APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 279 



This Memorial on its presentation to the President in February 1866 

 was referred to the Secretary of State, by whom it was communicated 

 to M. de Stoeclvl, the Russian Minister, with remarks on the importance 

 of some early and comprehensive arrangement between the two Powers 

 in order to prevent the growth of difficulties, especially from the fish- 

 eries in that region. 



Shortly afterwards another influence was felt. Mr. Cole, who had 

 been recently elected to the Senate from California, acting in behalf of 

 certain persons in that State, sought to obtain from the Russian Gov- 

 ernment a license or franchise to gather furs in a portion of its Ameri- 

 can possessions. The Charter of the Russian- American Company was 

 about to expire. This Company had already underlet to the Hudson 

 Bay Company all its franchise on the mainland between 54° 40' and 

 Mount St. Elias; and now it was proposed that an American Company, 

 holding direct from the Russian Government, should be substituted for 

 the latter. The mighty Hudson Bay <3ompany, with its head-quarters 

 in London, was to give way to an American Company, with its head- 

 quarters in California. Among the letters on this subject addressed to 

 Mr. Cole, and now before me, is one dated at San Francisco, the 10th 

 April, 1866, in which this scheme is developed as follows: 



There is at the present time a good chance to organize a Fur Trading Company to 

 trade between the United States and the Russian possessions in America, and as the 

 Cluirter formerly granted to the Hudson Bay Company has expired this wouhl be the 

 opportune moment to start in. 



I should think that by a little management this Charter could be obtained from 

 the Russian Government for ourselves, as I do not think they are very willing to 

 renew the Charter of the Hudson Bay Company, and I think they wouid give the 

 preference to an American Company, especially if the Company should pay to the 

 Russian Government 5 per cent, on the gross proceeds of their transactions, and also 

 aid in civilizing and ameliorating the c(»ndition of the Indians by employing mission- 

 aries, if required by the Russian Government. For the faithful performance of the 

 above we ask a Charter for the term of twenty-five years, to be renewed for the same 

 length of time if the Russian (lovernment finds the Company deserving. The Charter 

 to invest us with the right of trading in all the country between the British- American 

 line and the Russian archipelago. 



Remember, we wish for the same Charter as was formerly granted to the Hudson 

 Bay Company, and we oflter in return more than they did. 



Another correspondent of Mr, Cole, under date of San Francisco, the 

 17th September, 1866, wrote as follows : 



I have talked with a man who has been on the coast and in the trade for ten years 

 past, and he says it is much more valuable than I have supposed, and I think it very 

 important to obtain it if possible. 



The Russian Minister at Washington, whom Mr. Cole saw repeatedly 

 upon this subject, was not authorized to act, and the latter, after con- 

 ference with the Department of State, was induced to address Mr. Clay, 

 Minister of the United States at St. Petersburgh, who laid the applica- 

 tion before the Russian Government. This was an important step. A 

 letter from Mr. Clay, dated at St. Petersburgh as late as the 1st February, 

 1867, makes the following revelation : 



The Russian Government has already ceded away its rights in Russian America 

 for a term of years, and the Russo-American Company has also ceded the same to 

 the Hudson Bay Company. This lease expires in June next, and the President of the 

 Russo-American Company tells me that they have been in correspondence with the 

 Hudson Bay Company about a renewal of the lease for another term of twenty-five 

 or thirty years. Until he receives a definite answer he caiinot enter into negotia- 

 tions with us or your California Company. My opinion is that if he can get off with 

 the Hudson Bay Couipany he will do so, when we can make some arrangements with 

 the Russo-American Company. 



