422 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



"Norfolk Sound appearing toi^ref^ent a favourable spot for au establishment, it was 

 cousidered expedient to take possession of it. A fortress, with proper warehouses 



and dwelling-liouses, were built After a time, the natives rose upon the 



Russians and killed almost theAvhole party. In the year 1804, the Director, M. de 

 Rosanoff, again took possession of it with a large force, building a fortress, and giv- 

 ing it the name of Kerr Archangel. 



If present occiipation gives to a Government the right of possession, the occupancy 

 of Norfolk Sound could not give to Russia a claim to the coast bordering on the 

 islands or the interior mainland, and it does not appear that Russia has any jiorts or 

 Settlements on the north west coast of America which would give to Russia any 

 right of claim to the country by present occupancy, except at a Settlement called 

 Bodego, which is on the coast of New Albion, in -latitude 38° 30'. 



The country of New Albion is covered with oak-ash pine timber of large diraeu- 

 sions, fit for ship-building, and on the coast of California a veiy line description of 

 hemp is found. The laud is capable of the highest state of cultivation, producing 

 excellent wheat, potatoes, hemp, and all kinds of vegetables. 



The Russians build vessels of large burthen at their Settlement, and, under the 

 pretext of encouraging the fur trade, ha\e encroached so I'ar south ; and in the year 

 1805, they sent a M. de Resankoff to negotiate with the Spanish Government for per- 

 mission to form au establishment in New California, which negotiation, however, 

 failed. 



The Russian Government have, however, never lost sight of this jilace, and it is 

 STipposed are endeavouring to purchase the Californias from Spain ; the possession of 

 whicli would not only enable the Russian Government to form a naval arsenal in tlie 

 Pacific, and, under the pretext of encouraging the fur trade, to form a hardy race of 

 seamen and bold adventurers, but would give to that Government the power of 

 interfering with the liberties of South America. 



Russia can have no claim to the country of New Albion by the right of first discov- 

 ery. This right is claimed by Great Britain and Spain, but from various authorities 

 it belongs, beyond a doubt, to Great Britain, which it Avould be of great importance 

 to establish, should Spain have ceded this country to Russia. 



In the year 1574, Abx-aham Artilius, the geographer of the King of Spain, acknowl- 

 edged that the north-west coast of America was quite unknown, and a few years 

 after this declaration. Queen Elizabeth sent Sir Francis Drake on an expeilition 

 round Ca])e Horn, which he named Queen Elizabeth's Foreland, and he sailed as liigh 

 as 48°, if not higher, landing at different places, and taking ])ossessi()n of the 

 country, which he called Ncav Albion, and which has been so named ever since. 



It would thus appear the Russians have no claim to the coast, or to the mainland 

 on the north-west coast of America, except to the land about Bodega, either 

 52 by ]ircsent occupancy or from first discovery, the land, which Icherikoif made 

 in 1741, being the coast of Norfolk Sound, and island, and divided from the 

 mainland by a broad channel, and as it does not appear that Russia^ has anywhere 

 estal)lislinicnts or posts on the north-west coast of Ameiica lower than Prince 

 "William's Sound, excejit Bodiiga, whicli could give her the claim to present occu- 

 pancy. 



Great Britain has, however, establishments of posts up to 37°, trading with 

 Indians, to the northward, and a post on Mackenzie's River as high as 67°, which 

 are increasing by expeditions of discovery, and it may fairly, and with great reason, 

 be ho]ied that C/iptain Franklin, in his ex])('dition, will discover and take x>o8session, 

 if no Tieatjr to the contrary is made, of all the coast and country to the westward 

 of Mackenzie's River as far as Icy Cape. 



No. 38. 



Mr. Enderhy to Board of Trade. 



Paul's Wiiaiii<\ Fchruary 7, If^QL 

 Sir: After the long- and patient audience you adniitled Mr. INlellish 

 and myself to on the r>tli instant 1 liO})e you will pardon my intrudinj>- 

 on you by letter on the subject of nations clainiinQ- boundary-lines of 

 waters to prevent their Colonies being' interfered with. 



Previous totheConvention which wasconchided with Si)ain in ITOOMr. 

 Pitt sent to desire I would call on him at the Treasury, which J did; he 

 asked me how near the coast of Spanish America in the Pacitic Ocean 



