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Into the former claims of England, founded upon the discoveries of Cook, Dixon and Vancouver, and of Rus- sia, supported by those of Behringand Koizebue, to what is called Russian America, there is now little occasion for inquiry, for all treaties between the two powers hav- ing censed to exist so soon as a declaration of war pas- sed between them, the fact of the territory in question being held by Russia would Warrant Great Britain in taking possession of it at any moment and by any means. But it having been stated that a treaty has been entered into by England and France, under which. In the event of their making any conquest iu the course of the present war, neither of them shall permanently retain any territory which it may so become possessed of, it is well that reasons, which exist for an exception being made in this respect in regard to Russian America, shbuld be brought forward, before any contingency in that direc- tion can happen, which might place England in art awk- ward position towards France, Though the justice of the rival claims, originally put forth by England and Russia, to the territory under con- sideration, need not be analysed here, to justify or to urge the capture of the territory by the former power, yet, among the reasons for excepting Russian America from the provisions of such a treaty as the one above mention- ed, may be brought forward the fact that England for- merly laid claim to a great portion of the territory, the An '^ the present War, 7 jusllco of which duim, founded upon survey, ns well as upon discovery, is indicated by iho Eni^lish names, which, even at the present day, mark many of its capes, inh^ts, bays and islands, and as could be proved, were a thorou- 14 llitssian America their breadth as well as their length, and the volume of water which they discharge into the sea, they may certain- ly be included among rivers of the first class. The Col- ville, which was discovered by Simpson and Deese since the convention of 1S25, is twomiles wide at itsmouth in the Arctic Sea, where Captain McClure observed its influence twelve or fourteen miles out at sea, the water at that dis- tance being of " a dirty mud colour, and scarcely salt." The Stikine enters the Pacific in 56^ 50' north latitude, where it is three miles wide, and at a distance of thirty miles from the sea, has, a width of one mile ; but its source is in the British territory. Of the Yukon or Kwichpack, Sir John Richardson says : " It rises to the west of the Rojky Mountains, not far from the union of the Francis and Lewis, which form the Pelly, flows first to the north, and after receiving a large tributary named the Porcupine, to the westward, falls into Behring's Sea ;" and that " in 66" North latitude, and 147i^ West longitude," which is about one thousand miles from its mouth, " it is one mile and a-quarter wide." These three magnificent rivers, fall- ing into different seas, probably represent three distinct river systemsof the north-west cornerofthiscontinent,each being fed by numerous smaller, yet considerable streams, and the three together, draining an extent of country much larger than the whole of Canada. The Rat River men- tioned by Mr. Ibister, of the Hudson's Bay Company's service, in a communication to the Royal Geographical Society, flows from Russian America through the Rocky Mountains at the first complete break in the chain in 67^ north latitude, into the Mackenzie of the British ter- ritory ; the latter having, according to Sir John Richard- son, a course of two thousand eight hundred miles (eight hundred longer than the St. Lawrence), and an unbroken navigation, fit for steamboats, from its entrance in the And the present War. 15 Arctic Sea to the Portage of the Drowned, a distance of from twelve to thirteen hundred miles. In addition to the Russian territory being every \/herc drained by the finest rivers, it contains many largr lakes, communicating with the former, and is indented with numerous deep and spacious harbours, and also by several extensive arms of the sea. Of the latter, Cook's Inlet, runs upwards of two hundred miles into the land. These lakes and rivers, and these inlets and harbours, may be viewed as very important features of the countiy. They not only assist to temper the climate (the former by draining the land, which generally slopes towards the sea and towards the Mackenzie, and the latter by the salt atmosphere, which their waters diffuse through the inter- ior) ; but they tend to enrich the soil upon their banks, by a short period of overflow in the spring, and may be made to afford facilities for inter-communication, render- ing accessible the most retired and most sheltered valleys, and for the establishment and active prosecution of an outward commerce. Traders already pursue a route from the neighbourhood of the Mackenzie, through the northern pass ot the Rocky Mountains, by the north- west branch of the River of the Mountains, to Lynn Canal, situated a short distance above Sitka, between the entrance of which canal and their posts lower down, the Hudson's Bay Company have steamers running! The main land, as far as Cape Fairweather, is leased to that body by the Russian Fur Company. Though little of the interior of Russian America has been thoroughly explored, yet, with the knowledge which we possess, that such rivers as the Colville, the Vukon, the Stikine, the Kuskokwin, the Rat and the Peel, and many other rivers of a large size, traverse it in every part, all of which are open for a considerable 16 Russian America period,aiid some of which, flowing into the Pacific;, are never closed ; that upon this continent the finest forests generally follow the direction of the rivers; that the soil must partake of the fertility usually found where numerous volcanoes exist, many being in action throughout the territory ; and that it must contain many extensive val- leys, completely sheltered from the coldest winds, by the several transverse ranges of mountains, such as the Blue Mountains, the Copper Mountains, the Big Beaver Moun- tains, and the spurs from the Rocky Mountains, which di- versify its surface, we should be led to believe that a great portion of Russian America is richer in resources and capabilities than it has hitherto been allowed to be, either by the English, who shamefully gave it up, or by the Rus- sians, who cunningly obtained it. Since the period of its cession to the latter, the few accounts given of it, relate chiefly to portions along the coast, and along the British frontier near the iMackenzie ; those accounts proceeding from recent British Arctic voyagers and travellers, and from the oflicers of the Russian and Hudson's Bay Fur Companies, who have occasionally penetrated its thick forests at various points, the former from the coast, the latter from the Hudson's Bay territory on the east. Viewed separately, these accounts are very incomplete, but upon an examination and a comparison of the whole of them, which the writer has attempted, they present a much more cheerful picture of the country, than that which has been drawn of it in enclycloptedias, and ordinary works upon the physical features of this continent, where the interior of this vast region is called a frozen waste, partly covered with inaccessible moun- tains, and partly with immense morasses. The writers in these works, in their inability, or in their want of indus- try, to learn what the country really is, have evidently, And the present War» yj upon the perusal of one or two accounts of the most un- favorable spots along the sea shore, where morasses have chanced to be found, as they are often found along the sea shore of many countries, applied the description of those spots to the whole territory. They have not even allowed for the possibility of the existence of any of those local advantages of soil and climate in portions of the interior yet unvisited,or unknown to them, which are invariably found in many parts of every extensive region possessing such diversity of surface as Russian America.* Thus, from this dealing in generalities upon insufficient grounds, many fine countries have been long unjustly condemnedand avoided. In fact, fewgeneral descriptions convey a correct impression of any country. It would indeed, be very surprising if so vast a region as Russian America, whi clijex tends up to 7P north latitude, should * The fcllo^iug oxtmcts from T^Jiii^^M^lilirr, v^\mh^^Z^^,, ihe Jounm of the Royal Geographical Soeiety for 1845, give iiatauees of the wondertul effects produeed by certain local conditions upon soil and climate even in parts of Russian America situated in the high latitudes of 660 and 670 j,,,,, ^ ,. ^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ fitpe " on ho Mackenzie.] "to the upper part of the Rat River on the west of the Rocky Mountains, where a much finer country was observed. We had no sooner eached Jie bottom of the shelving valley than we found ourselves in au ugreeuble calm, while the temperature had to our sensations risen more than twenty degrees." " We ascended about thirty miles from the mouth of he Peel in sight of the Rocky Mountains. The character of the country had already entirely changed. The banks, though still low and alluvial were strongly impregnated with dark, vegetable matter, and clothed with a dense vegetation of pines, poplars, and a thick underwood of different kinds of willow ; and so sudden had been the transition from sterility to luxuriance that we could scarcely believe that a few hours before we had been travel- ling through bleak unrelieved desolation. At the mouth of the river the vegetation is spare and scanty, but at a short distance, as soon as we reach tJie shelter of the mountains, it breaks out into' a luxuriance unknown on the Mackenzie, in the .ame latitude. A white pine wliicli we felled there measured seventy feet in length, and nine feet nine inche. in circum- ference." 18 Rttssian America not contain large morasses, and present in many parts a scene of wide-spread desolation.* But what country of any extent is there, which did not, when in a state of nature, contain large morassos and desert tracts, and appear desolate in proportion to its solitude ? What has been pronounced to be a desert upon the first view of a country, has been often found, upon a further examina- tion, to contain large tracts, exhibiting a varied surface of wooded mountains, fertile valleys and fine rivers ; and such features a large portion of Russian America will be found to present. Even large portions of the steppe-* lying between Siberia and Thibet, which had always been represented as wholly barren and impassable, have been di^icovered by the Russians to be fertile and well watered, and alfogellier difTerent to the ordinary steppes ; and they have now established permanent posts of Cos- sacks, strengthened by field works and artillery, at certain intervals, extending one thousand miles across it, from Omsk towards the Thibetean frontier, in a direct line to India. Should the Russians entertain any designs against the latter country, it will be by this route that they will attempt to carry them out. The recent work of the French missionary, M. Hue, upon Tartary, shows how the Chinese have lately encroached upon the great desert of Gobi, and how they have turned every portion of it, upon which they have settled, into smiling gardens and fertile fields and meadows. But what were once considered as impassable deserts, will in future ofler few obstacles to the traveller, the results of modern science and industry being made to supply those wants, which will enable us to provide against those dangers and difficulties, whether * In describing liis course down the Mackenzie and along the eliorcs of the Arctic Sea, not fiir from Russian America, Sir John Richardson says, " tlie tK>g(jy places were only seen on the sea coast." And the inescnt War. 19 of thr olrmcms, or of the features of tl,c country, which have so often turned back the finest armies, since the period of Alexander's march across the deserts of Beloochistan to India. Science and industry, however, aided by enterprise, by civilization and Christianity, will do much more for the present and succeeding generations, than enabling large armies to cross what had been con- Mdered as impassable deserts. They will continue what the Chinese have begun, even without the aid of the latter: turn many portions of them into gardens and fields, through which the single traveller may journey in fomfort and safety, and at every stage find a hamlet and a welcome. Our expectations of so mnch being within the possibility of accomplishment may well be encouraged by what has been already effected throughout the steppes of Siberia. Perhaps the only desert tracts in which this could not be hoped for, are, what are called, the barren grounds," upon the north-east cost of this conti- nent, and the deserts of sand and perennial heal of Arabia and Africa. Though a large portion of Russian America is neither a desert, nor the frozen waste which many suppose it to be, science, enterprise and industry may be made to accomplish much there, provided it be no longer main- tamed merely as a preserve for wild animals ; and once in the hands of England, it is to be hoped thai it will be rescued from the fate to which the immense region con- tiguous to it has been so long condemned, through having been left under the charge of an exclusive and unim- proving body, such as the Hudson's Bay Company. In Russian America the northern limit of the forest extends along the parallel of 69°, while on the east of this continent it is confined to the 60th parallel, and in Siberia, with the exception of one or two favored locali- 20 Russian America lies in liie west, to 66° north latitude. The relative valae of tlicse immense territories, so far as vegetation is regarded, m;iy be estimated from a consideration of these facts alone. But the former can be shown to possess many other natural advantages over the other lemtories, in addition to possessing all those resources which give to the latter their chief value. Its existing trade to Chi- na, in furs alone, is very valuable, but to England that trade would become of still more importance, in her being able to make it one direct to Canton, and to the other ports of that empire to which she has access, instead of its being carried on, as at present, through the tedious and expensive route of Siberia, and the mart at Kiakhta. Some idea of the value of the fur trade of this region may be formed, from the fact that the Russian Fur Com- pany maintain about sixty establishments among the islands along the coast, upon the main coast itself, and in the Fox, Aleutian and Kurile Islands, which stretch across to the coast of Japan, and that the Tchukche of Siberia cross Bchring's Straits to trade with the Esqui- maux and with the Russian posts recently planted in that quarter, for furs and for fossil ivory. These articles the Tchukche carry to the fair of Ostrownoie, situated on the Lesser Aniuy, accompanied by their women and children; between which mart and the American coast, the journey occupies them nearly six months, so that they pass the greater part of the yearupon the road. The Tchukche also trade with the large island of St. Lawrence, lying in the centre of Behring's Straits, and at Sledge and Ukiwok Islands, situated higher up. To facilitate the carrying on of this trade, the intelligent, enterprising and industrious Esquimaux have formed entrep6ts at the latter islands, and, through theii inv C '-en on the mainland, they distri- bute the Russian V"'.m s, olrained from the former over And the jyresent War, 21 several hundred miles of American coasl, and through seven or eight hundred into the interior, by the Yukon, and neighbouring rivers. Of these native traders, who to a certain extent, act as such in defiance of the orders of the Russian Fur Company. Sir John Richardson says : Sledge Island, as small as Ukiwok, is also inhabited b- skilful traders, who are employed by the Tchukche a*s factors, to exchange the articles of Russian manufacture enlrusted to fhem, for furs collected on the banks of the Kwichpack, Kuskokwin, and neighbouring rivers of America. The great variety of dialects which prevails in the Aleutian Archipelago, and neighbourhood of Beh- ring s Straits, is most probably the result of the active commerce there carried on, having brought several nations mto contact with each other." The enterprise of these mdependent nativo traders, which Von Baer compares With that of the PhaMiicians, has apparently begun to attract the attention of the British merchant ; for, when recently cruising in that quarter, the commander of the P over mentions, that, during his absence from Port Clarence, the British Schooner, Koh-i-noor, had arrived there on a trading voyage. In the far interior of the main land, seveml marts have been established, and are kept up by the natives, quite independently of the Rus- sians, which are resorted to by many distant as well as by the neighbouring tribes. But all the natives of the north-west coast are skilful and enterprising traders. At Queen Charlotte's Island they not only dispose of furs and fish, but they cultivate potatoes, and hold, at staled periods potato fairs, which are attended by the native traders from other islands, who again supply these, and other vegetable products, to the more remole traders Inha- biting some of the rocky islands in Behring's Straits. How few persons there are in Canada, who have any idea of 22 Russian America the extent of busy commerce thus carried on in that re- mote corner of the American continent ! It lias been partly for the purpose of checking the independent trade of the native tribes, which exists upon both sides of Behring's Straits, that the Russians have recently established permanent posts higher up than at Alexandrow!*k in Bristol Bay, and at Cook's Inlet, where they have several factories, situated in about 59° and 60"^ north latitude; and there are also many upon the islands of Prince William's Sound. By one of Cap- tain McClure's despatches to the Admirality, it appears that the Russians have recently established a post upon the Colville River, near its entrance in the Arctic Sea. With the exception of Sitka, or New Archangel, the capital of the territory, and Kodiak, the former capital, and now the second place of importance, each of these posts are oc- cupied by from fifty to three or four hundred persons, made up of Russians, of half-breeds and of native servants, including women and children ; and they are generally protected by a blockhouse, or a stockade, with a few guns mounted. All the men are in the employ both of the Imperial Government and the Fur Company, the former being connected with the latter in its commercial trans- actions, and also in its organization as a military and naval power. The position of the company towards the Imperial Government in the latter respect, is some- what similar to that which the East India Company holds towards the British Government. Of the strength of the minor Russian posts throughout this quarter, a good impression is conveyed in the fol- lowing account of one at Garden Island, belonging to the Aleutian group, taken from the journal of Sir Edward Belcher's voyage round the world, in 1837 : " The estab- lishment consists of an official resident, eight Russians And the present War, 23 and fifty Aleutian and other allies. The houses are included m a substantial wooden quadrangle, furnished at Its sea angles with two octagonal turrets, capped in the old English style, and pierced with loopholes and ports; the summits of the lines are armed with spikes of wood The whole range is warmed by Dutch ovens, and the sides, being eighteen inches in thickness, are well calculated to withstand cold, as well as to defy mus- ketry The native allies live in houses outside. Portlock landed there in 1787, and called the port 'Port Etches ' At present the island is covered with pine trees, and a species of wild grain was noticed. Took on board spars harbouT'^°°''^" ^"'* ^'''^'' ""'^^' ^"'"''^ ^ ^""^P^^*« Of Sitka, or New Archangel, the capital of Russian America, Sir Edward Belcher says : " The establishment ol Sitka IS situated on a flat broad delta, on the outer rocky peninsula ofwhich the fortress which is now" [18371 "re- building, stands. It is about sixty feet above the sea level and completely commands all the anchorages in the im- mediate neighbourhood, as well as the peninsula. The inner line, which traverses the longest base of this delta IS protected by a heavy line of picketted logs, twenty-five feet m height, surmounted in chevaux de frise, and flanked at the angles, within musket shot of each other, by small blockhouse redoubts, loopholed and furnished with small guns and swivels. It extends from the sea in three fathoms, about one mile through the river. This cuts off all connection with the natives but through a portcullis door, admitting into a railed yard those bringing goods to market. This door is closely watched by two or three guards, who, upon the least noise or dispute in the mar- ket, drop the portcullis, and proceed summarily with the delinquents. The present very substantial house erecting •jT'MrTr.wgM 24 Russian America for the governor and his establishment, is about 140 feet long by 70 wide, of two good stories with lofts, capped by a lighthouse in the centre of the roof. The summit of the light is 1 10 feet above the sea level, and commands a most extensive prospect. The building is of wood, solid, some of the logs measuring 76 and 80 feet in length, and squaring one foot. The roof is pitched, and covered with sheet-iron. When complete the fortifica- tions of Sitka will comprise five sides, upon which forty pieces of cannon will be mounted, principally old ship guns, varying from twelve to twenty-four pounders. The bulwarks are of wood, and fitted similarly to the ports on the maindeck of a frigate. The arsenal, which is imme- diately under on the low ground, is well stored with cordage of every description, and of very superior quality. The range of artificers is very complete, and specimens of their workmanship in every department, more than an arsenal generally boasts, attest very superior ability. The saw mills, which are worked by water, are about twenty miles distant half way down the south side of the sound, at Lcs Sources^ or warm springs, which serves as a sort of Harrogate to the colony. Their most valuable wood is a very fine grained bright yellow cypress, of which they build boats, and export the plank in payment of debts contracted for supplies from the Sandwich Islands, principally China goods. They have a building slip, protected by a house, similar to those in our dock- yards. The establishment comprises that of a ship of the line, one captain (the governor), one commander (lieuten- ant-guvernor), and lieutenants, masters, &c., according to the number of vessels employed. The total number is about 800, but of these many were invalids. Of course, many of their picked men were absent in their vessels, visiting the posts, and collecting the furs which were And the present War. 25 daily expected to arrive. I witnessed comparative cleanliness and comfort, and much to admire, partic- ularly in the school and hospital. The interior of their church is splendid, quite beyond conception in such a place as this. The whole establishment appears to be rapidly on the advance, and at no distant period we may hear of a trip to Norfolk Sound, through America, as little more than a summer excursion. On Sunday, all the offi- cers of the establishment, civil and military, dine at the governor's ; and during the week the military meet at the mess daily at one, re-assemble at 5 to take tea, and remam until supper at 10 or 11, during which interval cards or billiards occupy their time. I passed a most delightful evening at a dancing party at the governor's." Sir George Simpson, who visited Sitka in 1842 also speaks of the gaiety, as well as of the commercial activ- ity of the place, « much of the time of its inhabitants being devoted to festivity ; dinners and balls running a perpetual round, and being managed in a style which may be deemed extravagant." At one evening party whieh he attended, there were eighty persons present, the ladies being showily attired in clear muslin dresses white satin shoes, silk stockings, kid gloves, fans and all other necessary appendages, and the music and refresh- ments, including champaign, being excellent." Of the hot springs in the neighbourhood. Sir George Simpson says, he found the most luxuriant vegetation around them, and many rare species of the feathered tribe for so high a latitude, including the humming bird. Cook, however fi^o I"" ^,"™"^;°^ bird at Prince William's Sound, in 60 and 61- north latitude, where numbers of thatspedes got into the rigging and continually flew about his vessel. The former continues : " Altogether this is, indeed, a spot on which the senses may rest with pleasure, when wearied 86 Russian America with the savage monotony of the rocks and forests of the coast. The means of living are also abundant, the water being alive with fish and fowl, and the land teeming with deer and game." He gives a list of thirteen vessels he found at Sitka, simultaneously taking in cargo, and making preparations for their respective voyages, and states that " the bustle, in fact, was sufficient to have done credit to a third-rate sea port in the civilized world." With so many and such varied attractions at Sitka, and with the finest country in the route pointed out, well might Sir Edward Belcher look forward to the period, when a trip to Norfolk Sound, througli America, would be regarded as a pleasant summer excursion. According to Sir George Simpson, the trade of Sitka in 1842 was estimated at 10,000 fur seals, 1,000 sea-otters^ 12,000 beavers, 2,500 land otters, and 20,000 sea-horse teeth, besides foxes and martens, and the produce of its salmon, sturgeon and turbot fisheries, and of the neighbor- ing forests. The valuable furs of the sable and ermine, and of other animals, are also obtained in the territory, but are exported from other posts situated further north ; Sitka, Ko- diak, &c., each being the chief dep6t of a district, whence is exported the prod^jce collected at the neighboring minor posts. Cook obtained along the coast many valuable skins, including several descriptions of ermine, and a beautiful skin of some unknown animal ; and Lutke, in the journal of his voyage round the Aorld, states, that, in 1808, as many as 800,000 skins of the ursine seal alone, were accumulated at Uiialaska, one of the principal dep6ts of the Russian Fur Company among the Aleutian Islands. McClure mentions the valuable silver fox skins, which he saw in the possession of the Esquimaux upon the Arctic coast of the territory, and the quantity of furs, which others informed him they would procure from 1! '; And the present War, 27 the interior, if he would wait for them. He also alludes to the number of whales, which he fell in with along that coast, and to the number of walrusses he saw near Icy Cape, where, he says, « the hundreds of walrusses that were lying upon the ice, thickly huddled together like sheep m a fold, were most astonishing." The northern coast he found to be inhabited throughout by a kind and merry race, apparently well to do, of whom he speaks in the highest terms ; and the country appeared to him to be well stocked with reindeer, and other animals of the chase. Captain Beechey, who was off the north-west coast m 1826, says, that " at Kotzebue Sound the articles the natives brought off, were skins of the seal, of the Arc- tic fox, tne common musk rat, the marten the beaver three varieties of ermine (one white, one with a \mhi brown back, and yellow belly, and the third with a grey back, spotted white and yellow), also the American otter the white ':are, the polar boar, the wolf, the deer and the badger. Their fish were salmon and herrings, and they had also some ingeniously cut ivory figures, some iron pyrilt s, plumbago and red ochre." Profitable as the fur trade in this quarter has already been, there is a certain prospect of its value becoming greatly enhanced, by the opening to general commerce ol" the markets of Japan. In those wealthy and densely popu- lated islands, where the temperature of winter rano-es almost as low as it does in the north of China, direc^ and comparatively, near markets for the furs, the fish, and pro- bably for the timber of Russian America, will ere long be opened out, the importance of which to the latter country it IS impossible to over-rate. Probably those highly culti- vated islands will be found to be so cleared of their forests, that they will afford the most lucrative markets for the valuable timber of Russian America and the 28 Russian America Oregon territory. In a large portion of China timber has already become very scarce. Mr. Earl, in his work upon the " Eastern Seas," says, that timber has become so dear in China, that the junks of the Chinese are generally built in other countries where wood is plentiful. There can, therefore, be no question of the profit of establishing a trade between that country and the north-west coast, in this staple production of the latter. The greater portion of the south of Persia, which is wholly barren in timber, and a great part of South America, which is equally so, might also afford excel- lent markets for the useful timber of the north-west coast. Sir Edward Belcher and many others describe the pine trees in the Oregon territory to be from two hundred and fifty to three hundred feet in height, and from twenty to forty feet in circumference ; while Sir George Simpson speaks of having seen trees near the Columbia River, from three to four hundred feet high. The latter must be about the largest trees in the world. But Russian America possesses, in its minerals and ores, far greater riches than its furs or its fisheries, or even its forests, can ever be made to yield, the turning to account of which, would give life to the whole region, and tend to raise up villages and towns throughout it, as prosperous as those, which have sprung into existence, in the mining, yet far more inhospitable districts of Siberia ; many of them upon rivers whose outlets being in the Frozen Ocean, in a higher latitude than the north- ern shores of this continent, are unsealed but for the shortest period, between the discharge of the accumu- lated ice of one winter, and the rapidly forming ice of another. From the time of the earliest explorations of the north-western portions of this continent, to the more recent visits of Franklin, Beechey, Lutke, the younger .' V I 1 And the present War, 29 .' «. i 1 Simpson, Richardson and McClure, the finest coal, and the purest copper, have been found along the Mackenzie, from the mouth of that river to Point Barrow and Icy- Cape, and thence down to Sitka and Vancouver's Island, the presence of the one giving double value to that of the other; and the writer has little doubt, from the results of comparisons which he has made between the geolo<'ical features of the two countries, that the whole region is as rich in other minerals and ores as Siberia : that, upon a proper exploraticui, gold will be found in its rivers and valleys, and platinum, lead, silver, diamonds, and all the other precious stones of Siberia in its mountains. Several valuable minerals, such as fine jasper, porcelain clay, semi-opal, plumbago, gypsum, various coloured ochres, amber, sulphur, pretrolium, galena, porphyry, variegated marble, and also iron ore, have been already discovered in many parts of the territory. At Prince William's Sound, Cook saw some substance in the possession of the natives, which he supposed to be cinnabar. It is therefore not unreasonable to look forward to the disco- very of rich quicksilver mines in that quarter, the value of which would increase in proportion to the abundance of other ores and minerals, which may be found there, re- quiring the use of quicksilver in their extraction. At Queen Charlotte's Island, belonging to England, but situated a very short distance below the Russian possessions, quan- tities of gold have been discovered by Europeans from the main shores of Oregon and California, in the opera- tions of extracting which, they were much obstructed by the warlike, but intelligent and commercial natives of the island. In speaking of the mineral riches of the country contiguous to Russian America, and reaching to the north- west boundry of Canada, Sir John Richardson says : " It would be true economy in the Hudson's Bay Company 30 Russian America who are the virtual sovereigns of the vast territory which spreads northwards from Lake Superior, to ascertain without delay the mineral treasures it contains. I have little doubt of many of the accessible districts abounding m metallic wealth of far greater value than all the returns which the fur trade can ever yield." While this may be well said of the territory occupied by the Hudson's «ay Company, Russian America may be stated to present even greater indications than the former of the presence of gold and precious stones. Much of the Russian territory contains primitive rocks, disturbed bv volcanic action, which indicate great mineral riches, as a simdar formation, disturbed by ihe same agency, in he Alt, Mountains, and the country of Lake Baikal has, according to Erman, been found to contain, in immense quantities, some of the richest mineral produc t.ons of Siberia. The numerous hot springs, which exist throughout the territory, also indicat'e the presence of metallic wealth. The mountains along the coast of Kussian America are probably a continuation of the vast fh '/^?m"^ ^^^^"^ '^'^ ^^^'«t coast of this continent through Chih, Peru, Mexico, and California, and they are no doubt continued by one branch through the Peninsula ot Alaska, the Aleutian and Kurile Islands, all of which are nch in minerals, to the islands of Japan, which abound in the precious metals and gems; proceeding through which, they pass on to Formosa and the Philipi„e Island, and termmate in New Guinea, or perhaps in Australia'; while the mam branch, with two or three intervals in the highest latitudes, proceeds up to Icy Cape, and is continu- ed to the same quarter, from the western side of Behrin-'s Straits by the vast ranges of the Yablonni (lately found ^be the richest in minerals in the world), and the Alti Mountains of Siberia, the Thian-chan and the Kuenlun And the present War. 31 of Thibet, the Himalaya of India, and the mountains of Burmah, Siam, Sumatra and Borneo. Thus a com- plete arc may be traced upon the surface of the earth, extending over half the globe, presenting similar features, and containing similar treasures. In regard to facilities for the profitable working of its mines: for the raising, preparing and transporting of its ores and minerals, Russian America possesses many advantages over Siberia. Some of these consist in its fifteen hundred miles of coast being accessible to the largest vessels for a great part of the year, and a large extent of it for the entire winter, while the whole of the coast is tapped, as has been already shown, by many large and navigable rivers ; from the banks of which the produce of the mines collected upon them may be carried to any part of the world, instead of the greater portion having to be conveyed, as in Siberia, a distance of several thousand miles by land carriage and by diffi- cult river navigation, before it can obtain a market, or reach a place of shipment. Another advantage, which the former country possesses over many portions of the latter, in respect to mining operations, consists in its abounding in all parts with coal and wood. In " Taylor's Statistics of Coal" it is stated that in the district of Tobolsk which is very rich in the precious metals, the want both of firewood and coal is a great impediment to the smelt- ing of the metallic ores, and prevents the increase of the annual produce of the mines ; and at Barnaouil, which is the chief depot in Siberia for the gold found east of the Ural, the forests in the vicinity are much despoiled of their timber, in consequence of the immense quantities of wood required there for the furnace^.. Eighty thousand cubic fathoms of wood, besides an immense quantity of coal, are annually burned at these works, which comprise 32 Russian America W one hundred and fifteen smelting furnaces, twelve large open hearths, twelve refining furnaces, five furnaces for copper, and fourteen calcining ovens. These, and simi- lar works at other places, and the establishments at the various mines, as well as the transport of ores a. 1 min- erals, and of supplies, &c., give employment to many thousand persons, including free Russians from the moth- er-couniry, Russians and other Europeans born in Siberia, who are generally the descendants of military immi- grants, of exiles and convicts; present exiles, and con- victs undergoing their several punishments, and also the aborigines of the country. The mines of the Ural, in the transport of minerals alone, give employment to twenty thousand persons, and Cottrell says that " ten thousand horses are employed every year in conveying the provi- sions of corn, brandy, and marine stores to Okhotsk, whicl^ is a great source of subsistence to the people." The mines, generally thoughout the country, are worked during winter and summer. Although it would be some time before the same amount of labor, as Siberia commands, would be available for similar occupations in Russian America, still the latter would not be so disad- vantageously placed in this respect, as, upon a first glance at the two countries, might naturally be supposed. Though Russian America does not usually contain more than some two or three thousand Europeans, including the miilitary, it numbers many populous tribes of natives, who, with the enterprise and the industry of the most enter- prising of the Siberian tribes, possess greater intelligence and more powerful frames than the latter. Their natural inclination, and aptitude for settled and steady employ- ments, would, under proper supervision and encourage- ment, render them capable of being instructed in all the pursuits of civilized life. They might thus become the And the present War, 33 most valuable addition to the population of any empire. They are now employed to a certain extent by the Rus- sians, but were proper attempts made to develop the most valuable resources of the country, they might, under a kind and a judicious treatment, which they do not at present receive, and proper instruction, be employed to a much greater extent, most beneficially to them and to the country. Of the natives generally of the north-west coast, Dr. Scouler, who has lived among them, says : *' The north-west Indians, especially the coast tribes, have made considerable progress in the rude arts of savage life. Their canons are constructed with much sidll, their houses, being for permanent residence, are erected with some forethought and attention to comfort, and their fish- ing apparatus and articles of domestic economy arc far more numerous and elaborate than can be found in the temporary lodge of hunting tribes. From this settled mode of life they are more accustomed to continuous labors, and even show considerable aptitude for passing into an agricultural state." Of some of the tribes nearly all the men are six feel or upwards in height, and are well made in proportion ; while, according to Dixon and other voyagers, the people of one tribe on the coast are as white as Europeans, and have handsome features with florid complexions. Marchand also speaks of the large- eyed, fair-skinned natives of the north-west coast of America, living in 54" and 58° north latitude, whom Humboldt supposes to be descended from the Usuns, an Alano-Gothic race of Central Asia. Above the Oregon territory and Vancouver's Island, the barbarous custom of flattening the head in infancy does not prevail. While every indication exists in Russian America of its abounding with mineral riches to an extent exceeded by few countries in the world, there is a prospect of its 34 Russian America being found to be as inexhaustible in mammoth ivory as Siberia, where the search for, and the trade in that article give employment to several thousand persons. Though in th'3 latter country large quantities of this valuable fossil ivory have been obtained every year for the last century or more, it does not appear to become exhausted to tho slightest extent, but, on the contrary, the thaw of each succeeding summer seems to lay bare a greater supply than had been yielded before. At Eschscholtz Bay, and at other parts of the coast of Russian America, upon Behrmg's Straits, Cai)tain Bceehey discovered many remains of the mammofh, and of other quadrupeds, imbed- ded in the cliffs; and, from the earliest period, the natives of that coast have been observed to have quantities of ivory in their possession. Taught only by their own natural ingenuity and industry, they have already become most skilful workers in this valuable article of commerce. To persons upon the spot, the obtaining of this ivory might become as remunerative a pursuit as that of the ivory seekers in Siberia. It would certainly be a more proHtable occupation than that of hunting elephants for their ivory, by parties in the l\ir interior of Africa. Allusion has already been made to the number of whales and walrusses which have been seen upon the Arctic coast of Russian America. Cook, and others, encountered as many off its coast upon the Pacific. The territory, including the Aleutian andKurile Islands, com- prises nearly all the best whaling stations of the North Pacific ; the possession of which, to a maritime nation like England, having already an immense extent of coast in the South Pacific, would become fifty times as import- ant as it is to Russia. Besides obtaining a great number of magnificent harbours, and virtually making a British sea of a great portion of the North Pacific, which may i t' And tJie present War. 35 now bo regarded as Russian waters, the possession by Great Britain of those stations, and of the Honin Islands (admirably situated upon the south-east coast of Japan, and which, of right, belong to England), would assist the carrying out of that which has long been a great national object with our statesmen ; namely, a large and progres- sive extension of the British whale fishery. The bar- boui-s at Sitka, Queen Charlotte's Island, Vancouver's Is and, and the entrance (,f Frazer's River, are peculiarly adapted for the fitting out of whalers, being in the neigh- bourhood of very valual)le fishing grounds, and the coun- try in their vicinity aflbrding everything that is required lor the construction of vessels, such as : excellent timber iron and coi)per, coal for forges, water power for driving saw mills, and even flax, growing wild in the interior, for the manufacture of sails and cordage. Thus the whale fishery alone, by creating a demand for many articles into winch these products could be manufactured, might be made to give employment to numbers of persons of various trades and callings. All the natives of the coast of Russian America, and of the Aleutian and Kurile islands make excellent sailors, and, of their own accord chase and capture the whale. They could, therefore be most usefully employed in whalers, cruising either m the North or South Pacific, and also in craft engaged in the other fisheries; a certain proportion of the crew of each vessel being made up from among ihem. In addition to cod, herrings, turbot, halibut, and the deli- Clous soles of Europe, are found in immense quanti- ties along the coasts of the main land, and of the islands, and salmon and sturgeon at the entrances of and up the rivers. Even the rivulets in the Aleutian Islands abound with salmon and salmon-trout. From the sturgeon both isinglass, and the celebrated caviar of Russia, now no 36 Russian America longer procurable from that country, could be made. For the latter article there is a large demand through- out the countries of the Mediterranean, the Black and the Baltic Seas. For the support of those engaged in the mines and fisheries, andJ also in the cutting and transport of tim- ber, it is very important to be able to command large supplies of cattle and sheep. These supplies, besides being furnished by the British territory situated to the south of Russian America, could be easily raised in many spots throughout the latter, as well as upon the Aleutian Islands, where the pastures are very rich and the climate is very mild. Cook was of opinion that upon some of these islands "cattle might subsist all the year round without being housed." Among the wild animals in the territory, which might be made to supply food to a considerable extent, are the mountain sheep and goats in the south, the reindeer in many parts, as they migrate, according to the season, from one part to another, and the less tender musk-ox in the far north. The reindeer might be tamed to run in harness, as they are in Lapland and in the north of Siberia. The Ostyaks of Beresov, in the latter country, also raise herds of reindeer, for their venison, which they consume themselves, or sell to the Russians. 'n the event of the territory coming under the dominion of England, the Russians now there might be permitted either to remain in it, or to retire to their own country. Some of those, who should decide upon the former course, might be continued in employments similar to those which they now fill; while others, who had served in Siberia, might be encouraged to introduce many of the manufac- tures and handicrafts of that country. With the skill of the latter, and with that of competent persons from And the present War. 37 S5ngland, and the rude, but daily improving labor of the natives of the country, we might then look forward lo the early springing into existence of all the industrial pursuits of the former country ; from the preparation of furs and hides, and the making of salt and soap, to the manufacture of carpets and cloths, of iron and copper plates and machinery, of fire arms and sword blades, of porcelain ware and malachite vases, and to the most refined branches of the lapidary's art. Tliat Russi?. has not put forth the efforts to colonize her dominions in America, which she has so successfully made in Siberia, must be attributed to her having long looked forward to a rupture at some period with those powers, who are most interested in opposing her aggressions, and who at any moment would be able to cut her off from the territory by a powerful fleet. Hence she has not used the same means and the same diligence to explore the country, to make known and develop its more important and more permanent resources, to lay out roads and found cities, or to invite or transport a popu- lation there. Considering the recommendations which the writer intends to offbr, in regard to Russian America and the adjoining territories, much might be added here upon the British portion of the Oregon territory, and the coun- try lying between it and Canada ; but, although the lat- ter have hitherto been but little appreciated, they are better known than the country which forms the chief subject of this memoir. He will, therefore, content him- self with taking notice of some few of their principal features and resources, before proceeding to bring for- ward certain suggestions, as to their future relations, both \Q Canada and Russian America. I 38 Russian America ^ Including the northern shores of Lakes Huron and Superior, which are fast becoming occupied by the miner and the lumberer, and which, in many parts, invite the agriculturalist and the tiader, Canada extends one-third of the distance across the continent. Beyond Lake Su- perior a country, as valuable in natural resources as any part of Canada, exists, within the British boundary, the whole way to the Pacific, containing, at a distance oi about seven hundred miles from the lake, the fine agri- cultural settlement of Red River (which covers a space of fifty miles, and supports a population of ten thousand «ouls), and having numerous posts of the Hudson's Bay Company at certain intervals along it, some of which are situated upon the banks of lakes and rivers navigable for several hundred miles. Among the latter the Sas- katchewan is navigable for upwards of one thousand miles. Sir John Richardson, Sir George Simpson, and all who have travelled that way, speak of the capabilities of the country for colonization, from Lake Superior to Lake Wmnipeg, and from the latter, ^through the magni- ficent valley of the Saskatchewan, to the foot of the Rocky Mountains ; where, in several parts, the oak, tjie elm the ash, the beech, the maple and the vine grow ir great vigour and luxuriance, few of which are found so far north m Canada; and where, at many of the posts, both maize and wheat are profitably cultivated. At Red River settlement the latter yields forty-fold. At Cumber- land House, where both are giown, and which is situated m SS-^" 67' north latitude, at a height of 900 feet above the level of the sea. Sir John Richardson says the sum- mer heat exceeds that of Brussels or Paris ; and of ano- ther spot in the same neighbourhood Captain Back says : " On the River Saskatchewan I was surprised and pleased to behold a large farm-house, with ba-. 3,and fenced enclo- And the present War. 39 \^$ sures, amjdsl which were grazing eight or ten fine cows and three or four horses, the property of a discharged servant of the Hudson's Bay Company." This spot is situated about the centre of the continent, where, at one period, a vast desert was supjx ed to exist, stretching from the Athabasca River to tlie Missouri. When so much can be said of the country around Cumberland House, which lies about three hundred miles north of the American boundary, we may judge of the capabilities of the belt of land comprised in the Saskatchewan valley and extending between the 49th and 54th parallels, within the British territory, for a distance of about 1,500 miles across the continent. Speaking of one portion of this beau- tiful valley, from Bow River to Carlton House on the Sa«. katchewan. Sir George Simpson says that he passed through a country very much resembling an English park. Sir Alexander Mackenzie pursued a more nor- thern course by the Peace River than this, in his journey to the Pacific in 1793, yet he passed through a magnifi- cent country most of the way. Where he wintered upon the east side of the Rocky Mountains, m 56° 9' north latitude, there was little snow, and " the birds, which were much like robins, remained there, and sang, durin<^ the whole of the winter." " In the sheltered valleys o'f the Rocky Mountains," in about the same parallel. Sir John Richardson says, « certain trees are found in lati- tudes three and four degrees further north than they are found in other places." After crossing the Rocky Moun- tams by the former route, near the sources of the Saskat- chewan and of several rivers, including branches of the Columbia, flowing to the Pacific, the British portion of the Oregon territory is reached, much of which is comprised m what is called New Caledonia. Of this country which adjoins Russian America, a recent account say^ • 40 Russian America " New Caledonia is in extent, from north to south, about 500 miles, and from east to west 300 miles. It is des- cribed as very beautiful, abounding in fine forests, rivers, and magnificont lakes, one of which, 300 miles ronrKl,7s surrounded by picturesque mountains clothed to their very summits with timber trees of the largest dimensions. From this lake a river falls to the west into the Pacific* and swarms with salmon." Frazer's River, which runs through this region for a distance of 350 miles, is navi- gable for vessels drawing twelve feet water, for ninety miles from its mouth, where it falls into the Pacific in 490 r, north latitude. Once upon the west side of the Rocky Mountains a still milder climate is observed, even in a much higher latitude than the valley of the' Sas- katchewan. Mr. Anderson, of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany's service, who has resided for a considerable period in New Caledonia, says, in a communication to the Royal Geographical Society, that, although in a pretty high latitude, it sharas, in common with all positions on the west side of the Rocky Mountains, perfect immunity from protracted cold. Sir John Richardson also states that he learnt from Mr. McPherson, belonging to the same service, that good crops of wheat were raised with facility at Fort George on Frazer's River, in about 54o north latitude, and at a height of about 500 feet above the level of the sea. The big horn sheep are very numerous in the mountains of this region, and are as good eating as the domestic sheep; while the prairie country of the Saskatchewan is roamed over by countless herds of the buffalo, also by the reindeer and ihe beautiful ante- lope. The British coast of the Oiogon territory, like the adjoining coast belonging to Russia, contains many splendid harbours and sounds; upon some of which we may look forward to the planting and rapid growth of in And the present H^ar. 41 8eUlfiments,andtotheriseofflourishing commercial cities, carrying 011 varied transactions with all the magnificent countries and fertile islands of the Pacific, and drawing wealth from the trade of Europe as well as from that of A<*ia and America. This view of the future in that quarter will appear far from being an extravagant one, if we take into consideration the facilities offered by the line of coun- try above glanced at, for the construction of a railway from Lake Su|Derior to the Pacific, and we also reflect upon the occurrence of events, which will probably arouse, both England and^Canada, to the importance of connectin*' the Atlantic with the Pacific by railway through British*' ter- ritory. Among the events which should hasten the accomplishment of this work by England and Canada may be mentioned the stealthy advancement of Russia on the Pacific in the direction of China, the progress of the United States in California, the opening of the trade of Japan, the extension of French dominion over the most valuable islands of the South Pacific, and the rapid advancement in population and wealth of Australia and New Zealand. Any railway to connect the two oceans supported by England and Canada, should run through the Saskatchewan valley, and should terminate at one of the fine harbours, also in the British territory, upon Fuca Straits, opposite to Vancouver's Island. The railways and water communications of Canada already extend one third of the distance across the continent, and pass throuc^h a generally settled country. Though fifty times of more importance to the province and to the whole empire, than all the various and, in some instances, competing railways now in course of construction in Canada, this line to the Pacific would neither be so costly, nor so formidable an undertaking as the completion of the former. By the granting of a moderate quantity of land at enrh of ♦».« I 42 Russian America stations along the route, to any company that would con- struct the road, such a body would easily be formed for ihe purpose ; and a work would ere long be accomplish- ed, with little expense to the Imperial or Provincial Governments, which, in the extent of valuable country it would render accessible for settleme , he min- erals and other riches, which it would iop, as a means of giving employment to tens of thousands, and in the commerce, which it would attract, as well as create, would yield more wealth to the province, than the ima- gination can picture, as representing all the riches of the Indies. Upon the line of route, too, a coal field exists 400 miles wide. Yet parties in Canada have actually set a project upon foot, for connecting the main provincial line of railways running westward, with a proposed line along the south shore of Lake Superior* and the Missouri *Althous:h the country on tlie north of Lake Superior, in the immediate vicinity of the shore, is not favorable for the construction of a railway, yet further back from the lake it is mucli better adapted for the purpose ; where also it contains good timber and some excellent soil. Its value in the latter respects has been particularly observed along the banks of the rivers extending towards what is generally supposed to bo the height of land running between Canada and the Hudson's Bay Territory. This height of land, however, is not continuous, but is ponetiated by some of these rivers in several places ; as it is also divided further to the west by numerous water courses, in all directions bt ,vcen Lakes Winnipeg and Superior. Ag iha Hudson's Bay Company base their right to cut Canada off from the magnificent Saskatchewan valley, and the valuable country extending to within about one hundred miles of Lake Superior, upon the assumed fact that such water communications between the St. Lawrence and Lake Win- nipeg do not exist, and as mucii of the country in that direction has been but imperfectly explored, it wouhi be Avell for the Canada Government to institute a thorough survey of the eoimtry for some distance, lying north and south of the route usually pursued between Lake Superior and Lake Winnipeg. The present prospects in that quarter may well justify incur- ring the expense of such a survey ; for, now tliat Lake Superior has been conneotedwith Lake Huron by a j-liip canal (wliieh completes an unrivalled Bhip navigation, extending into the eoutiuent a distance of two thousand miles from til e ocean), the former lake will be soon covered with steam and failing craft of every descripiion, and the country beyond it to the west, as well as the couutrv upon both sides of it. will become greatly enhanced in value. ^ J *v And the present War, 43 valley, through the United States territory the whole way to the Pacific, terminating at the mouth of ihe Columbia, about 200 miles south of the British boundary, after passing through a more difficult country than is found on the former route ; one, moreover, subject to fevers and agues, and through a much more difficult pass in the Rocky Mountains (3,000 feet higher), than the passes withm our own territory. But, while these parties have thus entirely overlooked the advantages of the route through British territory, which should w-^igh well with all Canadians, the people of St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota, who are situated much nearer to the south- ern than to the northern route, have been confidently resting their hopes of the advancement of Iheir town, upon the rospect of the railway to the Pacific being con- structed through the British territory, and of their running a branch line due north to it of 400 miles long! They perceive that if it be taken in hand, before the peo- ple of the United States shall have decided upon any one of the inferior and contending routes through the latter country, it will be carried out, and that the line of it will probably be found the best route for the traffic of the United States with the Pacific, as well as for that between England and the East. Speaking of the British route, they urge, among other advantages, that " a very large part of the country upon it is the finest wheat coun- try in the world." What, then, can be a greater proof of tlic superiority of the latter, for the construction and for the successful working of the road, than this opinion in its favor, and these hopes, based upon its completion, of per- sons residing in a foreign country, at a place situated 400 miles south of the British boundary, who are also well acquamted with the capabilities of the various proposed routes ! 44 Russian America Having given a sketch of Russian America, and of the country lying between it and Canada, the writer will now state the views which he has been led to entertain in regard to the former, from the knowledge he has acquired of their value, and from observing the opportu- nity, which the present war with Russia affords, for carrying those views into effect. To reduce the resources and to humble the pride of Russia, it is advisable that she should be deprived of al! detached possessions from which she derives wealth or power, and which may present vulnerable points of attack. Where operations for the accomplishment of these ends can be undertaken upon this continent, the people of Canada become especially interested, and they may well invite and offer to assist those operations by every means in their power. That the nine hundred thousand square miles of territory, belonging to Russia upon this continent, not only contributes to her commerce and her naval resources, but that it may be made to yield very con- siderable wealth, from its minerals, its forests and its fisheries, the writer trusts has been shown in the fore- going. He now proposes to point out how Canada might become vastly benefited by the capture of the territory by Great Britain, and how she might, by assisting to effect that capture, gratify the general feeling of sympathy with England in the present contest against Russia, which has been so warmly expressed throughout the province. Within the past few months the news has been received of the unsuccessful attack made by the British and French fleets upon Petropaulovski in Kamtschatka. The last account we had of the allied fleets was, that the French fleet was at San Francisco and the English at Vancou- ver's Island, at which places each had put in to repair damages, and probably to winter. Considering their t T T And the present War. 45 for t ■f reduced strength after the loss at Petropaulovski, the ex- perience, which they gained there, of the uselessness of attacking posts of great strength, without an overwhelm- ing sea force, or the co-operation of a powerful land force, and considering the season of the year when they were last heard from, there is little prospect of the allied fleets proceeding before the coming summer (when they may be strengthened by a few ships lately ordered to the Pacific from England), to attack Sitka and Kodiak, both of which, by nature as well as by art, are much stronger than Petropaulovski, where the fleets have failed to make any permanent impression. Of the defences of Sitka a description, taken from Sir Edward Belcher's account of that place, has been already given ; but, since his visit there, they have been considerably increased, as also have the defences of the other posts throughout the territory. Within the last eighteen months the Russians have avail- ed themselves of their possession of the mouth of the magnificent River Amoor (which they have obtained by taking advantage of the present troubles in China), to transport a large number of heavy guns, and an immense quantity of other munitions of war, from the interior of Siberia to the Pacific, and thence to their posts in America. By this new seizure of territory from China, and the consequent acquisition of the entire navigation of the Amoor, upon which they have already placed several steamboats, the Russians have been able 1o secure a .Splendid naval hirbour, and to establish a depot of war- like and other supplies, upon the western shores of the Pacific, in a climate which admits of a navigation during the whole winter, within reach of the great arsenals and manufactories of Siberia, and of the great line of communication running through the latter to the west, and therefore of the whole resources of the empire, 46 Russian America and also of their possessions in America ; by which the latter have become of fur more importance to them, and ^r more formidable to their enemies. Until England and Fmnce shall maintain a Hufficiently numerous fleet in the Pacific, to capture or blockade the coast of Russian America, or to capture the new Sebastopol, which is fast rising in offensive, as well as in defensive strength at the mouth of the Amoor, the latter will constitute the most powerful support and reserve to the former ; and, with the fine timber in its neighbourhood, and the iron and cordage ol Siberia close at hand, the Russians will be able to build and send forth powerful fleets, that might keep in dread the entire seaboard of our Indian and Australian possessions, or, passing on at any favorable moment, make a diversion in Europe. How important, then, is it to the interests of the British Empire, if not to the future peace of the world, that Russia should be deprived of this new acquisition in the infancy of its rise to military im- portance, as well as of its posts upon this continent, dur- ing the present war ! Among the latter, the town of St. Paul, upon the Island of Kodiak, near Cook's Inlet, takes the second place to Sitka. It is situated upon a safe L.nd spacious harbour, and is strongly fortified. Of its works a recent account says: "The town is defended by two citadels, mounting more than 100 cannon, and up to the present time no foreign vessel has succeeded in obtaining communication with it. The passage into the harbour IS only practicable under the cannon of the Fort of St. Paul, which some years ago was garrisoned by 400 men, and mounted 40 guns. Like Sitka, a few small vessels, carrying four or five guns each, guard the coast approach- es. With a number of such works as these at Kodiak, Sitka, and at other places along.the coast, to be captured and occupied, the attacking force should consist of some- And the present War, 41 thing more than the few vessels which at present com- pose the allied iieets in the North Pacifie. Now, as Canada, in iier rapid progress in population and wealth, and in the sj^reading out of her people to the north and to the west, will naturally become ambitious to extend the province, or to see new provinces in alliance with her, extended over the rest of this conti- nent, lying north of the United States, she might well undertake to furnish the land forces required to act with our fleet against Russian America, and also for remaining in the country as permanent garrisons at Sitka, and the other important posts along the coast and in the neighbour- ing islands; a step for which many precedents can be found in the conduct of the gallant and generous colonists of New England, and the neighbouring provinces and plantations, during the French and Spanish wars of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. For this service England might make Russian America a dependency of Canada, as at one period Nova Scotia (after her first eapture from the French in 1690), was attached to, and was garrisoned by troops in the pay of our then province of Massachusetts Bay. She might, at the same time, extend the western boundary of Canada (which is now supposed to be situated at one of the sources of the St. Lawrence, one hundred and eighteen miles beyond Lake Superior), as far as the southern portions of Russian America, taking in, v/iihin the magnificent belt of country thus proposed lo be granted, the Red River settlement, also ihe fertile valleys of the Saskatchewan and the Missinipi (running almost parallel with each other, and being divided by the slightest ridge), and the whole of the British portions of the Oregon territory. Thus Canada^ would be magnificently rewarded for the proposed service, and a vast region, rich beyond conception in natural 48 Russian America resources become rescued from conlinuing as a mere son , B ,j Company t„ il,e Oregon territory, and ,he oouncry y.ng between Canada and Russian Amerila ho e r^lns eon.s. only in .he company having a license' ^ hum and rade .here, which will expire in 1859, and wl. le , g,ves .hem no .crritorial claim wha.ever. There could, .herefore arise li.de diiricul.y from .ha. ,uar" Canada ''T'T '"'^"-'"'"'^ '^"^v-.n England and .hart Uu T "^r '""""""' " '^ "> "^ -l«"ed, that the lai.er w.ll make every cffor. .o preven. .he and .ha. t w,ll also endeavour to procure .he remova of the,r bl,shl,„gi„nuencc over .ha. o.her por.ion o us eon.n,e„t, as large as .he whole of Europe which .hey elann under an ambiguous charter from Charles the Second. A measure, which may have been reason able and proper in the .ime of tha. f„onareh, may have become qutle .he reverse at the present time ■ and I! tha. ease, should be swep. awa.v, as many :.he reli : of a less enlightened period have been, by an ae of U,e mper.al Parliament. Such a cour'se might now well be adopted towards .he pre.ensions of the Hudson's sources far more t.nportant .han those which give employment to a few fur hunters and traders, whose e«™ fons do not bring ,l,e sligh.es. good to England, ortlthe country ,„ which they are made, and whieirneitl cr c'nr ch nor benefit a. .ngie human being, beyond the few who mpose^ e .oekholders of a elose a,nj perniciouTmo n" Z^L, ! ,"'''■' '" "" ''™"' "f *" 'I'^siraWe change Which ihey profess lo have invested in this region. They And the present War, 40 would find the important province of Canada a very dif- ferent opponent to deal with, than they liavc hitherto experienced in the unprotected colonists of the Rod River settlement, who, for many yearf, have been appealing in vain to tiic Home Government against the oppressive rule of the company. Though the natural outlet of the settle- ment is through a fine country to Canada, the route formerly pursued by the French traders and the servants of ihc North West Company, and still containing many remains of their forts and gardens, the Hudson's Bay Comjiany, in dread of all contact with the entorprisie of Canada, compel the colonists to make use of the inhospitable route to Hud- son's Hay, and the two ships v;hich annually visit the com- pany's factory there from England. Rut all this would be soon remedied were Canada to become the direct and openly avowed opponent of the company. Considering that the greater number of the ten thousand souls at Red River are agriculturalists, and that excellent markets for their produce could be obtained among the mines at Lake Superior, which are now supplied by the country lying upon Lakes Eric and Ontario, an immediate and a very important object would be gained, both to the province and to the Red River settlement, by the opening out of a communication between the latter place of supply and the former places of consumption. It would give new life and new energy to the whole of that settlement ; a fine country and a desirable population of ten thousand souls would be at once obtained by Canada, and the traffic created between the settlement and the province, would, of itself, give rise, first, to the establishment of small posts and villages, and, afterwards, of large agricultural and mining settlements (the one sustaining the other), at the most favorable localities for each between Lake Winnipeg and Lake Superior; certain portions of which route are 50 Hussian America dcHcribed by Sir John Richardson, and others, to be as rich in mineral as in agricultural resources. As the highest prices are obtained in the United States, and in Eastern Canada and Europe, for agricultural produce, it would be much better for the large mining population of Lake Superior, to be supplied by the country still fur- ther to the west, which cannot send its produce to the former markets, than that they should be supplied by the country to their east, which has already access to those markets. Under the reciprocity treaty with the United States, the rich agricultural country situated in the former direction, in the neighbourhood of the lake, might also be made to furnish food to the large mining population along the southern shore of Lake Superior, where provi- sions are now obtained from the country lying upon Lake Michigan. Should the British Government regard the several re- gions under consideration, as too extended to place under Canada as a part of the province, they might be formed into ihrec provinces ; the Red River settlement beinff the head quarters of one, reachingfrom Canada to the Rocky Mountains, and having a breadth of about five hundred miles, and Adiich, being bounded in the north by the height of land called Portage La Loche, where the Mackenzie takes its rise, would embrace the whole of the Missinipi and Saskatchewan valleys ; the second com- mencing on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains and taking in all of the Oregon territory which belongs to England, and the third to consist of the whole of Russian America. Or Canada might be extended to the head ■waters of the Saskatchewan in the Rocky Mountains, (which would embrace a country to which she has already a claim), and the Onjgon and Russian America be formed into two provinces beyond. Vancouver's Island, which is f • And the present War, 51 destined to become the England of the North Pacific, should be made another province, with the large gold-bear- ing island of Queen Charlotte attached to it as a depen- dency. For any settlements upon these islands to make any progress they must be taken entirely out of the hands of the Hudson's Bay Company, whose interests as a fur com- pany, are diametrically opposed to all extensive or pro- gressive settlement in the regions under their sway. The settlers at Vancouver's Island are already protesting against the rule of the company, which rests as a blight upon all their efforts ; and, as the lease of the island to that body is about to expire, it is to be hoped that the British Government will not be induced to renew it : that the momentous events occurring in Europe will not pre- vent the Colonial Office (which is charged with watching over the colonial interests of the empire as much in time of war as in time of peace), from listening to the just representations of the people of our most distant posses- sion. Though equally good land is being sold at the rate of half a crown an acre by the American Govern- ment upon the main shores of the Oregon territory, opposite to the southern portion of Vancouver's Island, w^here Fort Victoria, the British settlement, is situated, the Hudson's Bay Company charge one pound an acre for land upon the latter. What can speak more strongly than this, for the insincerity of their professions in regard to their desire for settling the island ? Even in Canada, in places within reach of excellent markets, the finest wild land is to be obtained at a less price than the Hud- son's Bay Company are thus demanding for land in one of the most distant parls of the world. Under proper enouragement to agricultural settlers, Vancouver's Island and many portions of the Oregon territory belonging to 62 Russian America England, might become the granaries of all the posts situate 1 in the high latitudes of the North Pacific. With the establishment of a resident agency, or some other small but suitable machinery of government, in the several newly created provinces, for making surveys, and affording information and assistance to immigrants, who might purpose to settle upon lands, or desire to embark in the mines and other resources known to exist, or likely to be discovered, a population suited to the wants of each province would soon be collected, and rapidly t^xtend in all. Liberal grants of land in the agricultural portions of these provinces, might also be made to otficers and men, for services during the present v/ar, upon con- dition of their occupying them, or of their making improvements upon them through others; or military settlements might be formed, somewhat similar to the military colonies of Russia. Many millions of the finest land, in accessible spots to the west of Lake Superior, might be appropriated at once for the purpose. Among the first selected should be the fine valley of the Kaminis- taquoia, immediately adjoining the lake at Fort William; to which point emigrants and goods can now be con- veyed from Europe, without undergoing one single transhipment. These upper provinces of the north-west coast and the Saskatchewan country, and the lower provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward's Island, being joined to Canada, the whole confederated provinces would, ere long, eclipse in im- portance all the other colonies of Great Britain put together, and become to her a mightier empire in the West than India has ever been in the East. Fast filling up with the hardiest population that can exist upon this continent, belonging to the finest European races, and breathing the purest and most invigorating i J'l And the jjresent War. 53 air in the world ; with steam communication through out, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and in constant ntercourse, and interchange of brotlierly acts, with En^.- and from one side, and with Australia, Borneo (whicli IS destined to become a British possession), and India n.m the other, our North American empire would, at any moment of danger to her or to them, be able tcl concentrate within her own borders, or upon any part or extremity of the British possessions, the whole power of England and her colonies; would become the most powerful check upon the grasping propensities of the ^nited States, and be the most glorious creation of the British people. As the United States shall increase in power and in arrogance, the more necessary will it be to England and to Canada, to build up this empire of the Lnited Colonies of British North America, and the more important will this noble possession become. wi!h cl7r'- "^ ^"t"^ ''"^"^ ^° ^"^ understanding, with Canada, m regard to the charge of Russian America^ the Oregon territory, the Saskatchewan valley and the Red River settlement, or to that of Russian America alone, the province might easily raise and send from one thousand to fifteen hundred men to Vancouver's Island, to co-oper- ate with our fleet. By embarking them in steamers for he Isthmus of Panama, permission to cross which might be easily obtained, they could be met on the Pacific side oi the Isthmus, and be taken on to Vancouver's Island, or to Sitka direct, by vessels belonging to our fleet. At Uns period of distress among the poor, both in Eastern Canada, and the United States (60,000 men having lately been unemployed in New York alone), there would be no dithculty in obtainingthenumberofmenrequired. Besides great inducements might be ofl^ered to them, by making the term of service only two or three years, and holding out 54 Russian Amenca to them a promise of certain advantages at its termination, should they become settlers, still retaining a liability to per- form occasional military duties, either in Russian Amer- ica or in the Oregon territory. They should go, in short, as military colonists. Those having families, might have them sent on to Vancouver's Island, where they could remain until Sitka and the other posts should have fallen. Numbers of British subjects could also be procured for the service in California. Of this force, two-thirds of it should be composed of infantry and the other third of artillery ; but, considering the description of works to be taken and occupied, the whole should be drilled to serve guns, which could be done on board ship. Two or three officers of the Royal Engineers should accom- pany the expedition. While this expedition should be organizing and in progress, a few officers, one of whom should belong to the latter corps, might proceed across from Canada to the Red River settlement, and, with the assistance of the pensioners'* stationed there, raise and organize, among the half-breeds and Europeans of the set- tlement, another body of troops for the same destination. The writer, who has seen a good deal of service in the field during the late war in Spain, would be willing to accompany either of these parties. The latter could take the route usually pursued by the Hudson's Bay people, and reach the coast opposite to Vancouver's Island, which should be the general rendezvous,in about two months from the period of leaving the settlement. Provisions for the journey could easily be obtained at the latter ; and, as many of the half-breeds there devote a cer- ■ *The writer has just been informed that these pensioners are shortly to be withdrawn, in consequence of a disagreement between the British Gov- ernment and the Hudson's Bay Company, as to the illiberal treatment the pensioners have received from the latter. And the present War, 55 tain portion of the year to the chase, and they would pass through a country abounding in game, they would often be able to procure food on the march, besides obtaining food at some of the Hudson's Bay posts, situated on the line of their route. To these posts an officer should always precede them for the purpose of collecting information and supplies. Along the country they would have to traverse, large bodies of unorganized and indif- ferently provided emigrants, accompanied by horses and waggons, have often proceeded without difficulty and without loss, to the Oregon ; their having preferred this route to those less practicable and less healthy further south. Such a party Sir George Simpson over- took in 1842. The Red River people also are frequently in the habit of proceeding on horseback, through the same country of fine prairies and open valleys, to the foot of the Rocky Mountains, to hunt the buffalo. The daring and activity, which they are obliged to display in attack- ing these animals, when often met in herds consisting of upwards of a thousand, peculiarly adapt them for becom- ing excellent soldiers, were they formed into a corps like those of the light irregular corps attached to our native armies in India. Their tastes, too, created by such a life, would lead them to enter the service with great eager- ness. They might also become very useful to form other corps upon, officered by Europeans, from the fine tribes of Russian America, who are naturally as intelligent, as vigorou.4 and as daring as Europeans. These tribes repeat- edly defeated the Russians when the latter first invaded their country, and showed much ability and ingenuity, as well as the greatest courage in their attacks. Upon one ^-n** ■ 56 Russian America occasion Sitka was entirely destroyed by lliem.* SIiouul war unfortunately prevail for any lengthened period, we might form an army in a few years from the several tribes in that region, upon the system of our native armies in India, which would become of far more use for gen- eral service than the latter, though efficient as they have ever proved themselves to be in their own country ; for the former would be able to endure, almost without'suf- fering, any fatigue and hardship, be prepared to encounter any climate, and might be taken to any part of the world. England might thus obtain important sources o( military strength, as well as add to her commerciai prosperity, by the conquest of Russian America. By a proper organization of the territory, and a proper supervi- sion and management of the natives, they would become, not only as tractable and civilized as the natives of India* but far greater ends in regard to them would be gained' m their being easily converted to Christianity ; and, bein^-^ physically far superior to the Indian tribes of Canada ox sciewja, to attack GlattofJ and us men. who werp cfrnno-W fi.,f;fl i . " , ." And the present War. 67 I # of the United States, it may reasonably be hoped, that if the " fire-water" be kept from them, that tliey would neither diminish in number, nor degenerate in body or mind. Many Indians, who are less adapted for becoming soldiers under European training, than the natives of Rus- sian America, serve in the armies of the South American powers; and recently Brazil has organised and taken into pay a body of six thousand Indians, as regular sol- diers. Though there are many instances of tribes of red menhavingdiminishedinnumber, or become extinct, since they were brought into contact with white men, when- ever they learnt the vices, without acquiring any of the vir- tues of the latter, yet the popular belief which exists, that 8uch must invariably be the result of all intercourse between the two races, is far from being correct. Not only does Bancroft, but other writers, describe the advancement, in numbers, in intelligence, and in wealth, of several tribes of Indians since they have been brought within the influence of the Christianity, the civilization and the indus- try of Europe. Alluding to some of the Indian tribes of the United States, Bancroft says : " Tlie Indian of to-day excels his ancestors in skill, in power over nature, and in knowledge. Within the century and a-half during which the Cherokees have been acquainted with Europeans, they have learned the use of the plough and the axe, of herds and flocks, of the printing press, and water-mills. And finally, in proof of progress, that nation, like the Choctas, the Creeks, the Chippewas, the Winnebagoes, and other tribes, has increased, not in intelligence only, but in numbers." It may be added here, that the Indian*; settled as agriculturalists upon the banks of the Grand River of Upper Canada, have also increased in numbers, in intelligence and in wealth. Of their prosperous con- iJition, and of their gratitude to England for its enjoyment, 58 Russian Amenca '.-.i je have a recent proof, in their eontribution of o,k hnn- dred pounds sterling, ,o the patriotie fund. By leading the fine and intelligent tribes of the north-west eoast, .! would doubtless be obtai.»d among then,, than Bancroft can briBg forward as the effects of civilization upon eer- tarn tribes, who have become tillers of the soil in the United States Some of the Russian American tribes are physically and mentally, quite equal to the New Zealan- 'Zwll '• *"" f " ^ "'""' g'^tifying than the results, which the mtroduetion of order, of civilisation and ChrisI tianity have effected among the latter ! Though a suHieiem number of troops might perhaps be collected from the regiments in our Australian possessions to co-operate with our fleet i„ the conquest of Russian America, England could not well afford at this moment to retam them in the latter as permanent garrisons ; and, lor the reasons which have been already given, this coni quest should be made exclusively for England. It might I'uT' T ^ "P"*'""' "* '"^^^ ^'"'^"^ "»ops, which could be collected from the Marquesas, the Society Islands, and the Island of New Caledonia, in occupation of an; ot the Russian posts which the allied fleets may capture m that quarter. But if France should desire to acquire temtory inthe North Pacific, we might make anothereVrt who, Tr ' P'^f P*"'"^^'^'. ^" then i "ed with some defintle object in view, and with some confi- dence, to attack Petropaulovski, or the RussianTrtrca- 'tons a, the entrance of the Amoor, or both; and the prov,^ss of our Australian soldiers there might be com! pared with the gallantry and endurance of our Canadi", soldiers in Russian America. attf,^- of7"'^ "'". ""'"""^'^ '" '"'"'^'' '^OP^ for the atta,:k of Russian America, Canada would have some prete.— or claiming a voice in any future negoTa nons h,eh may be opened by the great powL „f then, with a very good grace, protest against the conclu- -on of any treaty of peace under whieJi Russia should I I i I I i And the present War. gi bo allowed to continue an American power. The givinsr up of Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia, to the United Stales at the end of the war of 1814, lost us an immense nearly led us into a war with the same power in 1846. Who can tell what misfortunes may result to us, should we neglect the present opportunity for driving Russia entirely off the American continent ? The pos.^ibllity of her ever disposing of her American territory to the United States ought to be sufficient to urge us not to let that opportunity escape ; for so soon as it should fall into the hands of the Americans, the latter would commence those encroachments upon the British possessions in its neighbourhood, which immediately followed their pur- chase of Louisiana, and the country extending alon« the upper Mississippi, from France. "^ The writer has endeavoured to point out the value of the reward, which Canada might secure, by furnishing the land force required, either to assist the British fleet in the conquest of Russian America, if not already captured, or to garrison its strongholds after that event shall have taken place : a description of force which England i«. unable to spare for these objects at a period when she is called upon to make the most gigantic efforts elsewhere, rhere is no doubt that the latter, in addition to the con- lerring of that reward, would cheerfully repay any expense which the province might incur in rendering such assistance ; but, for the honor and credit of the pro- vince, It IS to be hoped that she would not take money in payment for a service, in the benefits of which she would directly participate, and which could not be compared to many similar but more difficult services, spontaneously offered, and often magnificently executed by the former Kritish provinces, now constituting the United States of 68 Rubsian Atnerica I America. Some of those performed by ihe latter, such as the capture of Louisbourg, the attack of the Spanish settlements at Carthagena, in South America, and other places situated on the Gulf of Mexico, and the French West India Islands, were nearly parallel to that, which la now proposed by the writer lo be undertaken by the pro- vince ; and most of tliem were carried out at their own cost, their neither asking for, nor receiving any compen- sation, for the large sums which they so generously expended, or for the noble lives which they so gallantly sacrificed. They freely gave their money and their blood for the prosperity and glory of the empire of which they formed a part. In the present contest, entered into by England for justice and liberty, we have hitherto given little else than an expression of our sympathy. Many persons in Canada have been even crying down our doing anything at this momeiit towards relieving England of the expense of providing for our own military wants, at a period, which, to the province, may be considered as one of profound peace ; and have represented the latter, with a revenue of £2,000,000, as unable to maintain one corps for our own garrisons. As these parties have taken up this cry evidently from their total ignorance ofthe history of the British provinces, and plantations in America, before they became an independent state, it may not be out of place to give a few instances here, of what the British colonists of that period had the spirit to undertake, and the ability to perform, with one-tenth the resources in men and money, that Canada could at this moment command. The first step towards providing for the regular defence of the country, appears to have been taken by Virginia in 1630, when, according to Bancroft, in his " History ofthe United States," "the Virginians enjoyed the benefit" (as Canada does now), " of independent legislation ; they And the present War. 83 levied all taxes, secured the free industry of tlieir citizens, and guarded the forts with their own soldiers at their own expense." Governor Hutchinson, in his « History of the Colony ofMassachusett's Bay," published in 1745, states, that in 1653, the northern colonics " raised 500 men to act against the Dutch, but peace being suddenly declared, these troops, under Major Sege wide, formerly of the Hon- orable Artillery Company of London, and Captain Lev- eret, were used to dislodge the French from Penobscot, St. Johns." Considering the means and tjje population of the whole of the British colonies upon this continent at that period, the population being little more than one hundred thousand, and looking to the present means and population of Canada, this effort, made by a few only of those colonies, would not be equalled by us, were we to raise and pay fifty thousand men for any service out of the province, in aid of England, at the present juncture. In 1690, according to the same authority, "a representa- tion was sent to England from the colonies, asking for a supply of arms and ammunition, and a number of the King's frigates to attack the French by sea, whilst the colonial forces should march by land, and perform their parts." At the time, however, the hands of the Govern- ment in England were too full to give any attention to the request. Notwithstanding this discouragement, Mas- sachusetts determined to proceed of herself, and Connec- ticut and New York engaged to furnish nen. Two thousand men were accordingly raised by the latter, and marched by Albany to attack Montreal, while the fleet, furnished by Massachusetts, consisting of thirty-four ves- sels, and conveying about an equal number of soldiers, belonging to that province, as the force despatched against Montreal, proceeded up the St. Lawrence. These expe- ditions only failed through the want of concert between mt 64 Russian America -„. of the coio„ies,"B:3i ; rrsz~- chusetis, Connecticut and New York „ ' , ^" iand, plan Ihc invasion of Acadia and Canada " Ti extreme difficulty ,„ which the colonies wrt, bvThe' expense, and the failure of tl,e two exped^i onl" I \ Jan,es> leath r money t'suei in T\" Tf" ''"' '^'"^ time." From 169- umn a '""^ "''""' "'« ^«"«^ several year" aflenv " ^^,'"'"»^™^'e«tored to France j>-ars atieiwards, Massaohnsptf* «, i, expense,maintaincdasarrisonatRrp ' J ' °'™ in the former -erritory; MTro/Jl^rr''"''^.'''''?'"' cm expeditions, alsoL '.erowneo;., a. 1^;^ 's' ^'-'t settlements in Florida »n,I ,f. ° ^ Spanish upon St. lu.„; ine^r ' ,"■ "" ""•^"<'<='^«^f«' attack "carried the Kl"lisl, C"'', ' ""r'*^^ "^ '°^"^' ""'' Wilderness .: .^^^ '^ f\S "tL T""'',"' madethefmalcaptureofPortRovW? 1,7 I""" '''''''^'' ors Annapolis in koZ 0^^X11 1" '?"""■ Acadia in 1710 wn. „ ! i >' ^""^ "'«' whole ol beIo,>gingto ^If; Sland" ItZ '"h 'T '"S™™"^ of the whole of the B I, M, ^"^ "'"'P^'''^ thepo,,ulation Canada to Flo id wa „r "'"'' ^""^ *'"^ ''""''"^^ "f •housandsouls t' ail "'"' """" ""■=« ''""dred fleet, conveyit'^e^ntl ■° ^^^"'P-y'l'e British -™;, again^qX r/rTl'T''^ "' Marlborongh's New En-land isredf, , ' S"'""'"' <=«"'■' "f of credit and o ^ "'°"'"'"^ P™™'^ i" W"« While at Boston. Provisions having risen enor- And the present War. 65 ^.ously high in consequence of its presence there the gentlemen of that city were induced to deny themselves ot every luxury, and to engage while the fleet lay there 1.0 eat nothing but salt provisions in their families The army for the expedition, including two regiments from ^ew England, numbered 7,000 men, a force about equal o that which afterwards reduced Quebec. Through the loss, however, of several ships, and of one thousand men upon the north coast of the St. Lawrence, between thJ Soven Islands and Cape des Monts, the Admiral, Sir Hovenden Walker, lost heart, and retreated with the remainder of the fine army on board, without having Righted Quebec ; and a force, which the colonies had senl by Lake Champlain against Montreal, had in consequence to retreat also without effecting anything. Durin- tha* summer about one-fifth part of the whole inhabitants of Massachusetts, capable of bearing arms, were iu the pay of that province, and the like proportion were employed .or two or three years successively in the next war with F ranee. Plow could Canada ever equal this, or the pre- vious sacrifices mentioned ? In alluding, in glowine terms, to the efforts which were made by the colonists about this time, Governor Plutchinson says : «I cannot avoid reflecting also upon the heavy burdens which the province subjected itself to during this war, I suppose beyond d.ose of any other ten years from the' first fettle, ment. The castle and other fortifications at Boston, the severa forts in the eastern country, the various expensive ^^vped.tions actually prosecuted, and the preparations made for others, added to the constant defence of the extensive frontiers, and to the sapport of the civil govern- rnent, without any relief or compensation from the Crown certam y rnust have occasioned such an annual burden as was not felt by any other subjects of Great Britain, and 66 Russian Amerim the merit of the people of that day ought not to be forgot- ten." Most of the military preparations and operations of the colonists, whether of offence or defence, originated with themselves, but, in the following instance, it appears that they were equally ready to respond to any call made by England for foreign service. Having, in 1740, pre- pared to send to the West Indies the largest fleet and army that had ever appeared in theGulf of Mexico, Eng- land summoned the colonies north of Carolina to contri- bute four battalions to the armament. "No colony refused its quota ; even Pennsylvania, the Quaker pro- vince, voted a contribution of money, and thus enabled its governor to enlist troops for the occasion." The com- bined forces, thus composed of imperial and colonial troops, proceeded to attack Carthegena, the strongest place in Spanish America, where, although not successful, they gallantly assaulted and did much damage to the principal works ; but, after reducing and destroying sev- eral other places, and forts throughout the country, and suffering immense losses, they retreated to their ships. The expedition had been intended to prepare the way for conquering Mexico and Peru : a far more formidable pro- feet than the conquest of Russian America would be in the present day. From that period, until 1742, South Carolina, under its governor, the estimable and gallant Oglethorpe, repeatedly attacked the Spanish settlements, and also defeated the Spaniards in an invasion of Geor- gia. In 1744, Massachusetts sent to, and maintained, at her own cost, two hundred men at Annapolis, for the defence of Nova Scotia, who were the means of prevent- ing that province from falling once more into the hands of the French. For the memorable siege of Louisbourg, a few of the colonies provided between them, one hun- dred vessels, and raised an army of 5,100 men, at an And the present War, 67 by a co,„„i„, Colon Z ' til tT' TT""^"' """ defence orTr fo JL 1 ':°'°""'' "*<=^ f- 'heir own was ref„„ded'.o°:^r rE^.a "d^r"", °^ '^^ ^"'P'-' ing was planned, and commenced b'^^t '""'''"^''• o.de. from, „, .he knowrdg: 1,'^ '=;:™"' -f-' achievement Governor Hutchfnson ^ay, «"!'• ?^ *" of Lomsbonrg by a Bri.iah colony mnsf have h ""°" prise to Great Britain and France »1. " " '"" |-d plans of Ameriean'm'r:; t th rxTl^'J: Toco-operate with ei^ht batallmn« ^f , ^^^''' be sentfrom England in thenar ^crdl^h^T' '" ng year, the New England colonic rai^dVi;;'^"''^- the Massachusetts portion of which Ts ,on ' T """■' ready to embark about six week, afti '.f «"™^' *^' but the expedition not bein<. Z, . ^ *'''" '"'"'"' i of the troops raised by the co,o'le, T""^ "''}' ">'= whole until September of Ihe net yet and""'""''/" ^^^ -rved for defence of the frS. "' yT/ °' '^«!» alone voted £10,000 for defence, i„ n .? ' ^"S'^'a tunate attack in 1755 „f 1.^ '" "raddock's unfor- i colonial troops under Gov LrS^hirt T ''^ ^'''°' "><= part,anddidg.atserviceiro:frS;^:^;--™P-nt the same year 2,200 militia of Ihf nor w„ ""^ which composed the force „n^! T P™"nces, defeated a mnch larger armv of ,t ^ "T' "'°''"^"". against the former trot Crown Pott ."'' ,"'™°""^ gallant exploits of this orovTnT i ^P^'^^iog of the his bisto,y of the war ofla " " J™"'"'"' ^=""''' '» s.g.ar satisfaction Of re?:l-:?;X3:^h^X 68 Russian America designed against Niaoam " „ , ' '''''^'"' «"<' "'»' Obliged .0 abandon'the en.e ri ? t;t^r *"' ^^^' ■son's was the only sttccess gaiTed duri^l .k^.'"'"'" "'<''"'■ In the conquest of Canada sCllft ^ '^' campaign." and Niagara, and fought several art lr,n ^^.^"'■''" Po'^t country was subdued In ir ^^'^" "'= ^^''ole againsf Crown pit- Jr:r5To;?'-''"",''"'°'' employed; and after its reducUon , rlo'^oTT'''?^"'" force, besides regular.,, proceed" by 'laLcin'' T'°""' J0.n General Amherst before Montreal Ih?"'"' '" which had accompanied him ,1 cTand lad^f K ™^' way by Niagara and the St. Lawr nee coiti T°"^ "' proportion of provincials, consilt n^f the New J '^" regiment, four battalions of the ConnU, , ^^ the year 1707 Nov/w ! "'°^^"^' ^"^ ^""ng jcai nji ^N ova hcotia contributed £R «ni 1^ .i. :r;o,-r^:-~£p™iS -■^aftrat^aS"^!"^^^^^^ Philip's vvar fasted U '^"''='»°'-'^' '=<>">monly called thousand 1 vesxhevnr"^ ^''"'' ^°'' '="^' ^--«' 3ions, expres::d tre;f sytp^hT^i.^re ''''"'' ""''■ and the peoole of Pn„il i J . "" government, and the 2—5,',^ "".' ""'^' '°^^' ="'''---» to, „ • , . 8''"^'0U3 contributions, many of the U, ter, considering the difference between their means And the present War, m and ours, throwing our recent contribution of £20,00D to the patriotic fund, quite in the shade. Upon' the arrival of the intelligence of the great fire of London, a collection was immediatelyenteredintothroughoutthecol-. omes for the relief of the sufierers, upon so liberal a scale, that a single collection in one church at Charleston real- ized £105 sterling ! They repeatedly sent provisions as a free gift to the British fleet in the West Indies, and spars and masts to England ; the last, Pepy's states, " being a blessing mightily unexpected, and but for which we must have failed the next year." Nor were there wanting instances of the expression of a kindly feeling towards the colonists upon the part of the people and government of the « old country." Of one of these Bancroft says : " Le us not forget a good deed of the generous Irish, after the termination of the war of the Pokanokets ; they sent over a contribution, small it is true, to relieve in part the dis- tress of Plymouth Colony ; and Connecticut, which had contributed soldiers to the war, now furnished the house- less with more than a thousand bushels of corn." Thus did mutual sympathy exist, and thus was mutual assis- tance rendered between the mother country and the col- onies, and between each colony, as we have witnessed in our own day between Great Britain and her present col- onies. Among the more recent acts of generosity between England and the latter, which should not be passed over at this moment, are the handsome subscriptions which were raised throughout the United Kingdom, and the grant by the Imperial Parliament of twenty thousand pounds, tn 1846, for the relief of those who had suffered by the great fires at Quebec in that year ; and the muni- ficent payment by the Home Government of the whole expenses, amounting to one hundred and eighty thousand pounds, incurred by Canada through the large immigra- £ TO Ruman America and the present War. subacripUons, co„.ribm d t i^ nLflo"''^^^ P-a.e by all the Rri»i«h n«i • Proportion to their means, be left unnoticed Bnt .1, ^ ^ P"*'^"' """< .han ministe^tol^ e,,l,t™r.r'°"" "'' '" ™°'^ tests of the mo.her.o„„t; fi: 1*! 7""°-- '"e con- Spaniards. The merit of .heTeoBe of Z ^ '^ indeed, not to be forgotten M»! .i, ^^ ""Sht, H influence us to attem^tTdo ^[JL"'"""''"''" "' m ):