CHAPTER III. 



PLAN'S FOE BERIN"G'S FIRST EXPEDITION". — PETER THE 

 GEEAT^S DESIRE TO KNOW THE EXTENT OF HIS EMPIRE. 

 — THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE. 



nnHE equipment of Bering^s first expedition was one of 

 -■- Peter the Great's last administrative acts. From his 

 death-bed his energy set in motion those forces which in 

 the generation succeeding him were to conquer a new 

 world for human knowledge. It was not until his mighty 

 spirit was about to depart this world that the work was 

 begun, but the impetus given by him was destined to be 

 effective for half a century ; and the results achieved still 

 excite our admiration. 



Peter was incited to undertake this work by a desire 

 for booty, by a keen, somewhat barbaric curiosity, and by 

 a just desire to know the natural boundaries of his 

 dominion. He was no doubt less influenced by the flat- 

 tery of the French Academy and other institutions than 

 is generally supposed. His great enterprise suddenly 

 brought Russia into the front rank of those nations which 

 at that time were doing geographical exploration. Just 

 before his death three great enterprises were planned : 

 the establishment of a mart at the mouth of the river 

 Kur for the oriental trade, the building up of a mari- 

 time trade with India, and an expedition to search for 



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