one must be an Aleute; and if it were not for the sea surrounding the islands, this country, owing to its unfavorable climatic conditions and the sterility of its ground, would have never been inhabited at all; and, therefore, the American government will have, as the Russian imperial government had, to protect the local natives against arbitrary taking of possession and violence, not in the interior of the islands, but from the sea, because unsparing foreigners, prompted by avaricious hope of easy temporary gain, will, before all, endeavor to take advantage of the local population, which, being scarce and rather fond of strong drink, will not long resist temptation, and shall perish, together with all those branches of trade for which islanders are alone fit, and particularly the Aleutes, those ancient, permanent, and practiced inhabitants of the ocean. But if we do not meet with foreign settlers upon the islands of Russian America, the colonial administration began at a sufficiently early period to colonize some islands with the so-called colonial settlers. The imperial government, while granting to the Russian American Company, for a determinate period, the exclusive possession and use of our territory in America, conceded to the company the right (statute, chapter 8, section 2, § 228) "to settle upon fitting grounds those of the old servants who would be willing, and to supply them with dwellings and implements at the cost of the company." Otherwise, as to the apportionment of lands to such settlers, there were no particular regulations, restrictions, or formalities. Usually the chief administrator, conforming to the statute, (§ 162,) at the installation of an applicant for settlement, or of his family, assigned a place for the new settlement according to his own better understanding and this simple designation of whereabouts gave the settler a right to occupy and use such area of land and trading grounds as he could or thought it necessary to occupy for his housekeeping and fishing requirements; only, in order to avoid contestations between the settlers and the natives, particular attention was paid to the division between them of streams and other trading places, so that neither the natives nor the colonists could have any right to fish or hunt upon grounds to them not assigned. Under this system of distribution of lands and trading grounds the first occupation and using of a certain locality, whether by an individual or by a community, nothwithstanding the lack of formalities, conferred unquestionable right of possession, and, therefore in case that these territories would have to revert from out the competency of the company into the hands of the imperial government, said right would be recognized and formally confirmed for the future as right of property. Such settlers exist in the districts of Kadiak, Atkha, and Ounga, and belong, all of them, owing to the character of their housekeeping and trade, to the section (register) of country inhabitants. Moreover, there is a certain number of individuals who hold like right of possession in the port of New Archangel. Some of them possess but houses and yards in the limits marked upon the plan of the port of New Archangel; others possess, in addition, field grounds. Upon the whole, the settlers who live in New Archangel, considering the local conditions of their life, cannot be properly counted to the number of citizens, as well as the port of New Archangel itself cannot be properly called a city. If, at the actual transition of the territory under the rule of the United States government, a division of land estates and a formal recognition of property rights, together with the fixing of boundaries, should be deemed necessary, then, in reference to existing settlers, either aliens, that is, colonial citizens, or creoles, (denominated by colonial registers "colonial citizens,") it would be equitable to adopt, as basis of definition of limits, certificates attested by local colonial authorities, wherewith some lots, as, for instance, yards and gardens, would be, if necessary, recognized as private property, and other, as shores, meadows, woods, streams, &c., as communal property of the settler of each separate locality. Now, going over to the inhabitants of the American continent, we meet with phenomena completely different. Settlements nearest to the coast have many common features with the islanders, as well in respect of settled life as in respect of means of existence and trade; but, the deeper we advance into the continent of America, the more varies the character of the Latives. The inhabitants of the coast, like those of the Aleutian islands, distinguish themselves by submissiveness, good-nature, and visible marks of social instinct; such are the Kenayans, the Tshugaces, Kooskokrimians, and the Aglegonutes; nearly all of them are Christians; they are of a rather gentle disposition, and live in good understanding and constant intercourse with the Russians, so that the Russian American Company, in order to entertain friendly relations, and to induce the natives to carry on fur trade, yearly provided, upon the Kenayan coast, a supply of about ten thousand youkola, or dried fish. On the contrary, the further from the coast, the more rough and independent the character of the savages; every symptom not only of social, but even of settled life, disappears, because these natives, having no other occupation but hunting, migrate in the track of game from one part to another, establishing but provisional settlements for winter season; to this class of savages must be numbered the Caloshes, the Toondras, the Coltshans, the Magmutes, the Agoolmutes or Koossilvakians, the Aziagmutes, the Malemutes, the Anghelics, the Kooyoukonians, and the Mednovetzes, and, generally, the tribes inhabiting the islands of the Caloshian archipelago, the banks along Stakhin river mouth, along the rivers Kvikhpak, Kooskokvim, Kooyoucan, Shikhtalick, and their tributaries, and the shore below and above the Straits of Behring. Most of these tribes live in primeval forests of such thickness that the only ways of communication are rivers, along the streams of which they travel in their "baydaras" (boats) during summer season, to trade, partly with neighboring savages, and partly with Russian redoubts and " odinotshkas," situated along the sea-coast, and at the mouth of Kvikhpak and Kooskokvim rivers. During winter these people accomplish their travels with "nartas" (sleighs) drawn by dogs, and reach as far as the grounds of the Tsbuktches of Siberia, crossing upon ice the Straits of Behring. All these tribes are supplied with fire-arms and spirits, of which they are, like all savages, very fond-in part from English possessions, and in part by foreign transient ships. The Russian American Company hardly ever penetrated into the interior of the continent, and, owing to the wild character of its inhab called redoubts and “odinotshkas," were established along the coast, preferably, near the itants, never established there any settlements, only for trading purposes; small factories, bays and the mouths of large rivers. These factories generally consist of a roofed yard of moderate size, in which live the clerk of the company, with a few workmen out of the pacified natives, and where is stored a small supply of dried fish and some manufactured goods, wanted for the use of savages. Such is, in general features, the character of the Russian American continent. From all, what we said, it clearly appears, that in this region no attempts were ever made, and no necessity ever occurred, to introduce any system of landownership; the country occupied by savages is too vast; they used to camp in certain fit places, generally marked by mountains, rivers, and streams, each having its name, but no fixed boundaries whatever, and their migrations are guided by wild instinct and unbounded will. All this region has neither past nor present, and it may be confidently said of the future, that it is far and impenetrable. Every attempt of civilizing that country will stumble against unconquerable obstacles-the complete absence of local topography, the wild character of the savages, and no less wild character of nature; but, above all, the rigor and inconstancy of climate. To achieve any good results for the future of that country, by means of conquest and violence, would hardly be possible; to drive the savages further into the interior of the American continent, however difficult, would be possible; but this plan will be connected with irrecoverable money and material losses; the more so, that a civilized population will never be attracted to that country. There can be expected speculators, but no permanent settlers; there can be expected no civilized population, no permanent industry, but rather spoliators of the natives, and depredatory working out of the riches as well on the surface as in the womb of the earth. Such system can devastate but not organize the country. To civilize the savages would seem to be a surer although a more difficult way of turning to account the country and its population. This could be effected by two means, working at the same time: by acquainting the neighbors with objects of material comfort and luxury, as, for instance, the use of bread, tea, and wearing ornaments, and by imparting to them religious instruction; but, to this last end, missionaries familiar with local dialects are wanted. This system was lately adopted by the Russian American Company for the colonies nearest to the port of New Archangel, and although a decisive result was not yet attained, a visible progress in the intercourse with the natives was effected, so that Caloshes, one of the most savage and unyielding tribes, came to work to New Archangel, a fact which never happened before. To the question concerning the system of lineal and square measures which were used in the colonies for measuring ground: Now, in answer to the question, What square superficial measure was used in the Russian American possessions? it is to be stated that there was adopted the same measure which is in use in Russia-that is, the land was measured by "dessiateenas;" each dessiateena numbers 2,400 square "sajenns," i. e., 30 sajenns of width and 80 in length; each sajenn numbers 7 English feet, consequently each Russian dessiateena contains 16,800 square English feet. [See note.] Actual state councillor, OCTOBER 8, 1867. KOSTLIVTZOV. NOTE OF THE TRANSLATOR.-The number of English square feet contained in each Russian "dessiateens" is not 16,800, as it is erroneously stated in Mr. Kostlivtzov's memorandum, but seven times larger, viz: 117,600 square feet. The error of the memorandum consists in taking seven English feet as equivalent to one Russian square "sajenn," whereas seven feet are equivalent to one lineal "sajenu," and, therefore, one square sajeun contains seven by seven English feet; so that the number of squaresajenns" in one "dessiatena, which is 2,400, must be multiplied by 49, and not by 7, as it is done in the memoranduin. CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE RUSSIAN LEGATION. Mr. Seward to Mr. de Stoeckl. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 14, 1867. SIR: I have the honor to communicate to you, for the information of your government, a copy of the correspondence which has taken place between the government of the United States and those of Spain, Peru, Chili, Bolivia, and Eenador, in regard to the pacification of questions at issue between. Spain on the one hand and the allied republics above named on the other.* Accept, sir, a renewed assurance of my highest consideration. Mr. EDWARD DE STOECKL, &c., sx., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Seward to Mr. de Stoeckl. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 23, 1867. SIR: With reference to the proposed convention between our respective governments for a cession by Russia of her American territory to the United States, I have the honor to acquaint you that I must insist upon that clause in the sixth article of the draught which declares the cession to be free and unincumbered by any reservations, privileges, franchises, grants, or possessions by any associated companies, whether corporate or incorporate, Russian or any other, &c., and must regard it as an ultimatum; with the President's approval, however, I will add two hundred thousand dollars to the consideration money on that account. I avail myself of this occasion to offer to you a renewed assurance of my most distinguished consideration. Mr. EDWARD DE STOECKI., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. de Stoeckl to Mr. Seward. [Translation.] IMPERIAL LEGATION of Russia to the UNITED STATES, Washington, March 25, 1867. Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: I have had the honor to receive the note which you were pleased to address to me on the 23d March, 1867, to inform me that the federal government insists that the clause inserted in article sixth of the project of convention must be strictly maintained, and that the territory to be ceded to the United States must be free from any engagement and privileges conceded either by the government or by companies. In auswer, I believe myself authorized, Mr. Secretary of State, to accede literally to this request on the conditions indicated in your note. Please accept, Mr. Secretary of State, the assurances of my very high consideration. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c.. STOECKL. * For enclosures see correspondence with the countries mentioned. Mr. de Stoeckl to Mr. Seward. [Translation.] WASHINGTON, March 17-29, 1867. Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: I have the honor to inform you that by a telegram dated 16-28 of this month from St. Petersburg, Prince Gortchacow informs me that his Majesty the Emperor of all Russias gives his consent to the cession of the Russian possessions on the American continent to the United States for the stipulated sum of seven millions two hundred thousand dollars in gold, and that his Majesty the Emperor invests me with full powers to negotiate and sign the treaty. Please accept, Mr. Secretary of State, the assurance of my very high consideration. Just received the following telegram from St. Petersburg: "Treaty ratified. Bodisco carries it back and leaves immediately. I shall be in Washington to-morrow. “GORTCHACOW." STOECKL Mr. Seward to Mr. de Stoeckl. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 20, 1868. SIR: I have the honor to communicate a copy of a telegram from San Francisco, of the 15th instant, addressed to the Assistant Secretary of State by the Hon. John Conness and Mr. Benjamin Holliday, the former, as you are aware, a senator of the United States from California. This telegram represents that a steamer will be despatched for Sitka, in Russian America, early in next month, and asks whether United States citizens may ship merchandise on board of her. As the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty for the cession of Russian America only awaits the arrival of the ratification of his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, which you have already announced to me, and which is understood to be on its way hither, it is hoped that you may feel warranted in giving such instructions to the imperial authorities at Sitka as will enable this department to give a favorable answer to the inquiry above referred to. I avail myself of this occasion to offer to you a renewed assurance of my very high consideration. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. EDWARD DE STOECKL, &c., &c., &c. Messrs. Conness and Holliday to Mr. F. W. Seward. [Telegram.] SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., May 15, 1867. A steamer will be despatched for Sitka early in June next. Many of our citizens are anxious to ship merchandise to that point. Have they the right to do so now, or must they await the official occupation of the country by our government? Hon. F. W. SEWARD, Assistant Secretary of State. JNO. CONNESS. Mr. de Stoeckl to Mr. Seward. [Translation.] LEGATION OF RUSSIA IN THE UNITED STATES, Washington, May 22, 1867. Mr. SECRETARY: I have had the honor to receive the note which you were pleased to address to me this day, (20th instant,) asking if American vessels can go to Sitka immediately. As the treaty has already been ratified by his Majesty the Emperor, I feel myself authorized to give the authorities of Sitka the instructions necessary to allow the vessels loaded with goods and provisions, which it is proposed to send from San Francisco, to be admitted, without delay, into the ports of the ceded territory. For that purpose I address the enclosed telegram to the consul of Russia in San Francisco, with an order to transmit it to the commander-in-chief of the colonies. Please accept, Mr. Secretary, the assurance of my distinguished consideration. STOECKL. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Stoeckl to Mr. Klinkowstroem. [Telegram. J WASHINGTON, May 22, 1867. The treaty for the cession to the United States of our northwest American possessions having been ratified by the Emperor, any American ship that may go there henceforward must be admitted, and any merchandise or provisions must be allowed to be landed free. Forward this telegram to the chief commander at Sitka by the first opportunity. STOECKL, MARTIN KLINKOWSTROEM, Russian Consul at San Francisco. Russian Minister. Mr. Seward to Mr. de Stoeckl. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, June 2, 1867. MY DEAR MR. DE STOECKL: I have received a despatch from Mr. Clay, in which he gives us the pleasing information that his Imperial Highness, the 26 D. C. |