$94 First Voyage round the World 



Krusenstern, captain-lieutenant/ commander* 

 Radmonof, -x 



c . ^ c y lieutenants. 

 Solovaschef, C 



Lovenstern, J 



Bellingshausen, midshipman. 



Kamenschikof, pilot. 



Bistram, garde marine. 



Dr. Espenberg, surgeon. 



Those appointed to the Neva were : 



Lisianski, captain-lieutenant, commander. 



Arbusof, lieutenant. 



-nf r ^i n • ! midshipmen. 

 Druskorskoi, J l 



Kalinin, pilot. 



'Dr. Labaud, surgeon. 

 While the ships were getting ready, and other prepara- 

 tions making for the voyage, the government resolved to 

 embrace this opportunity of sending an ambassador extra- 

 ordinary to Japan. The trade with these rich islands seems 

 to promise the greatest advantages to the American com- 

 pany. The neighbourhood of Kamtschatka*, which produces 

 so many articles suited for the Japanese market, such as furs, 

 the teeth of the walrus, whale's blubber, salt fish, &c. must 

 be. very favourable to this branch of the Russian commerce. 

 The attempts made from time to time by individual navi- 

 gators, to open a commercial intercourse with the Japa- 

 nese are well known, and also the mission of lieutenant Lax- 

 man, who was dispatched by government, in the year 1792, 

 for the purpose of carrving home some Japanese who had 

 been wrecked on the Russian coast. The favourable an- 

 swer given to the request of the Russian government, for 

 leave to send a ship every year to Nangasaki^ certainly af- 

 fords reason to hope, that a solemn embassy attended with 

 the necessary pomp and splendour, and accompanied with 

 valuable presents, will make a still greater impression. The 

 counsellor of state, Rcsanof, whom the emperor had nomi- 

 nated one of the lords of the bed-chamber, was appointed to 

 this important and honourable mission. To receive a favour- 

 able reception to his propositions, he has not only carried 

 With him a great many valuable presents, but also. some Ja- 

 panese who were wrecked in the year 1 793 on the coast of 

 the Aiulreanofskoi Islands, and who since 1797 resided at 

 Iakutzk. As the ambassador took his passage on board 

 the Nadeshda, the return of the vessels, in consequcntc of 

 the embjssy, may be delayed a year longer than it other- 

 wise 



