APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 247 



It is tlicrefcre decreed by the Directing Senate tliat His Iiiipeiial Majesty's E<lict 

 be published for the information of all men, and that the same be obeyed by all whom 

 it may concern. 



The original is siguetl by the Directing Senate. 

 On the original is written, in the handwriting of His Imperial Majesty, 

 thus: 



Be it accordingly, Alexander, 



Section 1. Thepursuitsof commerce, whaling, and fishery, and of all other industry, 

 on all islands, ports, and gulfs, including the whole of the north-west coast of Amer- 

 ica, beginning from Behriug Straits, to the 51st degree of northern latitude, also 

 from the Aleutian Islands to the eastern coast of Siberia, as well as along the Kurilo 

 Islands from Behring Straits to the south cape of the Island of Urup, viz., to the 

 45"^ 50' northern latitude, is exclusively granted to Russian subjects. 



Sec. 2. It is therefore prohibited to all foreign vessels not only to laud on the coasts 

 and islands belonging to Russia, as stated above, but also to approach them within less 

 than 100 Italian miles. The transgressor's vessel is subject to coutiscation, along 

 with the whole cargo. 



We doubt if i:>retensions so extravagant and unfounded — so utterly 

 repugnant to the established laws and usages of nations, have been set 

 up by any Government, claiming rank among civilized nations, since 

 the dark ages of ignorance and superstition, when a Bull of the Holy 

 See was supposed to convey the rights of sovereignty over whole con- 

 tinents, even in anticipation of their discovery. Russia claims the exclu- 

 sive possession of the whole American Continent north of the 51 st 

 degree of latitude. We say the whole continent, lor we search in vain 

 for limits except the latitude of 51° on the south, and 'Behring Straits' 

 on the north. It is just possible that "His Imperial Majesty" may be 

 content, /or the present, to take the Kocky Mountains for his eastern 

 boundary, though we are not sure, but we do him injustice in ascribing 

 to him such narrow views. Even the attempts of Spain to usurj) the 

 exclusive navigation of the South Sea in the vicinity of her American 

 possessions, arbitrary as they were, and violating as they did the indis- 

 putable rights of other nations, must, when examined with reference 

 to the ditferent periods when they were made, yield in absurdity to the 

 claims now before us. We cannot forbear expressing our sur- 

 28 prise that, in this enlightened age, when the general principles of 

 national rights have been clearlydet1ned,andare well understood, 

 a Government, possessing the higliest intluence in the political world, 

 and constantly referred to as the arbiter of national disputes, should 

 prefer claims which can only be supported by the extraordinary notion 

 of considering the Pacific Ocean a "close sea," where it is at least 

 4,000 miles across. 



Mr. Adams, ui answer to a note from M. de Poletica, accompanying a 

 printed copy of the Russian Edict, expresses the surprise of the Ameri- 

 can Government at the extraordinary claims it set forth, and after allud- 

 ing to the friendly relations which have always existed between the two 

 nations, says, " It was expected before any act which should define 

 the boundaries between the territories of the United States and Russia 

 on this continent, that the same would have been arranged, by Treaty, 

 between the parties." We think this expectation a very reasonable one, 

 and the different course which Russia has chosen to pursue evinces 

 either ignorance of her own rights, or a disregard to those of others. 

 Mr. Adams inquires if M. de Poletica is " authorized to give explana- 

 tions of the grounds of right, upon principles generally recognized by 

 the laws and usages of nations, which can warrant the claims and regu- 

 lations contained in the Edict." M. de Poletica, in reply, declares him- 

 self " happy to fulfil this task." But as this letter purports to be a com- 



