CORRESPONDENCE OF 1822-1825. 135 



States, tlie President is persuaded that tlie citizens of tills Union will 

 remain unmolested, in tlie prosecution of tlieir lawful commerce, and 

 tliat no effect will be given to an interdiction manifestly incompatible 

 with their rights. 

 I am, etc., 



John Quinct Adams. 



M. de Poletica to Mr. Adams. 



Washington, April :2, 1822. 



Mr. Poletica replied on the 2d of April following, and after again 

 endeavoring to prove the title of Eussia to the northwest coast of 

 America from Behring Straits to the fifty-first degree of north latitude, 

 said : 



"In the same manner the great extent of the Pacific Ocean at the" 

 fifty-first degree of latitude can not invalidate the right which Eussia 

 may have of considering that part of the ocean as close. But as the 

 Imperial Government has not thought fit to take advantage of that 

 right, all further discussion on this subject would be idle. 



"As to the right claimed for the citizens of the United States of trad- 

 ing with the natives of the country of the northwest coast of America, 

 without the limits of the jurisdiction belonging to Eussia, the Imperial 

 Government will not certainly think of limiting it, and still less of at- 

 tacking it there. But I can not dissemble, sir, that this same trade be- 

 yond the fifty-first degree will meet with difficulties and inconveniences, 

 for which the American owners will only have to accuse their own im- 

 prudence after the publicity which has been given to the measures taken 

 by the Imperial Government for maintaining the rights of the Eussian 

 American Company in their absolute integrity. 



"I shall not finish this letter without repeating to you, sir, the very 

 positive assurance which I have already had the honor once of express- 

 ing to you that in every case where the American Government shall 

 judge it necessary to make explanations to that of the Emperor, the 

 President of the United States may rest assured that these explana- 

 tions will always be attended to by the Emperor, my augnt-t sovereign, 

 with the most friendly, and consequently the most conciliatory, dis^jo- 

 sitions." 



Mr. Middleton to Mr. Adams. 



St. Peteesbueo, August 8, 1822. 



Sir : I am desirous of giving you a full account of what has occurred 

 here upon the subject of the N. W. Contestation, because I con- 

 ceive it to be important, on account of the impending negotiation upon 

 that subject, that you should be furnished with all the infoimation at- 

 tainable respecting tlie views and feelings of this Government upon it; 

 and also because I wish you to understand the reason of the very mod- 

 erate tone of the note I presented upon receii)t of the instructions con- 

 tained in your No. 12. 



Having premised thus much, I x>roceed to state; that from the time of 



