394 APPENDIX TO CA8E OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



Cook, Vancouver, Mears (Mirs), Portlock, and La Perouse prove, wliat we readily 

 admit, that previous to 1786 tlio Russians liad Settlements on the Island of Kodiao 

 and in Cook's River ; but we shall take leave to use the same authorities to establish 

 the fact that none of these Settlements extended so far east as Behring's Bay. 

 Vancouver, when speaking of Port Etches, in Frince WiUiam's Sound (June 1794), says 

 (vol. iii, p. 173), "From the result of Mr. Johnstone's inquiries it did not appear that 

 the Russians 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 

 Kussian Government had liitle to do with these Settlements; that they were solely 

 under the direction and support of independent mercantile Companies; and that 

 Po7't Etches, which had been established in course of the preceding summer, was the 

 most eastern Settlement on the American coast." 



In a subsequent letter to Mr. Adams M. de Poletlca says: "Bi;t what will dispel 

 even the shadow of doubt in this regard (title by occupation) is tlie authentic fact, 

 that in 1789 the Spanish packet "St. Charles," commanded by Captain Haro, found 

 in the latitude 48 and 49 Russian 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 was supposed till then to have perished." This, if true, 

 is, we allow, conclusive evidence of the Russian "title by occupation." It is cer- 

 tainly the most important fact brought forward by M. de Poletica, and on its 

 correctness we are willing to rest the issue. Nootka 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 firstvisitedby the Spanish navigator Perez in 1774, by Cook 

 in 1778 ; from 1784 to 1789 it was frequented by English, Portuguese, and American ves- 

 sels; in 1788 Captain Mears built there a vessel, and made the Settlement which, 

 subsequently, came near causing a rupture between Great Britain and Spain ; in 1789 

 a Spanish Settlement was made by Martinez, and continued till 1794. During this 

 period Nootka, Clayoquot, and Classet were the common rendezvous for the ships 

 and fur-traders of all nations; vessels were built by citizens of the United States, 

 both at Nootka and Clayoquot; in 1790 the Settlements at Nootka became the sub- 

 ject of investigation in the British Parliament, and volumes were written on it. 

 Now we ask M. de Poletica, or any man of common intelligence, if it is within the 

 bounds of probability, if it is even possible, that eight Russian Establishments, con- 

 taining 462 individuals, should have existed in 1789, in the centre of these operations ; 

 on the very spot for which two powerful nations were contendinu-; and no allusion 

 be made to the circumstances during the whole discussion, no mention be made of 

 them by any of the numerous writers on the subject, and no intimation of the fact 

 in the journals of Cook, Mears, Dixon, and Vancouver, who speak of Russian Estab- 

 lishments on other parts of the coast, and are altogether silent respecting these, 

 which, had they existed, would have been of more importance than all the other 

 Russian Settlements in that quarter of the globe ! 



We have recently conversed with a sou of Captain Kendrick, who was with his 

 father, in the " Columbia," in 1787, and remained a considerable time at Nootka, in 

 the Spanish service, and with another iudividual, of great respectability now 

 29 residing near Boston, who, in 1792, built and equip])ed a small vessel at Nootka 

 for commercial purposes. Both these individuals were personally intimate with 

 Captain Haro, at Nootka, but never heard an intimation of his having discovered 

 Russian Establishments in that vicinity ; yet such a fact must have been highly 

 interesting to the Spaniards, who intended their Settlement to be permanent, and to 

 the Americans, who were actively engaged in the fur trade; and, therefore, very 

 likely to become a subject of discussion. 



In the summer of 1799 the writer, then oft' Behring's Bay, in latitude 59° 30', fell 

 in with M. Baranoff, at that time, and for many years before and atterwar<''s, Com- 

 mander-in-chief of all the Russian Establishments in that part of the world. He 

 visited the American ship, and passed a day on board. Through an Englishman in 

 his service, who acted as interpreter, a full and free communication took place. M. 

 Baranoff stated that ho was from Onalaska, which he left in company with a galiot 

 and a large tleet of skin-canoes, from whom he separated in a fog, a few days before; 

 and that they were all bound for Norfolk Sound, for tlie purpose of forming a Settle- 

 ment or hunting post. Learning that the writer had been at that place a short time 

 previous, he showed great solicitude to obtain information, particularly respecting 

 the native inhabitants, of whom he appeared to bo much in dread, declaring his 

 apprehensions that they would destroy his hunters and defeat his plans. 



He further stated tliat a hunting party having a short time before extended their 

 excursion to the neighbouriiood of Norfolk Sound, had foun<l the sea-otters so abun- 

 dant as to induce him to undertake what he considered a most perilous enterprise, 

 and he expnvssly declared that this was the first attempt over made by the Russians 

 to establish a post so far to the southward and eastward. This, though not a "his- 

 torical fact," is one for the correctness of which we kold ourselves pledged. 



