BAKEB.] AUTHOKITIES. 55 



sound, and so on, to a junction with his survej^s of the preceding 

 year. This work eroded at Port Conclusion, from which he took his 

 final departure on August 22, 1794, and returned via Cape Horn to 

 England, arriving off the Irish coast on September 12, 1795. Van- 

 couver's work in the field and the admirable presentation of results in 

 his published report constitute his monument. After more than a 

 century it remains a standard work of reference. 



Vancouver had had previous experience in exploring. Captain Cook 

 selected him in 1771 as one of his oflicers, and thus he accompanied that 

 distinguished navigator during his second voyage. He also assisted 

 Cook in outfitting and equipping for his third and last voyage. On 

 December 9, 1780, he was made a lieutenant and served under Rodney 

 in the West Indies till the middle of 1783. From 1784 to 1789 he 

 served on the Eurojxi., stationed at Jamaica. In 1790. he was made 

 master and commander of the Discovery. In August, 1794, he was 

 made a post-captain. After his return to England he worked contin- 

 ually on his report till his death in May, 1798. The work, nearly 

 but not quite complete at the time of his death, was finished by his 

 brother. John Vancouver. 



Vasiliep. 



Sevei'al Russian naval officers known for their work in Alaska have 

 borne this name (Williams). Krusenstern, in his Receuil de memoires 

 hydrographiques, 1827, Vol. II, p. 76, says: 



It is inuch to )_)e regretted that th,e hydrographic works of a naval officer, Vasilief, 

 who was in the enijjloyment of the American Company, were lost. I have already 

 had occasion to speak of him in the preceding article. Provided with a sextant and 

 chronometer and with much zeal and attachment for his profession, he had during 

 his sojourn in our American colonies made a complete survey of all of the Aleutian 

 islands without having had specific instructions to do so. Unfortunately he was 

 drowned in Okliotsk harbor on his return from America to Russia, and what became 

 of his precious pa^KTs and drawings is unknown. He is not to be confounded with 

 the Captain (Mikhail Nikolaievich) Vasilief who was sent in 1819 to explore the 

 northern parts of the Pacific ocean and particularly Bering strait. 



Vasilief, 1809. 



Ivan Vasilief tJie first ^ pilot or mate in the Russian navy, went with 

 Hagemeister in the ship Neva to Russian America in 1806. In 1809 

 he surveyed the western shore of Baranof island and at an unknown 

 date "died in the service." 



Vasilief, 1819-1822. 



Capt. Lieut. Mikhail Nikolaievich Vasilief sailed on July 3, 1819, 

 from Cronstadt on a voyage to the Russian American colonies. With 

 him went Shishmaref on the Blagonamierennie (Good Intent). Vasi- 

 lief arrived in Petropovlovsk on June 4, 1820. Leaving there late in 

 June, he went to Kotzebue sound, where he joined his consort the 



