Chapter I: Preface

The late Russian Discoveries between Asia and America have, for some time, engaged the attention of the curious; more especially since Dr. Robertson's admirable History of America has been in the hands of the public. In that valuable performance the elegant and ingenious author has communicated to the world, with an accuracy and judgement which so eminently distinguish all his writings, the most exact information at that time to be obtained, concerning those important discoveries. During my stay at Petersburg, my inquiries were particularly directed to this interesting subject, in order to learn if any new light had been thrown on an article of knowledge of such consequence to the history of mankind. For this purpose I endeavoured to collect the respective journals of the several voyages subsequent to the expedition of Beering and Tschirikoff in 1741, with which the celebrated Muller concludes his account of the first Russian navigations.

During the course of my researches I was informed, that a treatise in the German language, published at Hamburg and Leipsic in 1776, contained a full and exact narrative of the Russian voyages, from 1745 to 1770[1].

[Footnote 1: The title of the book is, Neue Nachrichten von
denen Neuendeckten Insuln in der See zwischen Asia und
Amerika aus mitgetheilten Urkunden und Auszuegen versasset
von J. L. S.]

As the author has not prefixed his name, I should have paid little attention to an anonymous publication, if I had not been assured, from very good authority, that the work in question was compiled from the original journals. Not resting however upon this intelligence, I took the liberty of applying to Mr. Muller himself, who, by order of the Empress, had arranged the same journals, from which the anonymous author is said to have drawn his materials. Previous to my application, Mr. Muller had compared the treatise with the original papers; and he favoured me with the following strong testimony to its exactness and authenticity: "Vous ferès bien de traduire pour l'usage de vos compatriotes le petit livre sur les isles situées entre le Kamtchatka et l'Amerique. II n'y a point de doute, que l'auteur n'ait eté pourvu de bons memoires, et qu'il ne s'en foit fervi fidelement. J'ai confronté le livre avec les originaux." Supported therefore by this very respectable authority, I considered this treatise as a performance of the highest credit, and well worthy of being more generally known and perused. I have accordingly, in the first part of the present publication, submitted a translation of it to the reader's candour; and added occasional notes to such passages as seemed to require an explanation. The original is divided into sections without any references. But as it seemed to be more convenient to divide it into chapters; and to accompany each chapter with a summary of the contents, and marginal references; I have moulded it into that form, without making however any alteration in the order of the journals.

The additional intelligence which I procured at Petersburg, is thrown into an appendix: It consists of some new information, and of three journals[2], never before given to the public. Amongst these I must particularly mention that of Krenitzin and Levasheff, together with the chart of their voyage, which was communicated to Dr. Robertson, by order of the Empress of Russia; and which that justly admired historian has, in the politest and most obliging manner, permitted me to make use of in this collection. This voyage, which redounds greatly to the honour of the sovereign who planned it, confirms in general the authenticity of the treatise above-mentioned; and ascertains the reality of the discoveries made by the private merchants.

[Footnote 2: The journals of Krenitzin and Levasheff, the
short account of Synd's voyage, and the narrative of
Shalauroff's expedition, N^o I. IX. XI.]

As a farther illustration of this subject, I collected the best charts which could be procured at Petersburg, and of which a list will be given in the following advertisement. From all these circumstances, I may venture, perhaps, to hope that the curious and inquisitive reader will not only find in the following pages the most authentic and circumstantial account of the progress and extent of the Russian discoveries, which has hitherto appeared in any language; but be enabled hereafter to compare them with those more lately made by that great and much to be regretted navigator, Captain Cooke, when his journal shall be communicated to the public.

As all the furs which are brought from the New Discovered Islands are sold to the Chinese, I was naturally led to make enquiries concerning the commerce between Russia and China; and finding this branch of traffic much more important than is commonly imagined, I thought that a general sketch of its present state, together with a succinct view of the transactions between the two nations, would not be unacceptable.

The conquest of Siberia, as it first opened a communication with China, and paved the way to all the interesting discoveries related in the present attempt, will not appear unconnected, I trust, with its principal design.

The materials of this second part, as also of the preliminary observations concerning Kamtchatka, and the commerce to the new-discovered islands, are drawn from books of established and undoubted reputation. Mr. Muller and Mr. Pallas, from whose interesting works these historical and commercial subjects are chiefly compiled, are too well known in the literary world to require any other vouchers for their judgement, exactness, and fidelity, than the bare mentioning of their names. I have only farther to apprize the reader, that, besides the intelligence extracted from these publications, he will find some additional circumstances relative to the Russian commerce with China, which I collected during my continuance in Russia.

* * * * *

I cannot close this address to the reader without embracing with peculiar satisfaction the just occasion, which the ensuing treatises upon the Russian discoveries and commerce afford me, of joining with every friend of science in the warmest admiration of that enlarged and liberal spirit, which so strikingly marks the character of the present Empress of Russia. Since her accession to the throne, the investigation and discovery of useful knowledge has been the constant object of her generous encouragement. The authentic records of the Russian History have, by her express orders, been properly arranged; and permission is readily granted of inspecting them. The most distant parts of her vast dominions have, at her expence, been explored and described by persons of great abilities and extensive learning; by which means new and important lights have been thrown upon the geography and natural history of those remote regions. In a word, this truly great princess has contributed more, in the compass of only a few years, towards civilizing and informing the minds of her subjects, than had been effected by all the sovereigns her predecessors since the glorious æra of Peter the Great.

CATALOGUE OF BOOKS QUOTED IN THIS WORK

In order to prevent the frequent mention of the full title of the books referred to in the course of this performance, the following catalogue is subjoined, with the abbreviations.

Müller's Samlung Russischer Geschichte, IX volumes, 8vo.
printed at St. Petersburg in 1732, and the following years;
it is referred to in the following manner: S. R. G. with the
volume and page annexed.

From this excellent collection I have made use of the
following treatises:

vol. II. p. 293, &c. Geschichte der Gegenden an dem Flusse
Amur.

There is a French translation of this treatise, called
Histoire du Fleuve Amur, 12mo, Amsterdam, 1766.

vol. III. p. 1, &c. Nachrichten von See Reisen, &c.

There is an English and a French translation of this work;
the former is called "Voyages from Asia to America for
completing the Discoveries of the North West Coast of
America," &c. 4to, London, 1764. The title of the latter is
Voyages et Decouvertes faites par les Russes, &c. 12mo,
Amsterdam, 1766. p. 413. Nachrichten Von der Hanlung in
Sibirien.

Vol. VI. p. 109, Sibirische Geshichte.

Vol. VIII. p. 504, Nachricht Von der Russischen Handlung
nach China.

Pallas Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen
Reichs, in Three Parts, 4to, St. Petersburg, 1771, 1773, and
1776, thus cited, Pallas Reise.

Georgi Bemerkungen einer Reise im Russischen Reich in Jahre,
1772, III volumes, 4to, St. Petersburg, 1775, cited Georgi
Reise.

Fischer Sibirische Geschichte, 2 volumes, 8vo, St.
Petersburg, cited Fis. Sib. Ges.

Gmelin Reise durch Sibirien, Tome IV. 8vo. Gottingen, 1752,
cited Gmelin Reise.

There is a French translation of this work, called Voyage en
Siberie, &c. par M. Gmelin. Paris, 1767.

Neueste Nachrichten von Kamtchatka aufgesetst im Junius des
1773^{ten} Yahren von dem dasigen Befehls-haber Herrn
Kapitain Smalew.

Aus dem abhandlungen der freyen Russischen Gesellschaft
Moskau.

In the journal of St. Petersburg, April, 1776.--cited
Journal of St. Pet.

Explanation of some Russian words made use of in the following work.

_Baidar_, a small boat.
_Guba_, a bay.
_Kamen_, a rock.
_Kotche_, a vessel.
_Krepost_, a regular fortress.
_Noss_, a cape.
_Ostrog_, a fortress surrounded with palisadoes.
_Ostroff_, an island.
_Ostrova_, islands.
_Quass_, a sort of fermented liquor.
_Reka_, a river.

The Russians, in their proper names of persons, make use of patronymics; these patronymics are formed in some cases by adding _Vitch_ to the christian name of the father; in others _Off_ or _Eff_: the former termination is applied only to persons of condition; the latter to those of an inferior rank. As, for instance,

Among persons of condition _Ivan Ivanovitch_, }Ivan the son
of inferior rank, _Ivan Ivanoff_ } of Ivan.
_Michael Alexievitch_, } Michael the
_Michael Alexeeff_, }son of Alexèy.
Sometimes a surname is added, _Ivan Ivanovitch Romanoff_.

Table of Russian Weights, Measures of Length, and Value of Money.

WEIGHT.

A pood weighs 40 Russian pounds = 36 English.

MEASURES OF LENGTH.

16 vershocks = an arsheen.

An arsheen = 28 inches.

Three arsheens, or seven feet = a fathom[3], or sazshen.

[Footnote 3: The fathom for measuring the depth of water is
the same as the English fathom = 6 feet.]

500 sazshens = a verst.

A degree of longitude comprises 104-1/2 versts = 69-1/2 English miles. A mile is therefore 1,515 parts of a verst; two miles may then be estimated equal to three versts, omitting a small fraction.

VALUE OF RUSSIAN MONEY.

A rouble = 100 copecs.

Its value varies according to the exchange from 3s. 8d. to 4s. 2d. Upon an average, however, the value of a rouble is reckoned at four shillings.

ERRATA.

P. 23, _Reference_, _for_ Appendix I. N^o I. _read_ N^o II.
24, _for_ Appendix I. N^o II. _read_ N^o III.
30, _for_ Rogii _read_ Kogii.
46, _for_ Riksa _read_ Kiska.
96, _for_ Korovin _read_ Korelin.
186, Note--_for_ Tobob _read_ Tobol.
154, Note--Line 2, _after_ handpauken _omitted_ von verschiedenen
Klang.
119, _for_ Saktunk _read_ Saktunak.
134, Line 6, _for_ were _read_ was.
188, l. 16. _for_ pretection _read_ protection.
190, l. 5. _for_ nor _read_ not.
195, _for_ Sungur _read_ Sirgut.
225, l. 13. _read_ other has an.
226, _for_ harlbadeers _read_ halberdiers.
234, Note--line 3, _dele_ See hereafter, p. 242.
246, _for_ Marym _read_ Narym.
256, Note--_for_ called by Linnæus Lutra Marina _read_ Lutra
Marina, called by Linnæus Mustela Lutris, &c.
257, Line 5, _for_ made of the bone, &c. _read_ made of bone, or
the stalk, &c.
278, Note 2--line 2, _for_ Corbus _read_ Corvus.
324, Note--line 4, _dele_ was.
313, Note--line 3, _dele_ that.
Ibid. Note--line 10, "I should not" &c. _is a separate note, and
relates to the extract in the text beginning_ "In 1648," &c.

Omitted in the ERRATA.

P. 242. l. 9. _r._ 18, 215.
l. 11. _r._ 1, 383, 621. 35.

ADVERTISEMENT.

As no astronomical observations have been taken in the voyages related in this collection, the longitude and latitude ascribed to the new-discovered islands in the journals and upon the charts cannot be absolutely depended upon. Indeed the reader will perceive, that the position[4] of the Fox Islands upon the general map of Russia is materially different from that assigned to them upon the chart of Krenitzin and Levasheff. Without endeavouring to clear up any difficulties which may arise from this uncertainty, I thought it would be most satisfactory to have the best charts engraved: the reader will then be able to compare them with each other, and with the several journals. Which representation of the new-discovered islands deserves the preferance, will probably be ascertained upon the return of captain Clerke from his present expedition.

[Footnote 4: See p. 286.]

List of the CHARTS, and Directions for placing them.

CHART I. A reduced copy of the general map of Russia,
published by the Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg,
1776. to face the title-page.

II. Chart of the voyage made by Krenitzin and Levasheff
to the Fox Islands, communicated by Dr. Robertson, to face p. 251.

III. Chart of Synd's Voyage towards Tschukotskoi-Noss, p. 300.

IV. Chart of Shalauroff's Voyage to Shelatskoi-Noss,
with a small chart of the Bear-Islands, p. 323.

View of Maimatschin, p. 211.
Communicated by a gentleman who has been upon the spot.

CONTENTS.

Dedication, p. iii.

Preface, p. v.

Catalogue of books quoted in this work, p. xi.

Explanation of some Russian words made use of, p. xiii.

Table of Russian Weights, Measures of Length, and Value
of Money, p. xiv.

Advertisement, p. xv.

List of Charts, and Directions for placing them, p. xvi.