SIR: Tuesday next the Emperor of Russia and Prince Gortchacow set out for Paris, France. The Sultan, it is said, and most of the rulers of Europe, will be there about this time. The impression is that an attempt will be made there to settle the eastern question. How far success awaits the effort has yet to be seen. The Russian journals are outspoken advocates of the rights of the Greeks and the denouncers of the Turkish tyranny. I am still of the opinion that Russia does not desire war, but may be led into it at any moment. The Turkish civilization and religion are anachronisms in our day, and must perish sooner or later; the sooner the better. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, Hon, WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. C. M. CLAY. N. B.-There are now here near seventy representatives of the slavic races of Europe from all parts where they are found. The ostensible object of their visit is to meet the members of the Ethnogrophic Society of Moscow; but the mission is believed to be partly a political one. They are received everywhere at the public expense, and in the most cordial and hospitable manner. They are a fine set of men, and embracing clergy, scholars, and all classes of people. In the event of war in the east no doubt Napoleon's doctrine of the unity of the races or nationalities would be turned to terrible account against him and on the side of Russia. Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward. CLAY. No. 145.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, St. Petersburg, Russia, June 8, 1867. SIR: In Paris, on the 6th instant, as you will have learned before you 'receive this, the Emperor Alexander was fired at by a Polish assassin. The fact was immediately telegraphed here and circulated in handbills over the city. All Russia was moved as one family. At 1 o'clock on the 7th a Te Deum was held at the St. Isaac's church, in the presence of the diplomatic corps, the Grand Dukes Constantine and Nicolas and all the dignitaries now here, and immense crowds of the people. The Emperor is loved as a father, and the Russians are intensely national, and the French are not trusted; so you can imagine the excitement. I mention this fact as one of the events of passing history, hoping Providence will continue to protect our "great and good friend." Yours truly, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. C. M. CLAY. No. 253.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Clay. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 2, 1867. SIR: I have received and perused with much satisfaction your despatch of of the 24th of May list, in which you state that his imperial highness the Grand Duke Alexis contemplates visiting the United States during the present year. The question of the manner of his entertainment will receive early consideration, and the result will be imparted to you. I am, sir, your obedient servant, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 8th ultimo, relating to the proceedings adopted at St. Petersburg upon the reception of the intelligence of the attempt to assassinate his Majesty the Emperor of Russia, made at Paris. The government and people of the United States were profoundly shocked on learning of that wicked attempt, and heartily congratulate the government and people of Russia upon the providential preservation of their wise and wellbeloved sovereign. I should be glad if you would make these sentiments known to the imperial government. I am, sir, your obedient servant, CASSIUS M. CLAY, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 147.] Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, St. Petersburg, Russia, July 5, 1867. SIR: You were not, perhaps, aware, when you made the Russian treaty of cession, that the Russian American Fur Company kept soldiers and defended the territory of Russian America. So the words, "fortifications, barracks, &c., not private individual property," would convey nothing to us, although no doubt you intended to buy all of those. I write now to inform you that there has been an understanding between the Russian government and the Russian American Company, and it is expected that you will claim all military posts, &c., and this they will grant, I doubt not, if insisted on. The other franchises of the Russian American Company had expired by time in this year, and were not renewed. As a matter of fact, I believe the Russian American Company kept soldiers at every place of occupation, saw-mills, ice- works, &c., but these could hardly be construed to be "fortifications or barracks," in equity. My object is simply to give you some idea of the facts, which may be of use to you in settling with the commissioner of the Russian government, who will deliver over the property to us. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. C. M. CLAY. Mr. Fox to Mr. Seward. PORTSMOUTH, N. H., July 23, 1867. SIR: In a letter which I had the honor to write on the 25th of February last, I reported to you that a large number of books had been presented to me in Russia, upon the occasion of my visit to that country as bearer of the resolution of Congress. Through the kindness of Professor Henry a correct catalogue of these books has been prepared, which is here with transmitted. Those which were presented to me by the Emperor of Russia, I have retained under authority given to me by joint resolution of Congress. The remainder I present through the State Department to the library of the Smithsonian Institution, which now forms a part of the national library of our country. With great respect, your obedient servant, St. Petersburg, Russia, July 26, 1867. SIR: I have the honor to enclose you the note of Prince Gortchacow, marked A, in response to my note of congratulation upon the escape of the Emperor from assassination at Paris. The undersigned, chancellor of the empire, hastened to place before his Majesty the Emperor the note dated the 9th-21st of July, by which General Clay, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America of the North, was charged to make known to him the sentiments of the government and the nation of America upon the occasion of the attempt of the 6th of June last upon his Imperial Majesty's life, and the providential favor of which he was so widely the subject. The undersigned fulfils the express order of his august master in praying General Clay to be kind enough to transmit to his government, in the name of his Majesty the Emperor, the thanks of his Imperial Majesty for this evidence of cordial and (“chaleureuse") warm sympathy. He seizes at the same time the occasion to renew to General Clay the assurance of his very distinguished consideration. JULY 12, 1867. GORTCHACOW. No. 152.] Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, St. Petersburg, Russia, August 28, 1867. SIR: Admiral Farragut, with four ships, has been here now three weeks, and sails Friday for Stockholm. He has been received everywhere, from the grand admiral, the Grand Duke Constantine down to the lowest peasant, with respect and true cordiality. Last night a grand ball was given him and the American officers, at the house of the governor of Cronstadt, Vice-Admiral Lessoffky, at which the minister of marine, Admiral Croblié, and all the distinguished officers of the Russian fleet were present. The impression produced here by the American fleet and its gentlemanly officers has been most favorable. * * * I am, sir, your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. C. M. CLAY. Mr. Seward to Mr. Fox. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 20, 1867. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23d of July last, transmitting a catalogue of books presented to you by the Emperor of Russia upon the occasion of your visit to that country as the bearer of the resolution of Congress. I have also to acknowledge the receipt of a large number of those valuable works which have been donated by you to the library of the Smithsonian Institution, which now forms a part of the Library of Congress, namely: 179 volumes finely bound, many in quarto, others in octavo major; 16 atlases and albums, illustrating accompanying books, texts, or descriptions, some eagle, other elephant size, all bound in cloth, morocco, &c.; 72 maps, some bound in covers or cases, four city plans in cases and on cloth; and 12 pamphlets, making in all 282 pieces, all of which have been placed in the library of the Smithsonian Institution, in accordance with your intentions. In accepting on behalf of the government and people of the United States so important and instructive an acquisition to the national library, I may safely assure you that they will be gratefully appreciated and carefully preserved. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, G. V. Fox, Esq., Washington. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward. No. 163.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I herein transmit to you a memorandum descriptive of the Russian imperial system of Russian America, (portage,) division of property, &c., marked AA. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, C. M. CLAY. Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. MARKED TRANSLATION OF THE RUSSIAN MEMORANDUM MARKED AA. BY S. N. BUYNITZKY. Explanatory memorandum in answer to the communication of the ministry of foreign affairs, department of interior relations, dated August 31, 1867, No. 5,790 pursuant to the communication addressed by Hon. W. H. Seward, Secretary of State, August 6, 1867, to St. Petersburg, to the American envoy near the imperial court. To the question concerning the system of division and measurement of landed property which was adopted by the imperial government in the late Russian American possessions: The question, as stated by the government of the United States of America has to be solved in two relations: first, in relation to the natives who occupied of yore the lands which composed the Russian American colonies: and, second, in relation to the colonists who had settled in that country after it had been included into the limits of Russian empire. Adverting first to the natives or aborigines, we may divide them into two groups: the islanders and the inhabitants of the American continent. The islanders, on their part, must be again subdivided in two sections: the dependent and peaceful inhabitants of the Aleutian islands, and the independent inhabitants of the islands of the far north-that is, the islands Ookeevock, St Lawrence, and Noonivock. Upon these three last islands there never existed any Russian settlement; the intercourse of Russians with those tribes was wholly confined to the limits of retail trade, for which purpose vessels of the Russian American Company were but occasionally sent thither. and, therefore, neither the imperial government nor the company ever had any influence upon the mode of division of lands between said natives, who, to the present time, use such lands in perfect freedom, without any foreign interference or restrictions. Exactly in the same way, (owing to the character of the object which was Constantly pursued by the agents of the company,) neither the government nor the company had any interest to interfere with the distribution of lands between the inhabitants of the Aleutian islands. All these islands, the boundaries of which are fixed by nature itself, are he'd and used by the Aleutes by right of prescription, and never interrupted by any foreign violation or interference. The division of lands between the Aleutian settlements was established at a time anterior to the Russian occupation, and continues to be inviolably preserved according to usages prevalent of all antiquity amongst the natives. Neither the imperial government, by authority conferred to the kussian American Company, nor the agents of the company, by the strength of imperial grants, ever interfered with the internal division of lands between the indigenous Aleutes, and if the local administration occasionally undertook the examination of their mutual claims, it exceptionally happened in cases of misunderstanding and contests between the natives themselves, and never otherwise than upon application of the interested parties and persons, when the local Toyunns, or elders of villages, had failed to satisfy the respective claims of parties by their own authority. To the preservation of such order in the colonies particularly contributed the peaceful and submissive character of the inhabitants of Aleutian islands, and, therefore, the immutability, or, as it were, the stagnation in that respect, must not be attributed to the indifference of local administration to the interests of that country; on the contrary, the position, itself of the Aleutian islands gave birth to such immobility in the mode of turning to account the territory of these islands. Competition alone, either between the natives or on the part of foreign settlers from abroad, might have modified the existing system of land-keeping, but none of the two cases did happen, and in fact, could not have taken place. The native population of each separate island is so very insignificant, that the inhabitants of any one could not meet with the slightest cause of collision of interests in the use of lands; in addition to this, the soil itself being perfectly barreu, and unfit either for agricultural or grazing purposes, there was no reason why the natives should endeavor to extend the limits of their lands; if they value their grounds, it is exclusively on account of streams abounding in fish, or of coast sites, designated by the local name of Liyda (Layda.) for the Aleutes being neither agriculturists nor cattle breeders, live exclusively upon fish and shell fishes thrown ashore by the tide, so that the welfare of the native is measured by the abundance of sea fruits supplied by the tide, and the prosperity of Aleutian settlements is calculated by the riches of the "Liyda," exactly in the same way as the prosperity of continental settlements is chiefly calculated by the productiveness of the ground. Out of this short outline of the condition of the islanders it is not difficult to realize the reason why, for the time of Russian dominion over that country, we do not meet with any government regulations which would be calculated to establish amongst the natives any certain system of acquisition or occupation of land. There was even less ground for the enactment of any particular regulations in view of immigrant settlers. Who can ever have a mind to settle in that country, where permanent fogs and dampness of atmosphere and want of solar heat and light, leaving out of the question anything like agriculture, make it impossible to provide even a sufficient supply of hay for cattle, and where man, from want of bread, salt, and meat, to escape scurvy must constantly live upon fish, berries, shell-fish, sea canbages, and other products of the sea, soaking them profusely with the grease of sea beasts? The Aleutian islands may attract transient traders, but no permanent settlers; to inhabit them |