the banks of these rivers and the adjoining lakes. The free navigation of these streams will be highly important to the united fur company; and the British administration of the present day must be actuated by a very different spirit from that which, thirty years ago, prompted the expenditure of millions, in preparing to resent the outrage committed at Nootka, if they do not resist the usurpations of Russia; usurpations which would compel the British company to abandon the settlements already made, and forego the advantages resulting from free access to the shores of the continent, north of 51°.

France has likewise an interest in resisting the pretensions of Russia. She has made several efforts to carry on a trade to this coast since it was visited by her distinguished navigator, the unfortunate La Perouse. The voyage of Marchand, in the Solide, was made between 1790 and 1793; and a French vessel was cut off, by the tribe of Coyer, near the south part of Queen Charlotte's islands, about the same time. In 1819 the attempt was renewed. A vessel from France, in course of that season, collected a cargo of furs on the coast, and carried them to Canton. These, however, are all the attempts of that nation which have come to our knowledge. One section of the Ukase appears to us little short of an actual declaration of hostilities against every nation carrying on a trade to the northwest coast. It is as follows:

'Sec. 26. The commander of a Russian vessel, suspecting a foreign one to be liable to confiscation, must inquire and search the same, and finding her guilty, take possession of her. Should the foreign vessel resist, he is to employ, first, persuasion, then threats, and at last force; endeavoring, however, at all events, to do this with as much reserve as possible. If the foreign vessel employ force against force, then he shall consider the same as an evident enemy, and force her to surrender according to the naval laws!'

It might have been expected that no attempt would be made to enforce regulations, so deeply affecting the interest and supposed rights of other nations, pending the discussions they had given rise to; but the closing part of the correspondence precludes the hope of even this appearance of justice. Mr Adams, in concluding his last letter, says, "The president is persuaded that the citizens of this union will remain unmolested in the prosecution of their lawful commerce, and that no effect will be given to an interdiction manifestly incompatible with their rights.' To this M. de Poletica answers, 'I cannot dissemble, sir, that this same trade, beyond the 51st degree will meet with difficulties and inconveniences, for which the American owners will only have to accuse their own imprudence,' &c. If we undertstand this threat, it is meant to prepare us for the immediate execution of the Imperial Ukase. We thank M. de Poletica for this candid avowal of the hostile intentions of his government, and, with equal frankness, assure him, that those engaged in the trade, to the N. W. coast, have always considered it a lawful commerce; and having been confirmed in that opinion by the official declaration of the executive of the United States, that from the period of the existence of the United States as an independent nation, their vessels have freely navigated those seas, and the right to navigate them is a part of that independence,' and that the right of the citizens of the United States to hold commerce with the aboriginal natives of the northwest coast of America, without the territorial jurisdiction of other nations, even in arms and ammunitions of war, is as clear and indisputable as that of navigating the seas,' they are not disposed to surrender these rights without a struggle. The American vessels, employed on the N. W. coast, are well armed, and amply furnished with the munitions of war. Separated from the civilized world, and cut off, for a long time, from all communication with it, they have been accusNew Series, No. 12.

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tomed to rely on their own resources for protection and defence; and to consider, and treat as enemies, all who attempt to interrupt them in the prosecution of their lawful pursuits. To induce them to relinquish this commerce,' persuasion' will be unavailing, threats' will be disregarded, and any attempts at coercion will be promptly resisted, unless made by a force so superior as to render resistance hopeless, in which event they will look with confidence, to their government for redress and support.

We have already devoted to this article more of our pages than so dry a subject may be thought to merit; but we cannot close without noticing the remarks, made by M. de Poletica, upon what he is pleased to call the culpable enterprizes of foreign adventurers,' whom he accuses of carrying on an illicit trade' of 'furnishing arms and ammunition to the natives in the Russian possessions in America,' and of exciting them in every manner to resistance and revolt against the authorities there established.'

In answer to the first charge, we would observe, that the trade carried on by citizens of the United States with the Russian settlements on the northwest coast, has the sanction of their own government, and till now has never been prohibited by that of Russia. It is done openly, and with the consent of the established authorities' at the several places, who are themselves, in most instances, parties to all commercial transactions. But for the supplies which this trade has furnished, some of the Russian settlements must have been abandoned; and from Langsdorff's account of the situation of New Archangel,' it appears that in 1805 the people would have perished from famine, had they not been relieved by American traders. At this moment American vessels are engaged, by contract with the servants of the Russian fur company, in supplying their settlements with the necessaries and comforts of life. It is a perversion of language to call such a trade ' illicit.'

On no better foundation rests the charge of furnishing arms. and ammunition to the natives in the Russian possessions.' The natives who have been subjected to the Russian power are too wretchedly poor to purchase arms, or indeed any thing else. That supplies of this nature are furnished in large quantities, to the independent aboriginal inhabitants, is certainly true. No arguments are necessary to prove our unquestionable right

to continue such supplies, and Russia might with equal justice complain of our furnishing the Chinese with furs, as 'prejudicial to rights,' which the Russian American company' seem disposed to reserve entirely,' to themselves.

The general charge of exciting the natives to revolt against the established authorities' may be sufficiently answered by as broad a denial. The only specification we have met with is the following relation, given by the Russian navigator, Lisiansky, of the destruction of the settlement at Norfolk sound, in 1802, by the Sitka Indians.

With so fair a face of friendship, no enmity could be suspected, and the fort was occasionally left in a sort of unprotected state; the Aleutians and Russians being engaged in hunting the sea-otter, or in the still more necessary business of procuring a supply of provisions for the winter. It was an opportunity of this nature which the Sitcans embraced for the execution of their nefarious plan; and so secret were they in its management, that, while some stole through the woods, others passed in canoes by different creeks to the place of rendezvous; they were about six hundred in number, and all were provided with fire-arms. Though the attack was wholly unexpected, the few Russians in the fort courageously defended it. But vain was defence against such numbers: it was quickly taken by storm. The assault commenced at noon, and in a few hours the place was levelled to the ground. Among the assailants were three seamen belonging to the United States, who, having deserted from their ship, had entered into the service of the Russians, and then took part against them. These double traitors were among the most active in the plot. They contrived combustible wads, which they lighted, and threw upon the buildings where they knew the gunpowder was kept, which took fire and were blown up. Every person who was found in the fort was put to death.'

M. Lisiansky does not favor us with his authority for implicating the Americans in this transaction, of which we have received a very different account from a source which leaves not a doubt, in our minds, of its authenticity; and which we subjoin to shew that 'foreign adventurers' have, contrary to the dictates of sound policy, and their own interest, taken part with the Russians against the aboriginal natives.

The intolerable tyranny, exercised by the Russians, over the Sitka Indians, in seizing their chiefs, and loading them with irons, on the most frivolous pretences; in taking posses