CLAIMS TO THE NORTHWEST COAST. 31 



«iny kind with Russia arose out of these measures, ^ The n o o t k a 



Sound coutro- 



but the Spanish naval commander having seized versy. 



two vessels engaged in trade there, together with 



certain houses and land, all of which the British 



Government claimed to be the property of British 



subjects, the act of seizure was vigorously and 



successfully resented, and as a result of a heated 



controversy the treaty of 1790 was celebrated 



between Great Britain and Spain.^ Article III Treaty of 1790 



. . ^ ,, ,,T • between Great 



01 that treaty is, m part, as loliows: 'It is agreed Britain and Spain, 

 that the respective subjects shall not be disturbed 

 or molested either in navigating or carrying on 

 their fisheries in the Pacific Ocean, or in the 

 South Seas, or in landing on the coasts of those 

 seas in places not ah'eady occupied, for the pur- 

 pose of carrying on their commerce with the 

 natives of the country or of making settlements 

 there; the whole subject, nevertheless, to the 

 restrictions specified in the three following 

 articles." 



This stipulation is of special significance, as it 

 constituted a basis of the adjustment made by 

 Russia with the United States in 1824 and with 

 Great Britain in 1825, respecting the navigation 

 of the Pacific Ocean and the conflictinor- claims to 

 the territory on the Northwest Coast. 



' American State Papers, Foreign Relations, vol. V, p. 445. 

 *Vol. I, p. 32. See Greeuhow's Memoir, chap. VI. 



