INTRODUCTION. 29 



many similar voyages have been successfully ac- 

 complished, and though their object was chiefly 

 mercantile, yet none of them has been wholly un- 

 productive in a scientific point of view. A voyage 

 of discovery, however, on a grand scale, exclusively 

 dedicated to the extension of our knowledge of 

 natural history, pliysics, and geography, is still a 

 desideratum among us ; and what moment could 

 be more flivourable than the present ? At a time 

 when, thanks to the generous sentiments of Alex- 

 ander, Russia will enjoy the blessings of a durable 

 peace, how could our sailors be better employed 

 than in the prosecution of enterprizes, which must 

 be as honourable to the navy as advantageous to 

 the sciences? We have no want of excellent officers 

 to conduct such enterprizes; only two of my com- 

 panions on board the Nadeshda, besides the com- 

 mander of the Rurick, are now employed, though 

 they possess all the requisite qualifications to be at 

 the head of a voyage of discovery ; and when sucli 

 undertakings are spoken oi] who does not think on 

 the enterprizing officer, whose first voyage to the 

 South Sea, and the remarkable occurrences in it, 

 have become so interesting to all well-informed 

 persons in Europe, and whose return from a second 

 voyage to the same seas is now so ardently ex- 

 pected ? * It is well known that our sailors are the 

 best in the world when they liave an opportunity 



'* Captain Golownin returned from his voyage in Sept. 1819. 



