lirssiAN" AMKIJICA. 



i:rnii:i:ropj>. JOHN. 



C83 



north l.y following tho source of th. 

 thus arriving in tho \ alloy between the coast 

 anil tlio Kocky Mountains. The next 

 it' any importance is tlio Copper Mino, 

 which outers tho sea in view of Mount St. 

 in about c.u " north latiitulo ami 142 west 

 nlo. This river is of importance in con- 

 nee of its location and tho access it gives 

 t.. the intoiior, a- it unites by a lake the waters 

 of the Yukon within Russian territory, giving 

 ; uninterrupted navigation from tho coast 

 on tho Pacific, hy way of the Yukon and 

 Knitchpck, to I Wiring's Sea. Next comes 

 - Inlet, and a river entering into it. which 

 the UusMiin American Company use, in connec- 

 tion with the Kuskovimo to jeach tho Knitch- 

 pek and Fort St. Michael. 



After pas.-ing the Peninsula of Alaska thero 

 is a considerable stream entering into Bristol 

 J!ay. This stream, by a system of lakes, is said 

 to connect with Cook's Inlet. Next comes the 

 Kubkovime, a river of considerable magnitude 

 and of importance to the country in giving ac- 

 ;o the interior. 



The most important and chief of all the riv- 

 ers west of tho Rocky Mountains ana north of 

 49 north latitude is the great Knitchpek, which 

 enters into Bel) ring's Sea between 64 and 65 

 north latitude, by several mouths, and on the 

 meridian of 165 west longitude. This great 

 river, it is said by Mr. Collins, of the Rus- 

 sian Telegraph Company, has an easterly course 

 for some five degrees, then bends abruptly to 

 the north some four degrees, thence nearly east 

 to a point not far distant from the British fron- 

 tier, where it receives the Porcupine or Rat 

 River, from the northeast, and the Yukon from 

 the southeast; the junction of these two riv- 

 ers forms the Knitchpek; it is navigable to the 

 sea, a distance of one thousand miles for steam- 

 boats. This river had never been seen by white 

 men in its whole course previous to explora- 

 tions for the construction of the Russian-Amer- 

 ican Telegraph; but the explorations place the 

 Knitchpek at tho head of all rivers on tho 

 northwest coast north of 49. 



North through Behring's Strait and the Arc- 

 tic Ocean i- Kot/ebue Sound, which is fed by a 

 considerable river, on which is a large popula- 

 tion ; here are found, as on the coast of Arctic 

 Siberia, extensive deposits of animal remains. 



Further east there are many bays and sounds, 

 and beyond Point Barrow tho Colville River 

 enters Garrison Bay. This river has its main 

 course to the south, and tho natives report it 

 navigable and inhabited from a point not far 

 from tho northern bend of tho Knitchpek to 

 the sea. 



The climate of the country is not so cold as 

 the eastern parts of the continent, or the east- 

 ern part of Asia, under the same latitude. It 

 is, however, far too severe to admit of agricul- 

 tural operations. The animals are tho sea 

 otter, river otter, sable, furred seal, mink, black, 

 grey, and red foxes, red deer and reindeer. The 

 tL-h, in. which the waters abound, are the her- 



ring, salmon, and cod. Iron oro. gold, and coal, 

 nro found in eun-.ioVrable quantities. The pop- 

 ulation consists of five or MX thousand Kuamani 

 ami fifty or sixty thousand Esquimaux Ii 

 who inhabit tho coast on the Northern Sea, and 

 live by fishing and hunting. 



This extensive territory was granted to a 

 Russian-American fur company by a charter 

 from the Emperor Paul VIII., in July, 1799, 

 with power to occupy and bring under the do- 

 minion of Russia all territories north or south 

 of fifty-five degrees not previously occupied by 

 another nation. The charter of the company 

 was renewed in 1839, when it hud thirty-six 

 hunting and fishing establishments. 



New Archangel, the principal post, is situate 

 on the island of Sitka, in latitude 57 30', and 

 longitude 135 13'. It was founded in 1803, 

 and is a military station and the chief post of 

 tho company. A Greek bishop, with several 

 priests and deacons, resides here, and also a 

 Lutheran minister; and there are schools for 

 the children of Europeans and half-breeds. 

 Subordinate to Sitka there is a smaller estab- 

 lishment of the same kind at Alaska, which 

 supplies the posts on Bristol Bay and Cook's 

 Inlet, which are all connected with minor an- 

 terior stations. Another station in Norton 

 Sound has its own inland dependencies. The 

 company has also permanent forts or flying 

 posts, in the Aleutian and Kurile islands, and 

 a chain of agencies from Okhotsk, in Kamt- 

 schatka, to St. Petersburg, for the transmission 

 of merchandise, etc. The company's trade is 

 considerable, supplying not only Russia with 

 furs, but also the markets of China, through 

 Kiachta, on the Tartar frontier. The annual ex- 

 port is estimated at 10,000 seal, 1,000 sea otter, 

 12,000 beaver, and 2,500 land otter, fox and 

 marten skins, and about 20,000 sea-horse 

 teeth. 



During the Crimean war, a British force 

 sailed quietly and cautiously from tho Chinese 

 waters, with the hope of surprising these pos- 

 sessions of the Czar and taking possession of 

 the country. But the Russian Admiral in 

 command was so well prepared off Petropaulo- 

 viski as completely to defeat the British fleet, 

 and caused its commander, through mortifica- 

 tion, to commit suicide. A recent treaty be- 

 tween tho United States and Russia has been 

 made for the purchase of this territory by tho 

 former power. 



RUTHERFORD, Colonel JOHN, formerly act- 

 ing governor of Virginia, born in Richmond in 

 1794 ; died there August 3, 1866. lie graduated 

 at Princeton College, N. J., studied law, and 

 was admitted to the bar in Richmond, where 

 he soon distinguished himself for his talents. 

 Becoming quite popular he was elected a repre- 

 sentative in the Virginia General Assembly, 

 and was reflected for twelve successive years. 

 Ho was subsequently chosen to the Executive 

 Council, and discharged the duties of governor, 

 in virtue of his office of lieutenant-governor, 

 with much honor and credit, lie was a menv 



