CHAPTER HI. 



LEDYARD'S ADVENTURES IN FRANCE, RUSSIA, AND 



SIBERIA. 



AFTER Ledyard's return from his voyage with 

 Captain Cook, he remained two years in the British 

 navy, in some subordinate capacity which is now 

 unknown. In December, 1782, he returned to the 

 United States on hoard a British man-of-war. His 

 first desire was to visit his mother, who still resided 

 at Southold. The meeting between them was affect- 

 ing in the extreme ; for one of the greatest merits 

 of the disposition and character of Ledyard was 

 his affectionate regard for his mother. From 

 Southold he proceeded to Hartford, where he re- 

 mained four months, and wrote his published nar- 

 rative of the last voyage of Captain Cook. 



Ledyard now resumed his plans and speculations 

 in reference to his favorite project of a trading- 

 voyage to the Northwest coast. His observation 

 had led him to believe that an immense profit might 

 be made by the sale of furs which were to be pur- 

 chased from the natives. But to carry out his plane 



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