310 JOHN LEDYARD. 



The fireworks were very few, but good. This little 

 rustic entertainment of the queen's was, with great 

 propriety, attended with very little parade about her 

 person. It was a mere rural revel; and never before 

 did I see majesty and tag-rag so philosophically 

 blended, a few country fiddlers scraping, and Kate 

 of the mill tripping it with Dick of the vineyard. 



" Thus you see how some few of my days pass 

 away. I see a great deal, and think a great deal, 

 but derive little pleasure from either, because I am 

 forced into both, and am alone in both." 



The amazing perseverance which characterized 

 Ledyard's character is illustrated by the pertinacity 

 with which he still adhered to his project in refer- 

 ence to the American fur-trade. Being prevented 

 by many disappointments from reaching the North- 

 west coast by sea, he determined to travel thither by 

 land. His route would lie through the boundless 

 and frozen plains of Siberia, where very great perils 

 would surround him. He was almost without means 

 or any of the necessary facilities for such a journey. 

 Yet he did not despair. He succeeded, after con- 

 siderable trouble and delay, in obtaining the per- 

 mission of the Empress Catherine H. to travel 

 through her dominions. He proceeded to Hamburg, 

 thence to Copenhagen, and arrived at St. Peters- 

 burg after traversing Sweden, Lapland, and Finland 



