i793* of captain Billings. 



NEWS FROM CAPTAIN BILLINGS. 



COMMUKICATED BY ArCTICUS. 



^ COURIER lately arrived from our countryman 

 Billings, commander of the naval expedition fitted out 

 at Kamtchatka, for the purpose of discovery, says, 

 that the Japanese merchant and seaman, Code, who 

 will make the subject of another article, is arrived 

 at Ochotfk, to embark for his native country, accor- 

 ding to the orders of her imperial majesty, with the 

 son of the inspector Laxman, who was to see him. 

 safe home, and probably deliver some mefsage to the 

 emperor from the court of Rufsia. But by the ac- 

 count of the said mefsenger, both father and son 

 were at Ochotflc, so that if the able naturalist Mr 

 Laxman, (a portait of whom I send you,) formerly 

 profefsor of chemistry and mineralogy in the im- 

 perial academy, fhould take it in his head to accom- 

 pany his son in the voyage, we have great reason to 

 expect much more scientific information from that 

 island, that ever has reached Europe as yet. 



Laxman is eq^ually strong in bota-y, and in the 

 other branches of natural history, so that if his al- 

 most invincible aversion to publifhing can be got 

 over, we may see something interesting. The in- 

 spector's son is unknown to us, from the distance at 

 which he lives, although we make no doubt but he 

 is well qualified to make useful observations, from 

 the advantage of such an instructor as his father. 



VOL. xvr. B X 



