CASES OF THE PEARL, LORIOT, AND HARRIET. 



CASE OF THE PEARL.' 



Messrs. Bryant and Sturgis to Mr. Adams. 



Boston, April 21, 1823. 

 Hon. John Quincy Adams, 



Secretary of State: 



Sir: The brig Pearl, Samuel Chandler, master, belonging to our- 

 selves and other citizens of the United States, sailed from this place on 

 a trading voyage to the northwest coast of America in January 1822, 

 and arrived at the Sandwich Islands the following August. Illness 

 compelled Capt. Chandler to remain at the islands, and Charles Ste- 

 vens was appointed commander of the vessel. The inclosed protest 

 shows the subsequent proceedings. Our letters from Capt. Chandler 

 state that the order to leave that part of the northwest coast lying 

 north of latitude 51°, was a written one, both from the governor of 

 the Russian settlement at Norfolk Sound and the commander of the 

 Russian frigate. 



By this outrage the voyage of the brig Pearl has been entirely ruined 

 and her owners subjected to a very heavy loss, as the peculiar charac- 

 ter of the voyages to the northwest coast require a cargo and outfit 

 not adapted to any other trade, and which must be totally lost if we 

 are debarred from pursuing our original plan. 



Understanding that negotiations are pending with the Russian Gov- 

 ernment, in relation to their claims of exclusive jurisdiction on the 

 northwest coast, we feel it our duty to make this communication to 

 our Government, and do it with a confident expectation that a demand 

 will be made on the Russian Government for indemnity for the heavy 

 losses to which we have been unjustly subjected. 



We learn that the Russian authorities on the northwest coast had 

 taken measures to drive the other American vessels from that coast 

 and are in daily expectation of hearing from them at the Sandwich 

 Islands, to which they must resort. Having upwards of $200,000 

 embarked in the northwest trade, we are deeply interested in the 

 result, and can not but hope that Government will adopt such meas- 

 ures as will secure us an indemnity for the immense losses with which 

 we are threatened. 



With the greatest respect, we are, sir, your most obedient servants, 



Bryant & Sturgis. 



•The documents hereinafter referred to are on file in the archives of the State De: 

 partment at Washington. 



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