BERING'S REPORT 9 



disturb the plans of the undertaking. Catherine was determined 

 to carry out all the policies and ambitions of her husband. Al- 

 ready, on January 24, the vanguard of the party had left the 

 capital, but Bering and several others did not leave until Febru- 

 ary 5, the day the instructions were handed to him, as may be 

 read in the report of Bering which follows. 



Report of Fleet-Captain Bering on His Expedition to the Eastern 

 Coast of Siberia 11 



To the Most Enlightened, August, and Great Empress of All the 

 Russias [is submitted] a short account of the Siberian Expedition under- 

 taken by Her Imperial Majesty's humble servant, Fleet-Captain V. I. 

 Bering. 12 



On February 5, 1725, I received from Her Imperial Majesty the 

 Empress Catherine Alexeyevna, 13 of illustrious and immortal memory, 

 the instructions drawn up by the hand of His Imperial Majesty Peter 

 the Great, of deserving and eternal fame, a copy of which follows: 



1. Build in Kamchatka or in some other place in that region one or 

 two decked boats. 



(Footnote 10, continued.) 

 He also selected the officers for this work — Vitus Bering, Martin Spangenberg 

 (this was the usual way of writing it at this period], and Alexei Chirikov. 



"I was then almost constantly with the Emperor and saw with my own eyes 

 how eager His Majesty was to get the expedition under way, being, as it were, 

 conscious that his end was near. When all had been arranged he seemed pleased 

 and content. Calling the general-admiral [Count Apraksin] to him he said: 'Bad 

 health has obliged me to remain at home. Recently I have been thinking over a 

 matter which has been on my mind for many years, but other affairs have pre- 

 vented me from carrying it out. I have reference to the finding of a passage to 

 China and India through the Arctic Sea. On the map before me there is indicated 

 such a passage bearing the name of Anian. There must be some reason for that. 

 In my last travels I discussed the subject with learned men, and they were of the 

 opinion that such a passage could be found. Now that the country is in no 

 danger from enemies we should strive to win for her glory along the lines of the 

 arts and sciences. In seeking such a passage who knows but perhaps we may be 

 more successful than the Dutch and English, who have made many such attempts 

 along the American coast. I have written out these instructions and, on account 

 of my health, I entrust the execution of them, point by point, to you, Feodor 

 Matveyevich.' " 



11 Zapiski Voenno-Topogr. Depo, Vol. io, pp. 60-75, St. Petersburg, 1847. 

 The original report in manuscript is in the Archives of the General Staff, Section 

 X, No. 566. fA translation of the published version appeared (pp. 135-143) in 

 W. H. Dall: A Critical Review of Bering's First Expedition, 1725-30, Natl. Geogr. 

 Mag., Vol. 2, 1890, pp. 111-169. — Edit. Note.] 



12 Vitus Ivanovich Bering. Bering's father's name was Jonas. 



13 Catherine I, second wife of Peter, who succeeded him to the throne on February 

 8, 1725, and reigned until her death on May 6, 1727 



