undertaken ly Russia. 325 



wise would have been ; and on this aeeount the emperor 

 has engaged to defray the whole expense of this vessel; hut 

 he allowed the company to send out in her, without paying 

 freight, as large a quantity of goods as she could conveni- 

 ently take on board. 



The lading of both ships consists of iron, sail-cloth, an- 

 chors, cables, ropes for rigging, gunpowtler, cannon, mus- 

 kets, pistols, sabres, flour, wine, rum, French brandy and 

 other spirits, coffee, sugar, tea, and tobacco; all kinds of 

 tools and instruments proper for mechanics ; and various 

 articles fit for carrying on trade by barter with the natives 

 of these islands and of the coast of America. The com- 

 pany engaged two ship carpenters, together with lock- 

 smiths, common smiths, and carpenters, who will settle 

 in America, and be conveyed thither by these vessels. 



The following is the route of the voyage: Both- vessels 

 double Cape Horn, and proceed to the Sandwich Isles, 

 where they will separate : the Nadeshda will then direct her 

 course to Japan, to land the ambassadors, and go to winter 

 at Kotliak. The Neva will sail straight from the Sandwich 

 Isles to Kodiak, and at the proper season proceed to the 

 coast of America : she will winter also at Kodiak. In the 

 month of April the second year, both ships will steer for 

 the coast of America, in order to visit the different Rus- 

 sian establishments, and to take in the lading destined for 

 China. In the month of August they will direct their 

 course to Canton, and, having exchanged their American 

 for Chinese articles, will return the third year to Russia by 

 the way of the Cape of Good Hope. 



Both ships sailed from Cronstadt on the 26th of July, 

 1803. The presents carried out by the embassy, for the em- 

 peror of Japan, were selected from among the curiosities 

 preserved in the hermitage of the imperial winter palace; 

 and in the choice of them great attention was paid to the 

 taste of the Asiatics. Among them is a beautiful piece of 

 mechanism representing a peacock of the proper size, 

 which spreads out and folds together its magnificent fea- 

 thers with the most perfect imitation of nature; it is sur- 

 rounded bv a great many small birds, which all move in the 

 easiest manner, and emit the notes peculiar to each: this 

 beautiful automaton was purchased by Catharine II. for 

 15,000 rubles. 



The number of the Japanese wrecked on the coast cf 

 Russia amounted to sixteen*, but four of them afterwards 



* According to some accounts, they arrived at Irkutsk in the month of 

 September 1794- 



Vol. 19. No. 76. Sept, 1804. Z died: 



