162 DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



No. 17. 



Letter from Captain of the First Rank and Knight Ivan Vassilievitch 

 Furuhelm, chief manager of the Russian American colonies, to Master 

 Benzeman, of the imperial navy. Written from the colonies June 20, 1861. 



To Master Benzeman, of the Imperial Navy, Commanding the Steamer 



Alexander the Second: 



As soon as the steamer is quite ready to sail, I request your excel- 

 lency to leave this port and to carry out the following instructions: 



I. To proceed to the Kenai coal mines, and on your arrival there to 

 hand the inclosed package to the governor, Master of the Mines Furu- 

 helm, and to take on the steamer as much coal as the space occupied 

 by your cargo permits. 



IL From English Bay proceed to the island of St. Paul, whence, after 

 landing your passengers, delivering the annual supplies, and taking on 

 board the supplies for Fort Michael, you will proceed to that fort to 

 deliver the supplies sent and to take in there such cargo as will be in- 

 dicated to you by Governor Yachramesvoi. 



III. Leaving Fort Michael, you will direct your course to the island 

 of St. Paul, where you must immediately take on board a whole cargo 

 of sealskins, supplies, oil, and seal meat, and, stopping on your way at 

 the island of St. George to take on board goods and supplies which may 

 be ready on the arrival of the steamer, you will proceed -to Unalaska, 

 and, after furnishing Governor Vlasoff, on his requisition, with sup- 

 plies, oil, and seal meat, which you will bring expressly for that purpose 

 from St. Paul, you will take in a cargo of such goods as may be ready 

 at Unalaska and then proceed to New Archangel. 



IV. During the time of your said visits to those places you will listen 

 to all complaints which may be presented to you, and, without coming 

 to any decision about them, you will report them to me on your arrival 

 at New Archangel. 



Y. At Fort Michael two employes, Koshevnikoff and Makurin, will 

 be presented to you by Governor Vachrarnesvoi for punishment for 

 violation of Government regulations and for disobedience, and I there- 

 fore advise you to punish each of them with twenty five lashes in the 

 presence of the whole command of the fort. 



VI. The bishop of New Archangel, Peter, will go by the steamer to 

 inspect the missions in the north. I request you to show his reverence 

 all due attention and to comply with all his wishes. 



VII. During your stay at Fort Michael take on board the steamer as 

 much wood as you possibly can and carry it to the island of St. Paul. 



VIII. If the governors of the island present to you employes who 

 have served their time for transportation from the colonies, you will 

 receive them on board the steamer. The carpenter, Parfeutef, must go 

 from St. Paul to Sitka, 



IX. It has come to my knowledge that two whaling vessels had been 

 sent this year from San Francisco to trade on the Pribilof Islands. I 

 therefore request your excellency, during the time appointed for your 

 voyage, to do duty as a cruiser on the exact basis of the instructions * 

 herewith inclosed, which have been approved by the Emperor. 



I trust that you will execute the instructions given you to my satis- 

 faction and that you will return without much loss of time. 



A list of the crew and passengers of the steamer is herewith inclosed. 



The issue of rum to your command will be continued in accordance 

 with existing regulations. 



•They are not in the possession of the United States. 



