144 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



term often years from the signature of a joint convention between the 

 United States, Great Britain, and Enssia. 



The right of the United States fi-om the forty-second to the forty-ninth 

 parallel of latitude on the Pacific Ocean we consider as unquestionable, 

 being founded, first, on the acquisition, by the treaty of February 22, 

 1819, of all the rights of Spain; second, by the discovery of the Co- 

 lumbia River, first from sea, at its mouth, and then by land, by Lewis 

 and Clarke; and third, by the settlement at its mouth in 1811. This 

 territory is to the United States of an importance which no possession 

 in North America can be to any European nation, not only as it is but 

 the continuity of their possessions from the Atlantic to the Pacific 

 Ocean, but as it offers their inhabitants the means of establishing here- 

 after water communications from the one to the other. 



It is not conceivable that any possession upon the continent of North 

 America should be of use or importance to Russia for any other purpose 

 than that of traffic with the natives. This was, in fact, the inducement 

 to the formation of the Russian-American Company and to the charter 

 granted them by the Emperor Paul. It was the inducement to the 

 ukase of the Emperor Alexander. By offering free and equal access 

 for a term of years to navigation and intercourse with the natives to 

 Russia, within the limits to Avhich our claims are indisputable, we con- 

 cede much more than we obtain. It is not to be doubted that, long be- 

 fore the expiration of that time, our settlement at the mouth of the 

 Columbia River will become so considerable as to offer means of useful 

 commercial intercourse with the Russian settlements on the islands of 

 the northwest coast. 



With regard to the territorial claim, separate from the right of traflic 

 with the natives and from any system of colonial exclusions, we are 

 willing to agree to the boundary line within which the Emperor Paul 

 had granted exclusive privileges to the Russian American Company, 

 that is to say, latitude 55°. 



If the Russian Government apj)rehend serious inconvenience from the 

 illicit traffic of foreigners with their settlements on the northwest coast, 

 it may be effectually guarded against by stipulations similar to those, 

 a draft of which is herewith subjoined, and to which you are authorized, 

 on the part of the United States, to agree. 



As the British ambassador at St. Petersburg is authorized and in- 

 structed to negotiate likewise upon this subject, it may be proper to 

 adjust the interests and claims of the three powers by a joint conven- 

 tion. Your full power is prepared accordingly. 



Instructions conformable to these will be forwarded to Mr. Rush, at 

 London, with authority to communicate with the British Government 

 in relation to this interest and to correspond with you concerning it, 

 with a view to the maintenance of the rights of the United States. 

 I am, etc., 



John Quincy Adams. 



Henry Middleton, 



Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary 



of the United States, iSt. Fetersburg. 



[Iiulosuro.] 

 Draft of treaty between the United Stales and Russia, 



Art. I. In order to strengthen the bonds of friendship and to preserve in future a 

 perfect harmony and good understanding between the contracting parties, it is agreed 



