130] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1817. 



the resources of the loan bank, 

 and to regulate it in a manner 

 suitable to its destination, in order, 

 by the united influence of those 

 establishments on the strengthen- 

 ing of private credit, to contribute 

 to the extension of agriculture, 

 pf industiy, and of commerce, 

 and in general to the advantage of 

 pur dearly beloved country, in 

 whose prosperity we place the re- 

 ward of our exertions and our 

 glory. Alrxander. 



It was announced in the niontli 

 qf August, that the Emperor was 

 preparing to cjuit liis capital on 

 the first of September. His ab- 

 sence was intended to be from 

 fifteen to sixteen months. His 

 Majesty was first to proceed to 

 Witepsk, in order to inspect the 

 troops of General Barclay de Tolly; 

 whence he w;is to arrive at Moscow 

 in November. Remaining in tliat 

 quarter lill June, he was then to 

 visit the soutliern provinces ai' his 

 empire. From Astracan he was to 

 go to the Ciiniea, and insjject the 

 troips of General Bennigsen ; and 

 then cross into Germany, to assist 

 at the assembly fixed by the allied 

 sovereigns in 1815, to be lield 

 either at Frankfort on the Maine, 

 or at Aix-la-Chapelle. After pay- 

 ing a visit to Warsaw, he was to 

 return to Petersbuigh. 



Before the Emperor's quitting 

 Russia he published the following 

 ukase concerning the settling of 

 foreign colonists in the country. 



1. Not only every noble pro- 

 prietor, but every individual wlio, 

 according to the c'ecree of the l^Jth 

 of December 1801, has the power 

 of acquiring land by purchase or 

 other title, nmy invite foreign cul- 

 tivators. 



2. That these colonists, who are 

 ignorant of our laws and language, 

 may not incur the danger of con- 

 tracting too onerous engagements, 

 and that, on the other hand, the 

 proprietors may not be exposed to 

 the exaggerated pretensions of the 

 former, weoidain thatall contracts 

 made between them,and founded on 

 principles already existing and au- 

 thorized, shall, after being ex- 

 amined by the competent authority, 

 be submitted to the revision of 

 the Minister of the Interior, who 

 is chaiged with the duty of watch- 

 ing over the colonists in general, 

 and is requireil in particular to 

 protect against every kind of vex- 

 ation those who are established on 

 the lands of the nobility. 



3. These contracts are not to 

 exceed the term of twenty years. 

 They must clearly specify the con- 

 ditions to which planters submit, 

 as well as the annual lent which 

 they engage to pay to the landlord 

 in money or kind. 



4. The reciprocal payments 

 which at the term of the contract 

 shall be exigible by the consent of 

 the contracting parties, on the 

 supposition that then the planter 

 quits the land, or the proprietor 

 lefuses to retain him, shall be de- 

 termined with clearness and pre- 

 cision. 



5. On the death of the proprie- 

 tor, his contracts shall be binding 

 en his heirs, who shall not have 

 the power of making clianges, ex- 

 cept with the consent of the plant- 

 ers, and the permission of the au- 

 thorities. 



G. The planters who may be 

 established on the lands of the 

 nobility sh;dl enjoy during their 

 icsidence in Russia a full and en- 

 tire liberty of conscience, and shall 



be 



i 



