Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/76

 68 DOCUMENTS. ployment so well calculated to make good seamen, as the whale fisheries, which are known to be more profitable on this coast than any other; at the same time the oil is far preferable to that taken on any other coast, being clear and transparent as rock water. Whilst so many of our citizens are industriously engaged in the various branches of trade in those seas, more valuable to this country it is believed than any other; whilst all nations who have claims upon that coast, and some who have none, are anxious to occupy some position upon it, even at a vast expense, to enable them to participate in its benefits we have neglected to extend to it any portion of our care, though it appears, from the best information, that there is at this time eight millions of property owned by citizens of this republic in the Pacific Ocean. Russia, whose dominions on the Asiatic coast, occupy nearly the same position upon that side, which ours do on this, has long been well informed of the great and increasing value of that commerce ; and whilst she has been no where visible, not even to the powers of Europe, only as she has of late taken part in a few memorable enterprizes, she has been felt every- where. No labor, care or expense, is avoided, to make tribu- tary the four quarters of the globe ; forts, magazines, towns, cities, and trade, seem to arise on that coast as if by magic; with an army of a million of men, she sits not only in proud security as it regards Europe, and menaces the Turk, the Pers- ian, the Japanese, and Chinese, but even the King of Spain's dominions in North America is equally easy of access, and equally exposed to her fearful weight of power. Her watchful- ness is ever in advance in discerning the most practicable av- enues to profitable commerce. In the midst of all her busy ar- rangements she has not neglected the opportunity of possessing herself of two important stations on the American shore of the Pacific the one at a place called New- Archangel, in about 59 cleg, of north latitude, the other at Bodiga Bay, in latitude 38 deg. 34 min. At the former of these military positions, for the protection of her commerce it is presumed, she has incurred much expense, and built a fort of great strength, situated upon