THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN COMPANY. 53 



visions, prices of freight, etc. C. To propose measures for a develop- 

 ment and increase of the flshiiig- industries for the benefit of tlie native 

 popnlation of Kamchatka and Oliliotsk. D. Whether the Company can 

 undertake to furnish the districts of Kamchatka and Olvhotsk witli all 

 the necessary articles of trade which the inhabitants now receive from 

 Irkutsk, and at what prices. 



3. In refusing permission to Mr. Dobello to dispatch ships loaded 

 with tea and Chinese goods, the Government had in view the avoid- 

 ance of any complications which might interfere with the full enjoy- 

 ment by the Russian American Company of its privileges granted by 

 Imperial ukase, not only in connection with the trade in teas across 

 the Chinese border at Kiakhta, but also in connection with the exclu- 

 sive rights of trade and navigation in all the waters adjoining the Sibe- 

 rian as well as the American possessions of Kussia, and all interior 

 waters connected therewith. For this jKirpose Mr. Dobello was re- 

 ([uested to furnish detailed information of the trade and commerce at 

 the Philippine Islands, in order to relieve the Company of the necessity 

 of employing foreign shii)S and masters for this trade which involves 

 their admission to waters reserved for the exclusive use of the Russian 

 Am erican Company under its charter. 



In conclusion it is stated as the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, 

 in view of i)0ssible future complications of this nature, that no contracts 

 involving the admission., free navigation, or trade of foreign ships and 

 ibreign subjects in the waters adjoining or bounded by the coasts of 

 tli<^ Russian Colonies will be approved by the Imperial Government. 



The board of administration of the Russian American Comi)any is 

 liereby informed that Court-Councilor Dobello has not been recognized 

 as Russian consul by the Spanish Government, because the court of 

 Madrid declares it to be contrary to its colonial system to admit for- 

 eign consuls to its colonies; but having acquiesced in his residence at 

 Manilla and in his exercise there of the duties of agent, it is now under- 

 stood that the object of his appointment was only to assist vessels of 

 the Russian American Company visiting Manilla in purely commercial 

 transactions. 



Coiint D. GURYEF, Minister of Finance. 

 Count Yakov Lambert, Privy Councilor. 



No. 3. 



Letter from the Board of Administration of the Bvssian American 

 (Jompany to Captain M. I. Muravief, of the Imperial N'avy, Chief 

 Manager of the Russian-American Colonies. Written from St. Peters- 

 burg, April 23, 1820. 



[Uonfldential.] 



On the 10th instant the Minister of Finance communicated to the 

 board of administration in a message marked confidential, the will of His 

 Imperial Majesty in the following words: 



1. That the contract concluded with the Englishman Pigott is disap- 

 proved by the Government. 



2. That the Governor of Irkutsk be instructed to allow no foreigners, 

 except such as have become Russian subjects, to join in any commer- 

 cial guild or to settle in Kamchatka or Okhotsk j also to strictly pro- 



