PROCEEDINGS OF THE 
and the moft powerful nations of antiquity, the Managers pro- 
ceeded with the utmofl ardour to the immediate execution of 
the Plan. 
Two Gentlemen, whofe qualifications appeared to be emi- 
nent, propofed to undertake the Adventure, 
One of them, a Mr. Ledyarp, was an American by birth, 
and feemed from his youth to have felt an invincible defire to 
make himfelf acquainted with the unknown, or imperfeiElly 
difcovered regions of the globe. For feveral years he had 
lived with the Indians of America, had ftudied their manners, 
and had pra^Etifed in their fchool the means of obtaining the 
prote£lion, and of recommending himfelf to the favour of Sa- 
vages. In the humble fituation of a Corporal of Marines, to 
which he fubmitted rather than relinquifh his purfuit, he had 
made, with Captain Cook, the Voyage of the World ; and 
feeling on his return an anxious defire of penetrating from the 
North Weftern Coaft of America, which Cook had partly ex- 
plored, to the Eaftern Coaft, with which he himfelf was per- 
fedlly familiar, he determined to traverfe the vaft Continent 
from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. 
His 
