such as they are recognized and defined by existing treaties. The issue, even of such an alarming crisis will, under the auspices of Providence, become the consolidation of that peace which the enemies of the people attempted to destroy, and the stability of an order of things which will secure to nations their repose and prosperity. "Filled with these sentiments, the allied sovereigns, in terminating the conferences at Laybach, have wished to announce to the world the principles by which they have been animated. They are determined never to abandon them: and all the friends of order will constantly see and find in their union a sure safeguard against the enterprises of anarchy. "It is for this purpose that their Imperial and Royal Majesties have ordered their ministers plenipotentiary to sign and publish the present declaration. "Austria-METTERNICH. "The Baron DE VIN CENT. "Prussia-KRUSEMARK. "CAPO D'ISTRIA. REGULATIONS issued by Order of the EMPEROR of RUSSIA for the TRADE of the ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, &c. St. Petersburgh, Oct. 9. Considering that according to the reports that have been laid before us, the commercial relations of our subjects in the Aleutian islands, and in the Russian establishments along the northwest coast of America, are exposed to all kinds of disadvantages and impediments by the contraband trade; considering also, that the principal cause of those inconveniences arises from the want of regulations on the limits of navigation along these coasts, and of a settled rule for commercial regulations, as well in the above places as on the east coast of Siberia; we have thought it necessary to determine those relations by the following ordi nance: 1. It is not permitted to any but Russian subjects to participate in the whale or other fishery, or any branch of industry whatever, in the islands, ports, and gulfs, and in general along the coast of the north-west of America, from Beering's Straits, to 51 deg. north latitude, as well as in the Aleutian Islands, on the east coast of Siberia and the Kurile Islands-that is to say, from Beering's Straits to the south cape in the island of Ooroop, viz. in 45. 51. north latitude. 2. In consequence every foreign vessel is forbidden to touch at the Russian establishments enumerated in the preceding paragraph, or even to approach them within a less distance than 100 Italian miles. Whoever acts in contravention to this regulation shall lose his cargo. 3. Vessels compelled, by stress of weather or want of provisions, to touch on the coast, are excepted from this prohibition. In these two cases they are bound to show satisfactory grounds for their approach. Vessels sent by friendly powers on voyages of discovery are also exempted from the general rule, under the restriction of being furnished with passports from the Russian minister of the marine. 4. Foreign merchantmen, which touch at the coasts, for the reasons above mentioned, are obliged to choose a place where there is a Russian establishment. 5. A pilot shall be sent, if the weather permit, to foreign merchantmen, in order to assign them an anchoring-place fit for such vessels. Every captain act ing to the contrary shall pay a fine of 100 piasters. 6. All oared-boats, belonging to foreign merchantmen, must land at a place pointed out to them, where a white flag shall be set up during the day, and a light at night. An inspector shall see that no merchandise be clandestinely landed or embarked. Whoever shall anchor at another place shall pay 50 piasters; and he who shall carry on shore merchandise or other effects shall pay 500 piasters, and the merchandise shall be confiscated. 7. If it should be necessary to unload a vessel in order to repair it, the captain is to be authorized to do so in this case the captain shall deliver to the authorities of the place a statement of the nature and the quantity of his goods. He who shall conceal any part of the cargo shall be charged as guilty of contraband trade, and pay a fine of 1,000 piasters. 8. The expenses which may have been incurred in the said places shall be discharged either in ready money or in bills of exchange. In case In case the captain should have no money, and no person will become security for him, the chief authority of the place is authorized, on the application of the captain, to sell a certain part of the merchandise sufficient to pay the expenses, This sale can only be made for account of the company, and through the medium of the authorities. It can, under no pretext, exceed the amount of the expenses, on pain of the sequestration of the cargo, and a fine of 1,000 piasters. LETTER from the GRAND VIZIR to COUNT NESSELRODE, (from a Nuremberg Paper.) "Illustrious, excellent, and highly esteemed Friend;-It being obvious and manifest, that the two powers are desirous not only of the continuance, but also of the increase, of the amity and good understanding which, in virtue of treaties, subsist between the Sublime Porte and the Court of Russia, its affectionate friend and neighbour; it being also necessary that Baron Strogonoff, the Russian Minister at Constan tinople, should conform to the salutary system adopted by both Courts in amity, we addressed to your excellency, on the 27th of the Ramazan, an amicable exposé of the proceedings and conduct of the aforesaid Minister, in opposition to that system, and also of the true state of the questions originated by him; in short, of the real source of every circumstance. In order that the communication might the sooner reach its destination, it was conveyed through the hands of the Austrian minister, and we hope by this time it will have reached your excellency, and that you will have taken it into your consideration. themselves at the office of the Reis Effendi on the following day, but declared that the eight days, which was the time allowed, being expired, the minister could not accept any answer, and that he was obliged to leave the capital immediately with the persons attached to the legation, adding, that should the Porte pretend to delay or detain him in any way, he would, notwithstanding, depart for Odessa, to act according to the instructions he should receive from his court. "The Russian ambassador having at the same time addressed an official note to the embassies of the other powers accredited to this government, intimating to them that he was absolutely de "Baron Strogonoff having resorted to some idle pretexts to testify his dissatisfaction with the Sublime Porte, and having put a stop to all communication with it (as is stated in the letter abovementioned), the Sublime Porte not having it in its power to confer with that minister, expected from your excellency's wisdom an answer to its friendly communication, when the aforesaid minister presented an official note, dated the 6th of July (new style.) That note contains a recapitula-termined to depart without listtion of all the questions originated by him on different points relative to existing circumstances, to which answers of an amicable nature have been returned at several times, and which are likewise detailed in our letter. The definitive reply to that note was demanded in the course of eight days. 66 Although it be contrary to the usage in practice amongst states to fix a period for communications of such a nature, the Sublime Porte, desirous of testifying on that occasion its friendly compliance, hastened to conclude its reply for the time appointed; and the day after the expiration of the 8th day, it notified to the Russian interpreters that they should repair to the Porte to receive the answer, and convey it to their minister; but they found some pretext for not complying with that intimation, and replied they would come the next day to receive it. They did present ening to the remonstrances of the Sublime Porte, those ministers represented, that the departure of the ambassador, notwithstanding the instructions which according to his own statement he had received, ought not by any means to be considered as a proof of hostile intentions on the part of Russia towards the Porte, and that in the event of the ambassador's departure in such a manner, it was probable another would come to fill his place; that at that time the best line of conduct to pursue was, not to oppose his departure; and that they were all convinced the Porte on this occasion had not acted so as to compromise the amity and good understanding subsisting between it and the Court of Russia. "The Sublime Porte not being able to dissuade the Russian minister from his resolution of departing, it finally left him to depart, or remain, as he pleased. Meantime, that the Russians may be able to judge of the note which its ambassador would not receive, we transmit it to your excellency. "We doubt not that your excellency, endowed with a sound understanding, will recognize in the preceding communication, and the official note annexed to it, not only the real statement and authentic detail of every thing that has taken place, but the efforts and particular solicitude of the Porte for the continuation of peace with Russia, its affectionate friend, and the increase of amity and concord between the two empires. We also hope your excellency will, on your own part, give proofs of your benevolence and equity on all occasions, and that, acting with wisdom and sincerity, you will kindly give your attention to discover the most proper and effectual means for strengthening and cementing the amicable relations which form the object of the mutual wishes of both the high powers. With this view the present friendly communication has been dispatched to your excellency. From its favourable reception, if it please God, we shall entertain hopes that you will act conformably to our wishes. "At the beginning of the month of Ziskande, in the year 1236 (August 1, 1821.) "The Grand Vizir, Hadij Salih-Pacha, to his Excellency Count Nesselrode." REPLY of the SUBLIME PORTE to Baron STROGONOFF's Note of the 6th of July (Old Style), dated the 26th July, 1821. "The Sublime Porte has taken into consideration the contents of the official note presented by the distinguished Baron Strogonoff, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from the Court of Russia to the Ottoman Porte, dated the 6th July (old style), relative to the measures and dispositions which it has taken and continues to pursue with respect to the Greek nation, in rebellion against its merciful sovereign. Although it be well known that the system constantly pursued by the Sublime Porte from the beginning, is founded on the firm resolution scrupulously to fulfil the treaties and conventions concluded with all the friendly powers, and particularly with its kind neighbour the court of Russia; that its intention has invariably been, to pursue the purest friendship and most perfect good understanding with that court; and that its amicable dispositions have been proved at several times by the official communications with the ambassador above mentioned, and the ministers and chargés d'af faires of the other Powers; although it be superfluous to repeat here how often and in what different ways we have endeavoured to convince that envoy, our friend, with respect to the occurrences adverted to in that note. "That all the individuals punished in consequence of the insurrection, and amongst them the Greek Patriarch and other prelates, had met with a fate they deserved. That the abuses offered to some of the Greek churches were but the wicked attempts of the dregs and refuse of the people. "That the adoption of the mode of living in encampment, instead of in the towns, and the general armament of the Mussulman nation, were indispensable measures for maintaining internal tranquillity, which by no means affect the friendly powers, nor the different classes of unoffending rayas; that the instructions given to the commandant of the troops sent by the Sublime Porte into Wallachia and Moldavia had no other end in view than to reduce the rebellious and deliver the provinces from them that the Sublime Porte entertained not the slightest intention of changing the order once established, nor of infringing any of the privileges enjoyed by those provinces; that, as soon as tranquillity shall be restored, that is, when the brigands who have appeared in the principalities shall have been totally expelled; finally, when the ci-devant prince of Moldavia, Michel, and his adherents who have escaped with him, as well as those miscreants who have fled into the Russian or Austrian territory, shall have been given up or publicly punished at the very places of their arrest, in presence of the officers of the two governments, the Sublime Porte would immediately proceed to the installation of waywodes, and apply itself most anxiously to cause ancient conventions to be observed, and the privileges of the two provinces to be maintained as in times past. VOL. LXIII. "Nevertheless, the ambassador, our friend, deviating, contrary to all expectation, and without any cause, from the path of moderation, refusing to listen to the sincere and honest representations of the Sublime Porte, and advancing frivolous pretexts, contrary to the usage of diplomatic missions, testified his dissatisfaction with the proceedings of government; and taking the resolution of retiring to Bujukdere, he prohibited his interpreters from communicating with the Porte, and put an end to all correspondence. Now, although the instructions, in form of a notification, which the Russian minister has received in consequence of those events, be founded only on the report which he has made to his court, and which is probably by no means conformable to truth, yet the good intentions and just proceedings of the Sublime Porte, as well in that as in all other affairs, whether at recent or remote periods, are not less clear than the midday sun; they are appreciated by the representatives of all the powers of Europe, and known to all the world. "Since, then, the ambassador is retired to Bujukdere, and has prohibited all communication, and particularly reflecting that, notwithstanding the functions which he was intrusted to discharge, he has not solicited the reply which the Sublime Porte expected to a dispatch written by the Reis Effendi, at the commencement of the disturbances, to his excellency the minister for foreign affairs in Russia, and which was delivered to the ambassador at a conference; the Sublime Porte has thought it ne2 R |