AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



npHROUGH the patronage of the Hielmstierne-Rosencrone Insti- 

 -'- tution, obtained in the summer of 1883, I was enabled to spend 

 some time among the archives and libraries in St. f*etersburg, to 

 prepare myself for undertaking this work on Vitus Bering. I very 

 soon, however, encountered obstacles which unassisted I should not 

 have been able to surmount; for, contrary to my expectations, all 

 the original manuscripts and archives pertaining to the history of 

 Bering were written in Russian, and the latter in such difficult 

 language that none but native palaeographers could read them. 



I should for this reason have been compelled to return without 

 having accomplished anything, had I not in two gentlemen. 

 Admiral Th. Wessalgo and Mr. August Thornam of the telegraph 

 department, found all the assistance that 1 needed. The Admiral 

 is director of the department of hydrography, and has charge of 

 the magnificent archives of the Admiralty. He is very familiar 

 with the history of the Russian fleet, and he gave me, not only 

 excellent and exhaustive bibliographical information, besides put- 

 ting at my disposal the library of the department, but also had 

 made for me copies of various things that were not easily accessible. 

 He has, moreover, since my return been unwearied in furnishing me 

 such information from the Russian archives as I have desired. For 

 all of this kindness, enhanced by the Admiral's flattering remarks 

 about Denmark and the Danes, I find it a pleasant duty to express 

 my warmest thanks. To Mr. Thornam I am no less indebted. 

 Notwithstanding his laborious duties in the central telegraph office 

 of St. Petersburg, he found it possible week after week, often 

 eight or ten hours out of the twenty-four, to assist me in translating 

 the vast materials. 



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