CORRESPONDENCE OF 1822-1825. 187 



seront born^s h empeclier la contrebande daiis les limites recoimiies 

 par les autres puissances, en prenant nos etablissemens actuels 

 pour base de ces operations. De cette maniere, il n'y aura pas de 

 complication pour eutraver la negociation que pouira entamer M. le 

 Baron de Tuyll des son arrivee a Washington. Si vous dites que vous 

 faites protestation, vous ferez du tort a la negociation ; il ne faut pas 

 non plus faire I'insinuation que nous ayons avance une injuste preten- 

 tion, meme en nous complimeutant sur notre politique passee; il ne 

 faut pas nous souimer de revoquer des ordres donnes; nous ne revo- 

 quons pas; nous ne nous r^tractons pas. Mais dans le fait il n'y a pas 

 d'ordres donnes qui autorisent ce que vous craignez." 



After much discussion I acquiesced in the solidity of the reasons for 

 not delivering my note, and immediately wrote to Count Nesselrode 

 asking an interview, which was granted for the 27th day of the month. 



At that conference I talked over the matter with the two secretaries 

 of state and brought fully to their view the substance of the instruc- 

 tions upon the ukase of 4th September last, insisting upon the neces- 

 sity of this Government suspending the execution of those regulations 

 which violate the general right of navigating within the common juris- 

 diction of all nations, and declaring that the territorial pretension ad- 

 vanced by Eussia must be considered as entirely inadmissible by the 

 United States until the conflicting claims shall have been settled by 

 treaty. I received verbal assurances that our wish in both respects 

 will be complied with, and that it is the intention of the Emperor that 

 Baron Tuyll shall be furnished with full powers to adjust all controver- 

 sies upon the subject of trade and territory upon the E. W. Coast. 

 "Mais en attendant," said Ct. Capodistrias, "votre gouvernment 

 voudra bien defendre a ses sujets le commerce dans les limites sujettes 

 a contestation." In answer to this apostrophe I represented thait this 

 could not possibly be done without admitting the exclusive rights of 

 Eussia, and that until those should be made manifest our Government 

 has no authority to inhibit its citizens from exercising their free indus- 

 try within the limits sanctioned by the laws of their country and ol na- 

 tions. 



I thought it necessary to give official form to these verbal comnnmi- 

 cations, and uj)on stating this to the secretaries it was agreed that I 

 should simply asli to he informed what was intended by the Imperial 

 Government, and they promised that the answer should be satisfactory. 

 Immediately on my return home I jienned the note No. 2, and received 

 in answer, upon the 1st of this month, that numbered 3. 

 I have the honor to be sir, etc., etc., 



Henry Middleton. 



P. S. — A Eussian frigate of 44 guns and 120 men, commanded by Capt. 

 Lieut. Lazaroft", sailed about the 1st of August (O. S.), in company 

 with a Korse ship, bound for the IST. W. Coast. 

 The Secretary of State of the United States, 

 St. Petersburg, August /o, 1822. 



[Inclosure No. 1 — Prepared, but not delivered.] 

 Note verbale. 



The correspondence of the Russian Envoy in the United States of America with the 

 Secretary of State of that Goveruiueut has probably given the Imperial Goverumeut 



18 



