Review of Bering’s First Expedition, 1725-30. 185 
Report oF FLEET-CAPTrain BERING ON HIS EXPEDITION TO 
THE EASTERN COAST OF SIBERIA. 
To the most Serene Sovereign, the high and powerful, the 
Empress of all the Russias : 
A short relation of the Siberian Expedition upon which was 
sent 
Of your Imperial Majesty the most humble servant and fleet- 
captain, W. I. Berine. 
On February 5 of the late year 1725-I received from her 
Imperial Majesty the Empress Ekaterina Alexievna, of happy 
and well-deserving memory, the autographic instructions of his 
Imperial Majesty Peter the Great, of happy and well-deserving 
memory, a copy of which is hereunto affixed. 
Instructions. 
(1.) There should be built on the Kamchatka [River], or at 
some other place adjacent, one or two boats with decks. 
(2.) With these boats [you are directed] to sail along the coast 
which extends northwards and which is supposed (since no one 
knows the end of it) to be continuous with America. 
(3.) And therefore [you are directed] to seek the point where 
it connects with America and to go to some settlement under 
European rule, or if any European vessel is seen, learn of it what 
the coast visited is called, which should be taken down in writing, 
an authentic account prepared, placed on the chart and brought 
back here. 
The following were the instructions given me by the former 
General Admiral Count Apraxin, in which were written: “ Arti- 
sans, laborers and whatever, in my opinion, is necessary for the 
expedition, are to be demanded from the chancellor’s office of the 
government of Tobolsk and monthly reports sent to the Imperial 
Admiralty College.” 
Before receiving these instructions, January 24, a lieutenant 
and 26 men of my command had been ordered to service on the 
expedition by the Admiralty College with the necessary equip- 
ment for 25 wagons. The whole number of my command sent 
out amounted to 33 men who were ordered to Vologdie and from 
St. Petersburg to Tobolsk by a route which passed through the 
towns here named: through Vologdie, Totma, Upper Ustiuk, 
