No. 31. Letter from the chief manager of the Russian American colonies to the manager of the island of St. Paul. Written from Sitka May 1, 1864. Your reports, forwarded last year by the steamship Constantine and the bark Prince Menshikof, have been received, and in reply I give you the following instructions: As to No. 29.-Last year you were instructed to fill requisitions of the manager of Unalaska Island in a certain contingency, and instructions have now been given to the manager of the island of St. George hereafter to furnish Unalaska with necessary supplies, and your duties include, as heretofore, the furnishing Sitka and Fort Michael with supplies. As to Nos. 30, 31.-For want of space on the brig Shelikof I was unable to grant permission to Iraida Herman to visit the island of St. Paul this year, and for the same reason I could not send you a cow and a bull. As to No. 32.-In my instructions No. 249 of last year I determined the number of fur-seal skins to be taken by you in each year. By order of the board of administration I revoke said instructions No. 219, as well as all previous instructions concerning the catch of fur-seals, and I now direct you to take hereafter annually as many as 70,000 fur-seal skins, 25,000 of which must be dried and the remaining 45,000 salted according to the new directions in your possession. You must take the 70,000 skins now ordered to be prepared only in case no decrease in the numbers of the animals is observed; otherwise you must immediately advise me for the purpose of having the number reduced with a view to the preservation of the seals for the years to come. As these instructions will reach you late in the season, and as you will consequently be unable to prepare the whole quantity of fur-seal skins now required, I have to request that you will endeavor to take and salt not less than 10,000 skins during the time occupied by the trip of the vessel from St. Paul to Fort Michael and back, and to put them on board of the vessel on her second visit to St. Paul. Last year you sent only 14,000 dried skins, while the order was to send about 20,000. In future you must endeavor to strictly fill the orders. As to No. 34.-You will make a report to my successor as to the rewards to zealous employés. He will probably visit your island in the course of this year. As to No. 36.-I thank you for your efforts in regard to the vaccination of the inhabitants, and I request that you will not neglect the matter in future. In regard to your request for the admission of your son to the Colonial Public School as a company's boarder, I have to inform you that that school is not yet fully prepared for the reception of boarders, and I therefore advise you to place your son in the house of any of your sisters who are now receiving pensions; your son, while living at Sitka, can attend the school on the same terms as all the newcomers who are not the company's pupils. The annual supplies are sent you by the brig Shelikof; unload the cargo, and deliver to the brig all your skins and your reports. Besides this vessel, you will be visited by the steamer Constantine on her return voyage from Nushagak; this vessel will bring you about 2,500 poods of salt, and probably some lumber. I have ordered the Russian skipper Archimandritoff to proceed by this brig to inspect the island under your charge; you are therefore directed to comply with all his requests. CASES OF THE PEARL, LORIOT, AND HARRIET. CASE OF THE PEARL.! Messrs. Bryant and Sturgis to Mr. Adams. Hon. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, Secretary of State: BOSTON, April 21, 1823. SIR: The brig Pearl, Samuel Chandler, master, belonging to ourselves 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 Stevens 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 character 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 Government, 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 measures 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. [Inclosure.] By this public declaration and protest, be it known, that on this twenty-fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord 1822, before me, John C. Jones, jr., agent for the United States at the Sandwich Islands, personally came and appeared Charles Stephens, master, Lemuel Foster, jr., chief officer, and Joseph Hall, jr., second officer, of the brig or vessel called the Pearl, of the burthen of one hundred and seventy-six tons or thereabouts, belonging to the port of Boston, in the United States, who severally declared, that they sailed in the said brig Pearl from the Sandwich Islands on the 25th day of August, 1822, bound on a trading voyage to the northwest coast of America; that on the 19th day of September they made the land Cape Ommaney, and anchored the same day at New Archangel, the Russian settlement; that they were employed there preparing the vessel to proceed down the coast till the 20th day of October, on which day they received a peremptory order from the governor of the port to immediately leave the road and never again appear on that coast. And the appear[er]s did further declare that they were compelled to leave behind, spars, wood, etc., which were on the beach ready for ship ping, and of the greatest necessity to the vessel, and for which no compensation was made. And the appearers did further declare that on the 21st day of October they were boarded from His Imperial Majesty's frigate, the Apollo, and after a minute examination ordered to leave the coast immediately. And, further, the appearers did declare that by the said proceedings of the Russian Government the lawful business on which they sailed has been entirely defeated and their voyage ruined. And, therefore, the said appearers did declare to protest against His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia, against the governor of the Russian settlement at New Archangel, the commander of the Russian frigate Apollo, and all and every person, subjects of Russia, who have molested, impeded, or prevented the lawful trade of the brig Pearl on the northwest coast of America; that all losses, detriments, and damages that have or may arise to the said brig or owners by her being ordered from the northwest coast of America ought to be accounted for [by] His Imperial Majesty, or officers, to the owners or those interested in the said brig Pearl, or to the United States Government. Thus done and protested before me at the Island of Woahoo, this twenty-fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two. Witness my hand and seal, (Signed) JOHN C. JONES, Jr., We, the undersigned, being severally duly sworn, do severally make oath and say that the instrument of protest hereunto annexed hath been clearly and distinctly read over to them, these deponents, and that the several matters and things therein contained are right and true in all respects as the same are therein alleged, declared, and set forth. (Sign'd) CHARLES STEVENS. Sworn before me at the Island of Woahoo this 24th day of November, in the year of our Lord 1822. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office. (Signed) JOHN C. JONES, Jr., [Memorandum prepared by the Russian Minister at Washington.] For the Honorable Mr. Adams' private information. According to informations, to which some credit seems to be due, the Russian 'ukase' was publicly known at Boston as early as December, 1821. The owners of the Pearl, which sailed in January, 1822, seem to have been not only fully apprised of the existence of this edict, but to have fitted her out expressly to anticipate its operation and to turn to their advantage the indulgence granted to a bona fide ignorance of the ukase. The American underwriters refused to pay the insurance, and were justified in their refusal. The principal firm of Boston concerned in the northwest trade, and having now several vessels abroad actually prosecuting it, has lately offered to dispose of the whole of its stock so vested, ships and cargoes, for the consideration of only 7 per cent advance on the original cost. This firm consists of Messrs. Bryant & Sturges. The latter has become interested by purchase in the Pearl subsequently to her return from her voyage. The original captain, who resumed his command at Woahoo and brought the Pearl back, has been, on his arrival at Boston, accused by the owners of nefarious and fraudulent practices, threatened with legal prosecution, and proved guilty in a court of arbitration. [Memorandum prepared by Bryant & Sturges. No address.] The first objection made to the admission of our claim is, in substance, "That the owners of the Pearl fitted out that vessel after being apprised of the existence of the Russia ukase." Not having been original owners of that vessel, we cannot assert that such was not the fact; but we think the circumstances of the outfit and voyage most conclusively prove that the owners could not have been aware of the provisions or even the existence of the Russian edict at the time the voyage was commenced. The ukase received the sanction of His Imperial Majesty in September, 1821, and it was made known at St. Petersburg in October following, but was not communicated to our Government until February, 1822. The Pearl was purchased and preparations for her voyage began in November, 1821. She sailed from Boston in January, 1822, and in October of the same year arrived at the port of New Archangel. Had the Pearl been "fitted out expressly to anticipate the operation" of the ukase, is it probable that the first port she visited on the Northwest Coast of America would have been one known to be in the possession of the Russian Company, and where official notice of the ukase would of course be given, and its provisions enforced? Would not the commander of the Pearl have avoided all communication with the Russians, and, trading only with the native inhabitants on other parts of the coast, have prosecuted his voyage in comparative security? In the original instruction from the owners of the Pearl to the commander no allusion is made to any interdiction of trade on the Northwest Coast; but he is expressly directed to visit all ports and places where an advantageous traffic could be carried on. It is highly improbable that any merchant, having knowledge of the Russian edict, would have given such instructions. It is stated that "the American underwriters refused to pay the insurance and were justified in their refusal." Payment has never been demanded from the underwriters. An inspection of our policies of in 12364-12 surance will show that the loss on the voyage of the Pearl is not one for which insurers are ever liable-it is the loss of a market. Had the commander of the Pearl, disregarding the warning of the Russian authorities, remained on the Northwest Coast, and the vessel been captured and confiscated, then the underwriters would have been liable, and the loss would have been paid. To the assertion that we "have recently offered to dispose of our whole stock in the northwest trade, at an advance of only 7 per cent on the original cost," it might be a sufficient reply to state, in the most explicit terms, that no such offer was ever made, or authorized, by us; but, in corroboration, we adduce the fact that, from the year 1815 to the present time, we have annually fitted out one or more vessels for the northwest trade, and that except in one case, where the vessel was totally lost by shipwreck, no voyage of ours has terminated with less than 50 per cent profit, and in several instances more than 90 per cent has been realized by us. The prospect for some of our vessels now on the North]W[est] Coast is so flattering that we doubt not but that more than 50 per cent could not be obtained on the first cost of vessels and cargoes. There was a time when we should, perhaps, have been disposed to have sold our interest in this trade at less than the original cost. It was when we apprehended that the interference of the Russian authorities might occasion the same ruinous consequences in other cases, as in the case of the Pearl. The misconduct of the master of the Pearl, for which he was held accountable on his return, had no relation to the question here at issue. He was prosecuted for some petty acts of dishonesty and for a violation of his contract with the owners in regard to private trade at the Sandwich Islands and elsewhere. In the statement which we made some time since to the Department of State relative to our claim, all the facts within our knowledge were set forth, and the estimates then made were just and reasonable. We are extremely solicitous to have the business brought to a close-all we ask is to be indemnified by the Russian Government for the loss actually sustained in consequence of the interference of their officers with our lawful pursuits. BRYANT & STURGIS. Mr. Middleton to Mr. Adams. ST. PETERSBURG, April 23-May 5, 1824. SIR: At the moment of signing the Convention of 17-5th April, I felt it to be my duty to remind Count Nesselrode of the claim I had made on account of the interruption of the voyage of the brig Pearl. I urged to him the necessity of making compensation in a case the principle of which might be now considered as settled in our favor. I argued that their consenting to treat with us respecting limits upon that coast, and abandoning in part their pretensions, proves that they hold no sovereignty over it. The act, then, of their officer in arresting a lawful voyage was arbitrary, and just indemnity is due for losses thereupon consequent. After slightly touching such further topics as I thought likely to produce the effect I wished, I put into his hand, as a memorandum of our conversation, the note verbale of which a copy (No. 1) accompanies this. He read it, and requested that I would again furnish him with the documents I had formerly sent him relating |