32(5 First Russian Voyage round I fie World. 



died : of the remaining twelve four embraced Christianity ; 

 only three of them resolved to return to their own country, 

 and even one of these will accompany the embassy back to 

 Russia. They have made themselves pretty well acquainted 

 with the Russian language, and may be of great use as in- 

 terpreters*. 



But besides the commercial and political objects of this 

 expedition, it is destined to promote the cause of science. 

 The emperor, desirous that so favourable an opportunity of 

 enlarging human knowledge might not be lost, invited sci- 

 entific men to take a share in it. M. Tilesius of Leipsic, 

 and Dr. Horner of Hamburgh^ were accordingly engaged to 

 accompany the expedition, the former as naturalist, the latter 

 as astronomer. The two surgeons, Dr. Espenberg and Dr. 

 Labaud, are also men of talents, who will keep regular jour- 

 nals of every thing remarkable that occurs. The latter had 

 left Petersburg on a literary tour to Paris, and had reached 

 Riga, when he was overtaken by a courier, who brought 

 him a commission as surgeon on board one of the vessels f. 



The chief of the expedition, M. Von Krusenstem, is not 

 onlv an expert navigator, but a man of excellent character, 

 and inspired with great zeal for the success of the expedi- 

 tion, which he once proposed himself. He married not 

 long ago a respectable lady whom he was obliged to leave 

 behind him in Russia, because he had given up his cabin to 

 the embassy ; but the pain of this separation has been 

 much alleviated by the munificence of his imperial majesty. 

 This magnanimous prince, to render M. Von Krusenstem 

 easy in regard to his family, whatever may be his fate, has 



* The situation of the J ipanese who have remained in Russia was 

 determined in the following manner by an ukas of August iz, 1803 : 

 one of then who, at bapfism, assumed the name of Kolotygin, and who 

 had been before appointed teacher of the Jap-.nese language at the school 

 of Irkutsk, with a salary of 200 rubles, returns to his post, and besides 

 his s hry will receive a pension to the same amount during life. The 

 other eight : Andrew Kondratyef, Ivan and Semen Kisselef, who have 

 emhrjccd Christianity; and Min Sucha, Motsch Si Fey, Seen Sa Buro, 

 Schee Sa O, and Sa Day, who have adhered to the religion of their 

 country, are earh to receive a pension of fifty rubles for life, with ex- 

 emption from all taxes and services, and lbcrty to reside in any pTt of 

 the empire, and to follow whatever occupation they think proper. Those 

 who wish to return to Irkutsk are to receive money from government u> 

 defray their expenses. 



f Besides these men of science. Dr. Langsdorf of Gbttingen accom- 

 panies the expedirion. His zeal for the progress of natural history in- 

 duced him to repair to Copenhagen, and to offer his services without any 

 view to pecuniary remuneration ; but M. Von Kesanof and captain Kru- 

 'enstem immediately engaged to defray the expense of his maintenance 

 on board ship, which will amount to 800 rubles per annum. 



consigned 



