permitted me to make ufe qf in this collection. This
voyage, which redounds greatly to the honour of the
fovereign who planned it, confirms in general the authenticity
of the treatife above-mentioned ; and afcertains
the reality of the difcaveries made by the private merchants.
As a farther illuftration of this fubjeft, I collected the
beft charts which could be procured at Peterfburg,
and of which a lift will be given in the following ad-
vertifement. From.all thefe circumftances, I may venture,
perhaps, to hope that the curious and inquifjtive
reader will not only find in the following pages the
molt authentic and circumftantial account of the pro-
grefs and extent of the Ruffian difcoyeri.es, which has
hitherto appeared in any language; but be enabled hereafter
to compare them with thofe more lately made by
that great and much to be -regretted navigator, Captain
-Cooke, when his journal ffiall he communicated to the
public.
As all the furs Which are brought from the New
Difcovered Iflands are fold to the Chinefe, 1 was naturally
led to make enquiries concerning the commerce
between Ruffia and China ^ and finding this branch of
•traffic much more important than is commonly imagined,
,1 thought - that a general fketch of its prefent ftate,
,3 together
together with a fuccinft view of the tranfafiions between
the two nations, would not be unacceptable.
The conqueft of Siberia, as it firft opened a communication
with China, and paved the way to all the in-
terefting difcoveries related in the prefent attempt, will
not appear unconnected, 1 truft, with its principal
defign.
The materials o f this fécond part, as alfo of the preliminary
obfervations concerning Kamtchatka, and the
commerce to the new-difcovered iflands, are drawn from
books of eftablifhed and undoubted reputation. Mr. Muller
and Mr. Pallas, from whofe interefling works thefe
hiftorical and commercial fubjefts are chiefly compiled,
are too well known in the literary world to require any
other vouchers for their judgement, exadtnefs, and fidelity,
than the bare mentioning of their names. I have
only farther to apprize the reader, that, befides the intelligence
extracted from there publications, he will find
fame additional circumftances relative to the Ruffian commerce
with China, which I collected during my continuance
in Ruffia.
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