CHARTER OF 1799. 15 



knoM^led^c and belief, and fortify them to insure the ssifcty of tlie 

 inhabitants, and to send ships to those slioreswith j>(iods and hnnters, 

 without any obstacles on the part of the Government. 



V. To extend their navijiation to all adjoining nations and hold busi- 

 ness intercourse witli all surrounding powers, upon obtaining their free 

 consent for the purpose, and under our highest ])rote(;tion to enable 

 them to prosecute their enterprises with greater force and advantage. 



VI. To emi:>loy for navigation, hunting, and all other business, free 

 and unsuspected people, luiving no illegal views or intentions. In con- 

 sideration of the distance of the localities where they will be sent, the 

 provincial authorities will grant to all x)ersous sent out as settlers, liun- 

 ters, and in other capacities, passports for seven years. Serfs and hcnise- 

 servants will only be (unployed by the Company with the consent of 

 their landholders, and Government taxes will be paid for all seifs thus 

 employed. 



VII. Though it is forbidden by our highest order to cut Government 

 timber anywhere without the permission of the admiralty college, 

 this Company is hereby permitted, on account of the distance of the 

 admiralty from Okhotsk, when it needs timber for repairs, and occa- 

 sionally for the construction of new ships, to use freely such timber as 

 is required. 



VIII. For shooting animals, for marine signals, and in all unexpected 

 emergencies on the mainland of America, and on the islands, the Com- 

 pany is permitted to buy ibr cash, at cost price, from the Government 

 artillery magazine at Irkutsk, yearly, 40 or 50 pouds of i)Owder and 

 from the Nertchinsk mine liOO pouds of lead. 



IX. If one of the partners of the Company be(;omes indebted to the 

 Government or to private persons and is not in a coiulition to pay them 

 from any other property except what he holds in the Company, such 

 ])roperty can not be seized for the satisfaction of such debts, but the 

 (l('})tor shall not be permitted to use anything but the interest or divi- 

 dends of such i^roperty until the term of the C(unpany's j)i'ivileges ex- 

 pires, Avhen it will be at his oi' his creditor's disposal. 



X. The exclusive right is most graciously granted to the Com])any for 

 a peiiod of twenty years, to use and enjoy, in the above-described ex- 

 tent of country and islands, all profits and advantages derived from 

 hunting, trade, industries, and discovery of new lands, i)rohibiting the 

 enjoyment of these profits and advantages not only to those who would 

 wish to sail to those C(mntries on their own account, but to all former 

 liuntcrs and trappers who have been engaged in this trade and have 

 their vessels and furs at those places; and other com])anies which may 

 have been formed will not be allowed to continue their business unless 

 they unite with the present Company with their free consent; but such 

 private com])anies or traders as have their vessels in those regions can 

 either sell their property, or, with the Company's consent, remain until 

 they have obtained a cargo, but no longer than is required for the h)ad- 

 ing and return of their vessel; and after that nobody will have any 

 privileges but this one Company, which will be protected in the enjoy- 

 ment of all the rights mentioned. 



XI. Under our highest protection the Eussian American Company 

 will have full control over all above-mentioned localities, and exercise 

 judicial jiowers in minor cases. The Company will also be permitted to 

 use all local facilities for fortifications in the defense of the country 

 under their control against foreign attacks. Only partners of the Com- 

 pany shall be employed in the administration of the new x>ossessions in 

 charge of the Company. 



