THE VARIOUS EXPEDITION'S. 189 



part of the North American coast, returned to Avacha 

 in such an impaired condition that, in 1742, he could 

 undertake no enterprise of importance.* On account of 

 the great misfortunes that overwhelmed the expedition, 

 Laptjef was prevented from completing the charting of 

 Kamchatka. Thus we see that on every side of Bering^s 

 grave lay unfinished tasks. These tasks were inherited 

 from the Dano-Eussian explorer by his great successor 

 Cook, and other younger navigators. Moreover, his 

 death occurred at an extremely fatal period; for in these 

 same dark December days while Bering was struggling 

 with death in the sandpits of Bering Island, Biron, 

 Miinnich, and Ostermann lost their supremacy in St. 

 Petersburg. The Old Russian party, the opponents of 

 Peter the Greats efforts at reform, came into power, 



slight projection of the coast between Capes Addington and Bartholomew of 

 Vancouver's map. Moreover, the lands in these regions received no names 

 from the St. Paul, whereas the St. Peter forged, along the islands of the 

 North Pacific, a chain of names, many of which are still the permanent pos- 

 session of geography. When it is furthermore remembered that Chirikoff 

 was one of Bering's assistants, that the fitting out of the expedition was 

 under the charge of Bering, and that upon him rested all responsibility to the 

 government, it is certainly impossible for any fair-minded person to accept 

 the statement that Chirikoff "must ever be regarded as the hero of this 

 expedition." Bancroft does not, however, approve of Sokoloflf's vainglo- 

 rious expressions concerning " the achievements of Chirikoff, a true Kus- 

 sian, as against Bering the Dane." Principally in the one fact of a few 

 hours' priority of discovery, Solokoff finds proof of "the superiority of the 

 Russians in scientific navigation!" Bancroft occasionally reminds the 

 reader that "Russian historians are perhaps a little inclined to magnify the 

 faults of Bering the Dane," and in this instance administers to Sokoloff the 

 following reproof: "So the learner is often apt to grow bold and impudent 

 and despise the teacher. The great Peter was not above learning navigation 

 from Bering the Dane." In speaking of Bering's death, Bancroft further 

 retrieves himself — indeed, seems quite to supersede his former opinion — 

 by saying: "Thus passed from earth, as nameless tens of thousands have 

 done, the illustrious commander of the expeditions which had disclosed the 

 separation of the two worlds and discovered north-westernmost America." 

 See History of Alaska, p. 68 et seq.—T-R. 

 * Note 66. 



