JOHN LEDYARD. 313 







you, nor any other minister, nor any potentate, 

 south of fifty degrees of latitude. I can only say 

 that you are in no danger of having the luxurious 

 repose of your charming climates disturbed by a 

 second incursion of either Goth, Vandal, Hun, or 

 Scythian. 



" I dined to-day with Professor Pallas. He is an 

 accomplished man, and my friend, and has travelled 

 throughout European and Asiatic Russia. I find 

 the little French I have of infinite service to me. I 

 could not do without it. It is a most extraordinary 

 language. I believe wolves, rocks, woods, and snow 

 understand it, for I have addressed them all in it, 

 and they have all been very complaisant to me. 

 "We had a Scythian at table, who belongs to the 

 Royal Society of Physicians here. The moment 

 he knew me and my designs, he became my friend ; 

 and it will be by his generous assistance, joined 

 with that of Professor Pallas, that I shall be able to 

 procure a royal passport, without which I cannot 

 stir. This must be done through an application 

 to the French minister, there being no American 

 minister here; and to his secretary I shall apply 

 with Dr. Pallas to-morrow, and shall take the liberty 

 to make use of your name and that of the Marquis 

 de la Fayette, as to my character. As all my letters 

 of recommendation were English, and as I have 



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