LEDYARD. 
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site correspondence, were entrusted to a commit- 
tee of the following persons, chosen by ballot : 
Lord Rawdon, (now Marquis of Hastings), the 
Bishop of LlandafF, Sir Joseph Banks, Mr Beau- 
foy, and Mr Stewart. The result of their labours 
has thrown new lustre on the British name, and 
widely extended the boundaries of human know- 
ledge. They have thus earned a solid and per- 
manent glory, and have acquired higher claims to 
the admiration of mankind, than many of those 
whose achievements fill the first place in the page 
of history. It is time, however, to proceed to the 
details of their operations. 
Mr Led YARD, the first geographical missionary 
employed by the association, was of American 
extraction. Stimulated from his early youth by a 
violent propensity to explore unknown countries, 
he had lived several years with the American In- 
dians, and studied their manners and habits ; he 
had sailed round the world with Captain Cook, 
and had made this voyage in the humble station 
of corporal of marines, rather than relinquish the 
adventure. At his return from this expedition, 
he determined to traverse the vast continent of 
America, from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, 
commencing from the north-western coast, which 
Cook had partly explored, and proceeding to the 
eastern, with which he himself was familiar. Pre- 
vented from sailing in a commercial adventure to 
