1*^53 • nf captain Billing t, ll 



All we know of his expedition is,, that he has sur- 

 veyed the islands of the Rufsian Archipelago, with the 

 coasts of America and Rufsia to a certain distance, 

 where his instructions directed him. He has sent a 

 number of drefses from the islands, with a variety 

 of birds and quadrupeds ; but the cases contain on- 

 ly some new species and varieties, no new genera- 

 Indeed it is much to be doubted if any new genus 

 of animal exists in the habitable parts of the globe. 



In this last voyage, after having looked for Sind's 

 Islands, (I presume in the spot laid down by that 

 navigator,) which he found no traces of, he stood 

 away for the continent of America; from whence we 

 hear of nothing remarkable, but his finding a race of 

 people opposite to the Tchutfki coast, very nearly 

 in the state of nature, who spoke the language of the 

 Tchutiki, and applied to him for protection against 

 that savage people, who make yearly descents in. 

 America, plunder every thing they meet with, and 

 carry back with them a number of captives as 

 slaves. It appears that the Tchutlki set out in z. 

 number of boats, rest themselves, and collect their 

 force at two islands half way over, and from thence 

 stand over in the night, and fall unexpectedly on 

 these poor harmlefs people on the coast oi America, 

 by the natural rights of man, as they told the in- 

 terpreter of Billings, his courier now here : at least 

 their answer was exactly to that purpose ; for they 

 insisted, that they had a right to any thing that 

 their courage and f}rce could procure ; claims which 

 will soon not be confined to the Rufiian Tchutlki, or 

 I am much mistaken. 



