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sessions of the high contracting parties upon the coast of the continent, and the islands of America, to the north west, shall be drawn in the manner following.

Commencing from the southernmost point of the island, called Prince of Wales Island, (which lies in the parallel of 54 degrees, 40 minutes, north latitude, and between the 131st and the 133rd degree of west longitude, meridian of Greenwich,) the said line shall ascend to the north along the channel called Portland Canal, as far as the point of the continent where it strikes the 58th degree of north latitude. From this last-mentioned point the line of demarcation shall follow the summit of the mountains situated parallel to the coast, as far as the point of intersection of 141st degree of west longitude, (of the same meridian,) and finally, from the same point of intersection, the said meridian line of the 141st degree, in its prolongation as far as the Frozen Ocean, shall form the limit between the Russian and British possessions on the continent of America to the north-west.

ART. IV. With reference to the line of demarcation laid down in the preceding article it is understood:

1st. That the island called Prince of Wales Island shall belong wholly to Russia.

2nd. That whenever the summit of the mountains which extend in a direction parallel to the coast, from the 56th degree of north latitude to the point of intersection of the 141st degree of west longitude, shall prove to be at the distance of more than ten marine leagues from the ocean, the limit between the British possessions and the line of coast which is to belong to Russia, as above mentioned, shall be

formed by a line parallel to the windings of the coast, and which shall never exceed the distance of ten marine leagues therefrom.

ART. V.—It is moreover agreed that no establishment shall be formed by either of the two parties within the limits assigned by the two preceding articles to the possessions of the other; consequently British subjects shall not form any establishment either upon the coast or upon the border of the continent comprised within the limits of the Russian possessions, or designated in the two preceding articles; and in like manner no establishment shall be formed by Russian subjects beyond the said limits.

ART. VI.-It is understood that the subjects of his Britannic Majesty, from whatever quarter they may arrive, either from the ocean or from the interior of the continent, shall for ever enjoy the right of navigating freely and without any hindrance whatever, all the rivers and streams which, in their course to the Pacific Ocean, may cross the line of demarcation upon the line of coast described in article three of the present convention.

ART. VII. It is also understood that for the space of ten years from the signature of the present convention, the vessels of the two powers, or those belonging to their respective subjects, shall mutually be at liberty to frequent, without any hindrance whatever, all the inland seas, the gulphs, havens, and creeks on the coast, mentioned in article three, for the purposes of fishing and of trading with the natives.

ART. VIII. The post of Sitka or Novo Archangelsk, shall be open to the commerce and vessels of British subjects for the space of ten years from the date of the

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exchange of the ratifications of the present convention. In the event of an extension of the term of ten years being granted to any other power, the like extension shall be granted also to Great Britain.

ART. IX.-The above-mentioned liberty of commerce shall not apply to the trade in spirituous liquors, in firearms, or other arms, gunpowder, or other warlike stores; the high contracting parties reciprocally engaging not to permit the above-mentioned articles to be sold or delivered in any manner whatever to the natives of the country.

ART. X.-Every British or Russian vessel navigating the Pacific Ocean, which may be compelled, by storms or by accident, to take shelter in the ports of the respective parties, shall be at liberty to refit therein, to provide itself with all necessary stores, and to put to sea again without paying any other than port and lighthouse dues, which shall be the same as those paid by national vessels. In case, however, the master of such vessel should be under the necessity of disposing of a part of his merchandise, in order to defray his expenses, he shall conform himself to the regulations and tariffs of the place where he may have landed.

ART. XI.-In every case of complaint on account of an infraction of the articles of the present convention, the civil and military authorities of the high contracting parties, without previously acting or taking any forcible measures, shall make an exact and circumstantial report of the matter to their respective courts, who engage to settle the same in a friendly manner, according to the principles of justice.

ART. XII. The present convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at London, within the space of six weeks or sooner, if possible.

In witness whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms.

Done at St. Petersburgh the 28th day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.

(Signed) STRATFORD CANNING.

THE COUNT DE NESSELRode.
PIERRE DE POLITICA. (L.S.)

No. III.

MARQUESAS.

THIS group of islands, generally known to navigators of the present day as the "Marquesas," was discovered at two different periods.

In the year 1595, the expedition under the command of Alonza Mendaña de Neyva first discovered Santa Christina, or Tahuata; La Dominica, or Hioaoa; San Pedro, or Mohotani; Santa Madalena, or Fatuiva. These received the name of the Marquesas de Mendoza.

They were subsequently visited, and described by Cook,

and the Forsters, in 1774, when Hood's Island was added

to the group.

In 1791, an American captain (Ingraham) discovered the islands of Nuhuhiva (or Nuuhiva, abbrev.), Uahuga, or Washington Island, and Uapou, or Adam's Island. This second discovery of part of the same group received the name of the Washington Islands.

In June of the same year, Marchand, a Frenchman, also claimed the discovery of the latter portion, but the palm has been generally awarded to Ingraham.

Lieut. Hergest, in command of the Dædalus, part of the expedition under Captain Vancouver, visited them in 1792, and fancying them undiscovered, named them as follows-Nuhuhiva, Sir Henry Martin's Island; Uahuga, Riou's Island; and Uapou, Trevenon's Island. He also added Hergest's Rocks, and the northernmost, or Robert's Island, at that period uninhabited.

These names have been indiscriminately in use amongst subsequent navigators, but the whole group is generally recognised as the Mendaña Archipelago, or "The Marquesas."

There is every reason to believe that the whole group was known to the earlier Paumotu navigators; as Tupia, the native of Ulietea, who embarked with Cook, intending to visit England, furnished the data from memory, for many of the later discoveries, and in his north-east group, evidently intended for the Marquesas, distinctly afforded the names of ten, three of which agree with the subsequent discoveries. It is probable that upon a closer examination all could be traced, as Vaitahu is merely the name of one of the bays of Tahuata (Santa Christina.)

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