464 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



anything: to do with its formatioD. The most minute precautions have 

 been taken in it to i)revent abuses of authority on tlie part of Commanders 

 of Kussian cruizers appointed for the execution of said Kcguhition. 

 3 At the same time, it has not been neglected to give all the timely 



publicity necessary to put those on their guard against whom the 

 measure is aimed. 



Its action, therefore, can only reach the foreign vessels whiidi, in 

 spite of the notitication, will expose themselves to seizure by infiinging 

 upon the line marked out in the lie.nuhition. The Government tlatters 

 itself that these cases will be very rare; if all remains as at present — 

 not one. 



.1 ought, in the hist place, to request you to consider, Sir, that the 

 Russian possessions in the Pacific Ocean extend on the north-west coast 

 of America from Behring Straits to the 51 st degree of north latitude, 

 and on the opposite side of Asia and the islands adjacent from the same 

 strait to the 45th degree. The extent of sea, of which these possessions 

 form the limits, comprehends all the conditions w^hich are ordinarily 

 attached to shut seas ("mers fermces"); and the Russian Government 

 might consequently judge itself authorized to exercise upon this sea 

 the rights of sovereignty, and especially that of interdicting the entrance 

 of foreigners. But it jireferred only asserting its essential rights, with- 

 out taking advantage of localities. 



The Emperor, my august Sovereign, sets a very high value upon the 

 maintenance of the relations of amity and good understanding which 

 have till now subsisted between the two countries. The dispositions 

 of His Imperial Majesty in this regard have never failed appearing at 

 all times when an occasion has presented itself in the political relations 

 of the United States with the European Powers; and, surely, in the 

 midst of a general peace, Russia does not think of aiming a blow at 

 the maritime interests of the United States — she who has constantly 

 respected them in those dilticult circumstances in which Europe has 

 been seen to be placed in the latter times, and the influence of which 

 the United States have been unable to avert. 

 1 avail, &c. 



(Signed) Pierre de Poletica. 



No. 2. 



Mr. Adams to M. de Poletica. 



Department of State, 

 Washington, March 30, 1822. 



Sm : I have had the honour of receiving your letter of the 28th ultimo, 

 which has been submitted to the consideration of the President of the 

 United States. 



From the deduction which it contains of the- grounds upon which 

 Articles of Regulation of tlie Russian-American Company have now, 

 for the first time, extended the claim of Russia on tin; north-west coast 

 of America to the 51st degree of north latitude, its only foundation 

 appears to be the existence of the small Settlement of Novo Archan- 

 gelsk, situated, not on the American Continent, but upon a small island 

 in latitude 57<^ and the principle upon which you state that this claim 

 is now advan(;ed is that the 51 st degree is cqnidistarit from the Settle- 

 ment of Novo Archangelsk and the establishment of the United States 



