BERING'S FIRST EXPEDITION. 11 



in an expedition of the united fleets to Bornholm under 

 the command of Sievers. In 1717 he was made captain 

 of the third, and in 1720 of the second rank, and took 

 part, until peace was concluded, in the various man- 

 ceuvers in the Baltic under the command of Gordon and 

 Apraxin.* 



After the peace of Nystad in 1721, however, his posi- 

 tion became somewhat unpleasant. Although he was a 

 brother-in-law of Vice-Admiral Saunders, he had, accord- 

 ing to Berch, powerful enemies in the Admiralty. The 

 numerous promotions made after the conclusion of peace, 

 in no way applied to him. In the following year younger 

 comrades were advanced beyond him, and hence in 1724 

 he demanded promotion to a captaincy of the first rank, 

 or his discharge. After protracted negotiations, and in 

 spite of the fact that Apraxin repeatedly refused to sign 

 his discharge, he finally obtained it, and then withdrew 

 to his home in Viborg, Finland, where he owned an 

 estate, and where, no doubt on account of the Scandi- 

 navian character of the city, he preferred to stay. Dur- 

 ing the negotiations for his discharge, the Czar was in 

 Olonetz, but some time afterwards he informed Apraxin 

 that Bering was again to enter the navy, and with the 

 desired promotion. This occurred in August, 1724, and 

 a few months later Bering was appointed chief of the 

 First Kamcliatkan Expedition, the object of which was 

 to determine whether Asia and America were connected 

 by land. 



* See Appendix, Note 1. 



