A.PPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 257 



give tliem tlic control of tlie Chinese market for themost valuable furs, 

 which would be still more important. But we suspect a deeper design 

 than the monopoly of a few otter-skins, for which the interests of the 

 Fur Compar.y are made a convenient cover. We have the authority of 

 Humboldt for stating- that, in 1802, the Eussian Government limited 

 their territorial claims to the north of 55°. They are now extended to 

 51°, and M. de Poletica informs us that this is only a "moderate use of 

 an incontestable right," intimating that the just claims of Kussiaextend 

 still further south. If these usurpations are submitted to, is it improb- 

 able that a further use may be made of " incontestable rights " 1 If the 

 eight establishments existed in 1789 where the Russian Minister i)laces 

 them, no one would deny their right of possession at that time as far 

 as 48°. The nearest European Settlement was then the Spanish one of 

 St. Francisco, in 38°. The point, equidistant ftom these two, is the 

 4ord degree, which, according to the i)rinciple asserted by JNI. de Poletica, 

 would have been the Eussian boundary in 1789. With the ingenuity 

 which that gentleman has displayed, it would not be difiicult to extend 

 the Eussian claims quite to the borders of California, and establish them 

 there as satisfactorily as he has done to the 51st degree. TheEussians 

 have already made a considerable Settlement on Spanish territory at 

 Fort Bodega, in latitude lOO; and it is possible thut, guided by the same 

 spirit ot 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 Eussia, we should deem it a serious evil to have, on our 

 western frontiers, a formidable [)opulation, 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 

 diplay 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 Eussia. 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 labours 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 interdicfcfl sJiores 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 

 " North-West Company," following the steps of the enterprising 

 McKenzie, have extended their trading posts westward of the Eocky 

 Mountains, and established them, from the Columbia Eiver 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 car- 

 ried from Canada by way of the lakes and the Unjagah, or "Great 

 Peace Eiver," that has its source near the Pacific, and runs eastward 

 through the Kocky 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 Eocky Mountains reiieive their supplies through that channel. 

 Hitherto most of these supplies have been shipped from London to 

 S. Ex. 177, pt. 4 17 



