COKRESPONDENCE OF 1822-1825. 145 



that their respective citizens aucl subjects shall not he disturbed or molested, either 

 iji iiavigatiuu" or in carrying on tlieir fisheries in the Pacific Ocean or in the South 

 Seas, or in landing on the coasts of those seas, in places not already occupied, for 

 the purpose of carrying on their commerce with the natives of the country; subject, 

 nevertheless to the restrictions and provisions specified in the two following articles. 



AuT. II. To the end that the navigation and fishery of the citizens and subjects of 

 the contracting parties, respectively, in the Pacific Ocean or in the South Seas, may 

 not be made a pretext for illicit trade with their respective settlements, it is agreed 

 that the citizens of the United States shall not land on any part of the coast actually 

 occupied by Russian settlements, unless by permission of the governor or commander 

 thereof, and that Russian subjects shall, in like manner, be interdicted from landing 

 without jjermission at any settlement of the United States on the said northwest 

 coast. 



Art. III. It is agreed that no settlement shall be made hereafter on the northwest 

 coast of America by citizens of the United States or under their authority, north, 

 nor by Russian subjects, or under the authority of Russia, south of the lifty-fifth 

 degree of north latitude. 



(For other inclosures, see American State Papers, Foreign Relations, 

 vol. V, PI). 436-438.) 



Mr. Adams to Mr. Rush. 



JSTo. 70.] Department of State, 



Washington, Juhj 22, 1823. 



Sir: Among' the snbjects of negotiation with Great Britain Avhicli 

 are pressing npon the attention of this Government is the present con- 

 dition of the northwest coast of this continent. This interest is con- 

 nected, in a manner becoming from day to day more important, with 

 our territorial rights; with the whole system of our intercourse Avith 

 the Indian tribes ; with the boundary relations between us and the 

 British North American dominions; with the fur trade; the tisheries in 

 the Pacific Ocei^ai; the commerce with the Sandwich Islands and China; 

 with our boundary upon Mexico; and, lastly, with our political stand- 

 ing and intercourse with the Eussian Emi)ire. 



By the third article of the convention between the United States and 

 Great Britain of October 20, 1818, it is agreed that any "country that 

 may be claimed by either party on the northwest coast of America, 

 Avestward of the Stony Mountains, shall, together with its harbors, 

 bays, and creeks, and the navigation of all rivers within the same be 

 free and open for the term of ten years from the date of the signature 

 of the convention to the vessels, citizens, and subjects of the two pow- 

 ers; it being well understood that this agreemt^nt is not to be construed 

 to the prejudice of any claims which either of the two high contractiug* 

 parties may have to any part of the said country, nor shall it be taken 

 to affect the claims of any other power or State to any part of the said 

 country. The only object of the high contractiug parties in that re- 

 spect being to prevent disputes and dift'erencies amongst themselves." 



On the Gtli of October, 1818, fourteen days before the signature of 

 the coiivention, the settlement at the mouth of Columbia River had 

 been formally restored to the United States by order of the British 

 Government. (Message of the President of the United States to the 

 House of Representatives, April 15, 1822, page 13. Letter of Mr. 

 Tre-vost to the Secretary of State of November 11, 1818.) 



By the treaty of amity, settlement, and limits between the United 

 States and Spain of February 22, 1819, the boundary line between them 

 was fixed at the forty-second degree of latitude, from the source of the 

 19 



