252 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



support of this opinion we have tlie autliority of the learned M. Fleu- 

 rieu, the most intelligent writer on this subject of the last eentnry. In 

 his "Historical Introduction" to the voyage of Marchand, published in 

 1801, speaking- of the Eussian navigators alluded to by M. de Poletica, 

 he says, "the principal object of all these voyages was the examination 

 of that long archipelago known under the collective name of the Aleu- 

 tian or Fox Islands, which the Eussian Charts divide into several archi- 

 pelagoes under different names; of all that part of the coast which 

 extends east and west under the parallel of 60°, and comprehends a 

 great number of islands situated to the south of the mainland, some 

 of which were visited and others only perceived by Behring; lastly, of 

 the Peninsula of Alaska, and of the lands situated to the north of this 

 peninsula as far as the 70th degree. It is on these Aleutian Islands 

 and on upwards of 300 leagues of the coast, tchich extends beyond the 

 Polar Circle^ that the indefatigable Eussians have formed those numer- 

 ous Settlements," &c. From all these facts we feel fully warranted in 

 the conclusion that no Eussian navigator, except Tchiricoif, had seen 

 the coast eastward of Behring Bay, previous to the Spanish voyages of 

 Perez in 1774; Heceta, Ayala, and Quadra in 1775; that of Cook in 

 1778; or even so late as 1788, when it was first visited by vessels from 

 the United States. Thus much for the Eussian "title of first discov- 

 ery;" that of "first occupation" comes next. 



We have no doubt but Eussian fur-hunters formed establishments at 

 an early period on the Aleutian Islands and neighbouring coast of the 

 continent; but wo are equally certain that it can be clearly demon- 

 strated that no Settlement was made eastward of Behring Bay till the 

 one at Norfolk Sound in 1709. The statements of Cook, Vancouver, 

 Mears (Mirs), Portlock, and La Perouse prove what we readily admit 

 that, previous to 1786, the Eussians had Settlements on the Island of 

 Kodiak and in Cook's Eiver; but we shall take leave to use the same 

 authorities to establish the fact that none of these Settlements extend 

 so far east as Behring Bay. Vancouver, when speaking of Port Etches, 

 in Prince William's Sound (June 1791), says (vol. iii, p. 173), "from the 

 result of Mr. Johnstone's inquiries it did not appear that the Eussians 

 had formed any establishments eastward of this station, but that their 

 boats made excursions along the exterior coast as far as Cape Suckling, 

 and their galiots much farther." Again, p. 199, "we, however, clearly 

 understood that the Eussian Government had little to do with these 

 Settlements; that they were solely under the direction and support of 

 independent mercantile Companies; and that Port Etches, which had 

 been established in course of the preceding summer, was the most east- 

 ern Settlement on the American coast." 



In a subsequent letter to Mr. Adams, M. de Poletica says: "But 

 what will dispel even the shadow of doubt in this regard " (title by 

 occupation) "is the authentic fact that, in 1789, the Spanish packet 

 'St. Charles,' commanded by Captain Haro, found in the latitude 48 

 and 49, Eussian establishments to the number of eight, consisting in 

 the whole of twenty families, and 460 individuals. These were the 

 descendants of the companions of Tchiricoff, who ivas supposed till then to 

 have perished. ^^ This, if true, is, we allow, conclusive evidence of the 

 Eussian " title by occupation." It is certainly the most im])ortant fact 

 brought forward by M. de Poletica. In truth it is the only oue that, 

 in our opinion, has a direct bearing on the question, and on its correct- 

 ness we are willing to rest the issue, ifootka Sound lies in latitude 

 49° 30', Clayoquot, or Port Cox, in 49°, and Classet, at the entrance of 

 the Straits of Juan de Fuca, in 48°. Nootka was first visited by the 



