60 RUSSIAN CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO 



to the Company its rights and privileges for a period of twenty years. 

 A new set of ruk>s and regnlations were also taken nnder advisement, 

 and the snbsequent action, as evinced by the impeiial edict, furnishes 

 proof of the sincere anxiety on the part of the Imperial Government to 

 assist all praiseworthy and patriotic enterprises, such as that repre- 

 sented by our Company, and to extend over them its highest protection. 

 Our august Monarch is ready to do all in his jiower to further the 

 eftbrts of the Russian American Company in spreading civilization and 

 Christianity in the most distant possessions of Eussia, promising at the 

 same time to secure to the Company its well-deserved profits and ad- 

 vantages. 



The board of administration of the Company has received the edict 

 and accompanying regulations as promulgated by the directing senate, 

 and ten copies of these documents with the seal of the Company affixed 

 are herewith inclosed. 



With this i>recious act in your hand you will be enabled to assume a 

 new" position and to stand firmly opposed to all attempts on tbe part of 

 foreigners to infringe upon our rights and privileges. In accordance 

 with the will of His Imperial Majesty, we will not be left to i^rotect 

 niiaided the land and waters embraced in our exclusive privileges. A 

 squadron of naval vessels is under orders to prepare for a cruise to the 

 coasts of northeastern Asia and northwestern America. In your deal- 

 ings A\ith foreigners you will act especially under the provisions of the 

 following paragraphs contained in the new regnlations: 35, 39, 41, 43, 

 44, 46-49, 51, 52, 53, 55-00, (32, 04, 67-70. These paragraphs bear 

 plainly upon the points in dispute betw^een us and other seataring na- 

 tions. We can now stand upon our rights and drive from our waters 

 and ports the intruders who tbreaten to neutralize the benefits and 

 gifts most graciously bestowed ujDon our Company by His Imx)erial 

 Majesty. Faitlifulness and energy on your part in carrying out the 

 ])rovisi;;ns of this edict will be duly reported to and appreciated by 

 the highest authorities. 



Of the copies of the documents herewith inclosed,^ yon will furnish 

 one each to the offices of New Archangel, Kadiak, Unalaska, Ross, and 

 to the agents on the northern fur-seal islands, with instructions to com- 

 ply with all its i)rovisions as far as local circumstances will permit, with 

 such additional explanations as you may see fit to furnish to the vari- 

 ous individuals in charge. It is necessary to add that such additional 

 instructions and explanations must be uniform in tenor and exi)ression 

 in order to avoid misunderstanding and embarrassment to the board of 

 administration. 



Upon the receipt of such overwhelming evidence of the good will of 

 our Monarch toward the Company we most sincerely congratulate you 

 and your colaborers in the field of enterprise. 



In oiir future correspondence we will not forget to further enlarge 

 ui)on this subject as circumstances may require. Lack of time pre- 

 vents us from saying more at present. 



Venedict Kramer, 



Director. 

 Andrei Severin, 



Director. 



•A copy of the ukase, translated into the English laiijiuage, was inclosed with 

 this letter, and from it is copied the trauslatiou of the ukase inserted iu Vol. I, p. 24. 



