APPENDIX TO COUNTER-CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 337 



future. At this poiut, most gra- witli the condition to what these 

 cious Sir, you will ijermit me to establishments will, in all proba- 

 reniark tbat we have no right or bility, in time attain, "and by their 

 power to extend our claims in the means of own defence. Here, 

 interior of the American Conti- gracious Sir, you will allow me to 

 uent to the Eocky Mountains, observe that to extend our preten- 

 Such claims would only give rise sions to the interior of the Conti- 

 to disputes and possible complica- nent of America to the middle of 

 tions without any visible advan- the Eocky Mountains, we have 

 tages resulting therefrom. On the neither the right nor the possibil- 

 other hand, it is your Excellency's ity; such pretensions may merely 

 own opinion that those regions are be the cause not only of disputes, 

 nearly barren and without proper but also of other most disagreeable 

 soil to produce breadstuffs for our events; and, as it would appear to 

 Colonies, and since the principal me, there is no visible advantage 

 and almost exclusive industry of in this fictitious extension of our 

 our settlers consists in the capture, confines. Independent of the cir- 

 notof land, but of marine animals, cumstance that the land in those 

 there seems to exist no necessity places is almost sterile, affords no 

 for an extended territory to the corn-fields, which, in the opinion 

 eastward of the boundary now pro- of your high Excellency, are nec- 

 posed. Consequently there can be essary for a Colony, is hardly able 

 no cause for a dispute on the sub- to produce good food-products, and 

 ject of fixing the boundary of this that the principal pursuit of our 

 strip of coast. We must also con settlers consists in the capture of 

 sider that as long as we avoid such marine and not land animals, it is 

 disputes, the neighbourhood of an necessary to bear in mind that in ac- 

 enlightened people cannot be in- cordance with contemplated plans 

 jurious, but must be of advan- these Settlements, after the line of 

 tage to the Colonies, affording fa- frontierhas been fixed, will acquire 

 cilities for the purchase of supplies recognized and undisputed posses- 

 in case of need. There is no reason sion of a considerably extensive 

 to apprehend that the mere fact of zone of country, and, moreover, 

 having such a neighbour would that when there are no disputes re- 

 compel us to abandon any of the spectingboundaries the neighbour- 

 islands and coast heretofore hood of civilized people, far from 

 30 occupied by us south of the being harmful, is advantageous to 

 60th degree of latitude. Such a Colony, as, in case of necessity, 

 were the conclusions arrived at by new means of obtaining food sup- 

 His Imperial Majesty on reading jjlies are established. How can 

 your Excellency's communication. It be supposed that, owing solely 

 Onepoint referred to in your let- to such propinquity, we shall be 

 ter especially attracted His Maj- obliged, abandoning the islands 

 esty's attention, namely, where and coast occupied by us, to retire 

 you, dear Sir, asserted that in con- to the 60th degree? Such were the 

 sequence of England's demands Emperor's own comments on the 

 Eussia would be obliged to yield or perusal of your high Excellency's 

 give up many natives of America despatch; one place in particular 

 who had been converted to Chris- attracted the attention of His Maj - 

 tianity by us. To lose subjects esty: it was that in which you, 

 who had voluntarily come under gracious Sir, asserted that, in conse- 

 his sceptre, and sons of the Eussian quence of the demands of England, 

 Church, would certainly be repug- Eussia will be obliged to surren- 

 nant to our great-hearted Mon- der to the former many natives of 

 arch; but from all the information America who have been converted 

 which I have been able to collect by us to Christianity. To lose 



B s, PT VIII 22 



