ite] RUSSIAN AMERICA (ALASKA)— TREATY OF 1825 73 



This note was crossed by one from Middleton asking for an interview. The 

 interview took place three days ago, and I learn from Ct. Nesselrode that Mr. 

 Middleton abstained from making any remarks whatever upon our négociation, 

 and had given in to him the projet of a convention which Ct. Nesselrode thought 

 very moderate and reasonable. This projet contains 3 articles. The first 

 assures to both parties the free navigation of the whole of the Pacific — thus 

 quietly getting rid of the Russian maritime pretension. The 2d stipulates 

 that The United States shall not make settlements North nor Russia settlements 

 South of the 55th degree of N. Latitude, and the 3d binds the United States 

 to sell no arms and ammunition to the natives on the Russian American coasts. 

 This projet is, I have no doubt, the modification of that with which Mr. Middle- 

 ton was originally furnished to negociate about territorial demarcation and every 

 thing else without us and to our exclusion, and that, if he had had to act with me, 

 and had had our appui he would have contended for much more than he now 

 does. Nesselrode and Poletica are also of this opinion — but it is all very well 

 as it is, and we shall each follow our respective courses without collision, as it 

 appears to me, of any sort. The duplicity however of the American Govern- 

 ment, as it regards us, has, you may depend upon it, been extreme, and I heartily 

 hope that Squinty Adams may lose his election for it. 



I have had three conferences with the Russian Plenipotentiaries — I shall 

 probably have another at the begining of next week after Nesselrode has seen 

 The Emperor, and that conference I hope may be favorable and final as far as 

 our general agreement goes. This Government is fighting me very hard about 

 the 55th degree which they pretend to adhere to as a point of national dignity 

 being the limit assigned by Paul's charter to the Russian American Company. 

 At my first conference I proposed verbally Chatham Straits, Lynn Canal 

 and Mount Elias or the 140th degree of W. Longitude. This was taken for 

 consideration, and at the 2d conference a contreprojet was offered to me verb- 

 ally, and afterwards given to me for consideration in writing. I enclose a 

 copy of it. You will see that it is inadmissible. But as it is evident to me 

 that I cannot avoid giving some lisière, however narrow, upon the mainland 

 and as I conscientiously think that there is much reason in an argument which 

 has been strongly urged against my first projet viz: that if Chatham Straits 

 are the boundary, the United States, under their convention with us, will have 

 the right of visiting, to the great annoyance of Russia, all the islands and parages 

 between those Straits and the continent. I gave in at my last conference the 

 amended projet of which I enclose you a copy stating that I was at the end, 

 and beyond the end of my instructions, and that I could reaJly go no further. 

 Much discussion took place, but Nesselrode ended by taking my new projet 

 for reference to The Emperor, and I anxiously hope that at our next meeting 

 I may be told that it will be assented to. If it is, the rest will be matter of easy 

 adjustment, — and we may in a few days finish the Treaty when I shall despatch 

 a Messenger with it to England. I know that I exceed the letter of my instruc- 

 tions in ceding the islands North of Prince of Wales and Duke of York"- Islands, 

 but I do not think that I am acting contrary to the spirit of them, and if I can 

 get, as I thus should do, the 56th degree as the Southern boundary a lisière 

 of about 30 miles on the continent and the 140th or 139th degree of W. Longi- 

 tude, we shall effectually secure all the essential objects and interests of the 

 Hudson's Bay Company. Ct. Nesselrode has asked me whether I should 

 object to a stipulation not to sell arms and ammunition to the natives on the 

 Russian Allotment. I have told him that I should not object. 

 ^Present Zarembo and Wrangell islands. 



