The Enquirer

VOLUME

FROM THE N. Y. COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.

The following account of the Russian Malachutes enterprise, along the west coast of North America, was drawn up by Jacob Crowninshield, esq. of Salem, for Dr. Mitchell. It is highly interesting and has a near connection with the persevering attempt, making by capts Lewis and Clark, to penetrate by land to the Pacific ocean.

" I fear it will not be in my power, dear sir, to give you very correct information, as to the points of your enquiry. You ask, whether I am in possession of any facts, relative to the settlement or migration of the Kamchatkadales, or subjects of Russia, by land or sea; along the north western coast of America.

I am in possession of no facts, except from the information of others, but I believe it is certain that the Russians, for 8 or 10 years past, have been on the coast, and that they are extending their settlements, if they may be called such, to the southward. They come from Kamchatka, and their progress is to the south where I have no doubt they will prove troublesome, either to the Spaniards, or to ourselves, if we should ever take possession of that part of the coast (and we can produce better titles to the country than any European nation whatever.) Altho' I am not now able to point out the places where they have made establishments, yet I have been informed, and I think correctly, that several Russian traders from Kamchatka have fixed themselves at Queen Charlotte's Islands, and in that neighbourhood, where they carry on an advantageous commerce with the Indians They remain over winter, and collect large quantities of sea otter, and other skins, which are delivered to Russian vessels, that regularly visit the coast from St. Petersburgh and other places on the eastern parts of Kamchatka. These vessels make frequent voyages. and supply their traders with such articles as will sell to advantage among the natives. I am not positive that I heard of the Russians making permanent settlements, I am sure that the Americans have frequently met their traders on different parts of the coast to the North of Nootka Sound. It is said they mix freely with the natives, learn their language, and endeavour to conciliate them by every means in their power; and I was once informed by a gentleman who had been on the coast, that they possessed a very considerable influence over the northern tribes; and it was his opinion, as it is mine, that the Russian government contemplates making encroachments to the southward, until they shall be stopped by the Spaniards. The American traders were assuredly on the coast before the Russians, except indeed, that a Russian vessel or two might have visited that part of the coast immediately opposite the eastern extremity of Asia, a few years before. It is almost 20 years since the Ship Columbia, capt. Kendrick, and the sloop Lady Washington, capt. Gray, were dispatched from Boston to the N W.coast of America: they made important discoveries, and took possession of a considerable tract of country, and capt. Kendrick actually received deeds of a large part from some of the principal chiefs. The river Columbia. if I am not mistaken, receives its name from the Boston ship I have mentioned. I saw the Columbia in Canton, on her return with a cargo of sea otter skins, which were advantageously disposed of in that market. The Lady Washington afterwards came to China and made frequent voyages back to the coast, but I believe never returned to the U. States. Capt. Kendrick having sent the Columbia home, under charge of capt. Gray, remained in the sloop, and finally lost his life on the coast, in saluting another vessel.

" I was acquainted with captain Metcalf, of New-York, who commanded the brig Eleanor--he was early on the coast, and told me he had taken possession in behalf of the United States. Captain Metcalf was either cut off by the natives or lost on the coast. on his second trip after he had visited the Isle of France Captain Roberts and others from Boston soon followed capt. Kendrick. Since these voyages were made (and they were the first undertaken from this country) the Americans have carried on a constant trade to the coast, where they collect otter skins and carry them to China, and for ten or fifteen years there may have been from five to ten vessels, principally from Massachusetts, engaged in this trade. I have only referred to their voyages, particularly to Capt. Kendrick's, with a view of shewing you that the Americans have as good, if not better claims to the country than the Russians can possibly have. I wish a collection could be made of all their voyages; the information to be derived from them would certainly be interesting, and perhaps important, in establishing our title to the country embraced within the limits of their discoveries. Captain Metcalf was a very correct navigator, and has made valuable charts and drawings of the coast and harbours which I had entered. but I presume they were lost with him. The first navigators are chiefly dead, and it is doubtful whether their journals were preserved. Captain Kendrick's is said to have fallen into the hands of a Mr. Howell, who, it is understood, died in Manilla where it is probable they were lost. Capt. Ingraham, who sailed under Kendrick in the Columbia, afterwards made a voyage to the north west coast, and thence to China, and on the passage discovered a small cluster of islands; and I have heard that his journal was presented to general Washington, and it is very probable it may be found among his papers. It is possible that captain Magee's may be preserved by his friends or relations who reside in Boston, and if a copy can at any future time be obtained, you may depend I will not fail to present it to you." I do not recollect a single vessel ever having performed a voyage from Salem to the western coast of America. Our merchants having generally been engaged in other enterprizes, particularly to the East Indies by the way of the Cape of Good Hope, few or none from our port, within my knowledge, have dispatched any vessel round Cape Horn, upon voyages for sea otter Skins, which are only procured in high northern latitudes, on the west side of this continent.

" The eastern extremity of Asia is so near the western part of North America, that the Russians have easy and frequent communication with it. I have not the least doubt but that they have views of taking possession of the whole coast, from the northern extremity of the continent (as far as the sea is navigable) to the Spanish settlements to the southward; & I am of opinion the late Russian voyage of discovery is connected with the general system of extending their settlement, in that quarter of our continent. The Russians, for the first time I think, are now passing Cape Horn, and their ships are destined to Kamchatka and the N. W. coast of America. We must wait the event, but if I am not very much deceived, you will find their attention principally directed to discoveries and settlements on our western shores. The extreme point of their southern discoveries I cannot ascertain. They collect the skins of the sea otter and other animals which they carry to Kamchatka, and by that route they reach Europe and China by land, but I have heard of no Russian vessel making a voyage from the coast direct to China; nor do I think that any Russians have as yet undertaken any commercial voyage from the eastern shores of Asia to China, except indeed they may have passed it.- to some of the ports on the northern and east coasts of that country, which are not frequented by our navigators. The European and American traders are only allowed to visit Canton. If the Russian government intends to make permanent settlements on the American coast and extend them southward, there can be little doubt that they may interfere with one claim to the western part of our Land, provided we do not secure a title to that territory as well as the great western ocean."