34 AT ANCHOR. 



the climate is much milder than in European 

 countries similarly situated ; as again the north- 

 east coast of Asia is much colder than countries 

 of an equal latitude in Europe. 



On the morning of the 24th, after passing a 

 stormy night on this dangerous coast, we hap- 

 pily succeeded in reaching the harbour, and 

 anchoring before the fortress, just before an- 

 other and most violent tempest set in. 



We were received with great rejoicing ; and 

 on the following day placed the frigate in such 

 a position, and at such a distance from the for- 

 tress, as was most convenient to accomplish the 

 purpose of our mission. To explain this, we 

 must take a short review of the Russian settle- 

 ment here, and of the affairs of the original 

 inhabitants. 



From the highest antiquity to the present 

 day, examples are not wanting of men trusting 

 themselves in small and frail vessels to the 

 perils of the ocean, and performing astonishing 

 voyages, without any of those aids which the 

 improvements in science and mechanical art 

 place within our reach. The children of the 

 Sun in Peru, and the founders of the regular 



