MEMOIRS AND TRAVELS Mauritius Augustus count de benyowsky. " V O I.,. I. MEMOIRS AND TRAVELS O F mauritius augustus count de benyowsky; MAGNATE OF THE KINGDOMS OF HUNGARY AND POLAND, ONE OF THE CHIEFS OF THE CONFEDERATION OF POLAND, &c, &c. CONSISTING OF HIS MILITARY OPERATIONS IN POLAND, HfS EXILE INTO KAMCHATKA, HIS ESCAPE AND VOYAGE FROM THAT PENINSULA THROUGH THE NORTHERN PACIFIC OCEAN, TOUCHING AT JAPAN AND FORMOSA, * TO CANTON IN CHINA» WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT HE WAS APPOINTED TO FORM UPON THE ISLAND OF 'MADAGASCAR. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. TRANSLATED FROM THE VOL I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR G. G. J. AND J. ROBINSON, PATER-NO S TE R-ROW. MjDCCjXC. C ONTENTS of the first volume. An Account of the Troubles in Poland in the yeari i768, i7693 more particularly those events in which the Count Benyowsky h4d a share, and which terminated in his being made prisoner by the Russians. Page 1 Journal of the Travels of the Count Benyowsky into Siberia. 53 CHAP. 1. IntroduBion. The Count arrives at Tobolzk, the capital of Siberia. Humanity of the governor. Departure from that place. Villages on the road. City of 'Tara. River and town of Tomjky. The Tartars interejl themfelves in favour of the exiles. A propofal is made to the Count to efcape to Chinay to which his wounds prevent his acceding. Prefent to the Exiles from the Tartars. Diffnter-ejied behaviour of their conductor. Page 53 C PI A P. II. Departure from Tomfzky. Jnjka Krafnoiarfzk. Illimfk. Price current of European goods and furs at that place. Jakutzk._ . Privileged company of traders in furs. The Count projet}s his future efcape in concert with M. Hoffman. A Jociety of Exiles formed. Tbey depart for Jakutzk. Leaving M. Hoffman SeJbind. Their guards quarrel. Alarming confequence oj Mr. Hoffman s death. Its effects happily prevented. - - 6j CHAP. CHAP. nr. Village ofjudoma. Sledges drawn by dogs. Arrival at Ochoczk. Defcription of that town and harbour. State of its commerce. J he exiles embark for Kamchatka. Their dangerous pafjdge. 72 CHAP. IV. Arrival at Kamchatka, Conference with fome Exiles there. They wait upon the governor, a?id receive injiruclions. Village of the Exiles. Ordinances of the Czar Peter for their regulation. 80 CHAP. V. The Count forms an intimacy with Mr. Cruftiew, an exile. Society efablijhedfor projecting the means of E/cape. The Count's fpecch and plan of a conjiitution. The exiles wait upon the governor and the chancellor. The governor appoints the Count to teach the languages to his children. An unforefeen event tends greatly to mitigate the dijlrejfes and advance the projeèls of the exiles. - 89 C II A P VI. The Count enters upon his office as language-mafter. The governor prefent s him with a female /lave, and a jledge drawn by dogs. A propofal made to him by fome of the chief gentlemen of the town to eftablif a fchool. A party at chefs. An evenings entertainment. Partiality of Mifs Aphanafia Nilow, the governors youngejl daughter, for the Count. Madame Nilow approves her attachment. - - - - - 98 C II A P. VII. A building creeled for a fchool. Converfation with Madame Nilow. Profits ariffig from the Count's fkill at chefs. Mifs Aphanajia converfes with the Count. The Jociety of exiles reinforced. Hunting the bear. ~ - - - 103 CHAP CHAP. VIN. Public fchool opened, The fociety of exiles meet on bit finefs relative to their efcape by Sea. Chefs. The Count compofes charts of the coafis and ijlands adjoining to Kamchatka. Dangerous confequence of the affair laji debated in the fociety of exiles. Averted by the Count, who narrowly efcape s affaffinât ion. His enemy punffed. 109 CHAP IX. The exiles narrowly efcape poifoning, on New Tear s Day. Difcovery of the author, who difclofes their project, as communicated to him by one of their number. The exiles meet, and put the traitor to death in the night. Farther enquiries made by government, which are rendered abortive by an accidental circumjlance. - 117 C H A P X. The Count conjirutls a mufical injlrument for his fcholar Mifs Apha-najia. Members propo/ed to the fociety of exiles. Plan of operation fettled. The governor propofes a journey. Large Jams of money won at chefs, and part prefented to the governor s family. Mifs Aphanajia declares her affedlion for the Count in the pre fence of her father, who is exceedingly irritated, but is pacifed by his colleagues in office. The governor ?nakes the neceffary dijpojitions to reverfe the fentence of exile under which the Count was baniffed. - 121 CHAP XI. The Count is in danger of being put to death by his affbeiates. Their fufpicions removed. An embarraffing dilemma. Pre fen ts made to the Count. The manner of his ahjblution from the fentence of exile. He makes a propofal to the council. Generous difpojition of the chief inhabitants of the town. Confluences of the Count's advancement, m - - - 126 C II A P C H A P. XII. Proof of the confidence and attachment of the exiles to the Count. The governor and council liberate the exiles. The Count promifes to procure the enlargement of the perfon who attempted to poijon him. Farther progrefs of the exiles in their projetais to efcape. An entertainment propo/ed. The gentlemen of the town make prefents to the Count. Good effects of the Count's exertions in favour of bis enemy. - - - - 134 CHAP. XIII. Preparations for marriage. Singular preliminary cuflom. Precautions/or preferving Jecrecy and fearing the progrefs of the undertaking of the exiles during the Count's abfence. Grand projects for creating governments and empires in the north. An entertainment on the occajion of the freedom of the exiles. - - 141 CHAP. XIV. A journal of an excurjion made by the governor of Bolforetjky Oftrogg, in company with the Count de Benyowfky. - - 140 CHAP. XV. An abridgment of the hiflory and defcription of Kamchatka - 155 C H A P. XVI. An account of the natives of Kamchatka, their origin, food, habitations, religion, &c. The narrative of the proceedings of the exiles refumed CONTENTS. 9 reftimed* Preparations for war. The conftitution of the fociety of exiles altered. Confequence thence arijing. » ■ 161 CHAP. XVII. Various proceedings in the affociation for projecting the efcape of the exiles from Jlavery. - - - - 169 CHAP. XVIII. The exiles in danger of treachery. They endeavour to procure a veffèl, but without Juccejs. Their ?niiitary arrangement. Final project. - - - . « 176 CHAP. XIX. A journey to Lopattka. Siberian for eery. Return to Bol/ha. 185 C H A P. XX. A dangerous dijiurbance among the exiles. Its confequence. - 193 CHAP. XXI. The Count négociâtes with the captain of a veffel. Preparations for the approaching crifs. - - - 201 CHAP. XXII. Preparations for departure. Mifs Aphanafia difcovers the intention °f the exiles. - - » - 20.8 b CHAP. CHAP. XXIII. Various proceedings. The chancellor receives information of the attempts of the exiles. The Count's exertions to prevent the conferences of this difcovery. - - - - -. 215 CHAP. XXIV. The fubjecl of the preceding chapter continued. - - 221 CHAP. XXV. Various proceedings relative to the projected efcape of the exiles and the difcoveries made by government. - - - 225 CHAP. XXVI. Proceedings of the Government of Kamchatka, in confequence of the difcovery of the Count's plan to liberate the exiles. - • 232 CHAP. XXVII. The Government fends a military force to take the Count pri/bner. The exiles oppoje them and by their fuperior bravery and military Jkill, cijjijled by a fortunate concurrence of events, they gain pofjef-fon of the fort. The Governor is Jlain in the attack* - 141 CHAP. XXVIII. The proceedings of the Count and his party of exiles, from the time of gaining pojf'ejjwn of the fort, to the time of the furrender of the military CONTENTS. ii tory force of the government, who gave hoftages to the Count. ~ - 246 CHAP. XXIX. Transactions from the time of the receiving of hoftages from the military of the province, to the final embarkation of the Count aud his party in the St. Peter and St. Paul. - - - - 254 CHAP, XXX. A Jhort extract of the voyages made to the eajlward of Kamchatka. 264 CHAP. XXXI. Minutes drawn Up, for the purpofe of forming a chart, together with details reflecting Siberia and the jea coaft of Kamchatka -, and a def cription of the Kurelles and Aleuthes ijlands. - 269 CHAP. XXXII. A defcription of Kamchatka. - - - - 276 CHAP. XXXIII. Remarks on the Coaft of Kamchatka. - - - 279 CHAP. XXXIV. A defcription of the AJeuthes ijlands difcovered to the eajlward of Kamchatka* - - - - - - 280 CHAP. XXXV. A defcription of the Kurelles ijlands* - - 286 b2 CHAP. CHAP. XXXVI, A defcription of the ijlands of Jedzo, - - 292 CHAP. XXXVII. A fupplement to the defcription of the coajl of T'artary and the ijlana Baghalin. - - 297 A continuation of the Memoirs of the Count de Benyowjky : being a journal of his voyage by Jea, from the peninjula of Kamchatka to Canton in China. - - - - - - 299 CONTENTS CONTENTS of the second volume. A Memoir concerning the expedition to Madagafcar, for the formation of a Royal ejlablifiment on that ijland -, the execution and chief command of which were entrujled by His Majejiy to the Count de Beny -owjky, Proprietary Colonel of a corps of volunteers, in 1772. page 93 A full account of particulars relating to the Royal eftablifhment at Madagafcar, entrujled to M. the Count de Benyowfky : from his arrival on the ijland on the \^th of February, 1774. 114 Pieces referred to in the Memoirs. - - - 283 Obfervations upon the diforders oj the ijland of Madagafcar. 340 Supplement to ferve as a fequel to the Memoirs coucerning Mada-gajcar. - - - - - 354 Copies of the Miniflerial letters of France, of the oath of the Mada-gajcar nation to the Count de Btnyowjky : his election to the dignity of AmpanJacabe, his full powers to treat in Europe, his declaration made in England, and his propajals to the Englijh Government. 2 Z6S THE editor'S preface. IN preferring the following Memoirs to the public, it will not be incumbent upon me to make any remarks on the interesting nature of their contents. It is fufficiently eftabliflied, that the author was a man of ability, pofîëfled of a difpofition Angularly calculated for adventures, and brought up in a fchool of irregular warfare, in which the intrepidity of his mind, and the power he pofîèflèd of agitating and impelling the minds of others, were matured by a fevere courfe of practice. The obfervations and remarks, which might arilé from conliderations of this kind, are left to the reader : my talk will confift in the fimple expofition of fuch facts as tend to fhew the authenticity of the work, and the degree of credit to which it is entitled. About the latter end of the year 1784, Mr. J. Hyacinth de Magellan, F. R. S. &c. a gentleman well known in every part of Europe, by the philofophical correfpondence he has for many years carried on with the fait literary characters, Ihewed me a printed paper in French, containing containing propofals for publifhing the memoirs and voyages of the Count de Benyowfky, in three volumes, by fubfeription ; a defign which was afterwards given up. The Count was not at that time in England, but had departed upon a private expedition to the ifland of Madagafcar; in the fitting out of which, Mr. Magellan had advanced a very considerable fum. This expedition was not, however, attended with fuccefs: Mr. Magellan determined therefore to publifh this work; and accordingly difpofed of the copy to the prefent proprietors, at the fame time that he engaged to communicate the transactions of the Count, from the conclufion of the prefent Memoirs to the time of his death. An unforefeen event rendered him incapable of performing this engagement : for foon after Chriftmas, 1788, he was attacked with a fevere illneis, which afFecied his memory fb much as to prevent his attending to any literary purfuits, and has continued ever fince. I need not enlarge on this unhappy event any farther than to obferve that it has deprived me of the expedited information, and obliged me to give a detail of the facts from his correfpondcnee. This fhort hiftory may ferve to fliew by what progrefs the manu-fcript came into my hands ; and in order to clear myfelf of the flight-eft fufpicion of {landing before the public in any other character than that which I profefs, as editor of the work, I have recommended to the proprietors, to prefent the original copy and drawings to the Britiih Mufeum, as a place of dépolit peculiarly calculated for the fecurity of the public in inch cafes, lb this they very readily agreed ; and the Original French manuscript has accordingly been prefented. It contains all which is exhibited in the following volumes, except the drawings of Plates 8, 9, 10, 11,15, and 27, which were loft by a fire that con fumed the houfe of Mr. Heath, the engraver. Proofs of thefe plates happened to be preferved ; but the originals and engraved plates which were numbered 3, 4, 12, 23, 24, 25, were irrecoverably loft by the fame accident, and do not therefore appear eidier in this this publication, or the original. They con fitted chiefly of views and figures. I have likewife thought it of advantage to divide the matter which preceeds the journal into chapters, and have added the titles, inttead of retaining the form of one undivided narrative, as it is in the original. The credibility of any work can be tried in two ways only ; by internal, or by collateral evidence. It is from the internal evidence, or the mutual coincidence of facts, that we judge of/ the fidelity of any writer in the firft place : if this be wanting, it is an infallible conclufion, that the author is either deceived himfelf, or intends to impofe on his readers ; but if, on the contrary, this evidence be perfect, it is not fo ftrongly conclufive of truth, as the defect is of falfhood. Internal evidence amounts to an high degree of probability, and is the only dépendance we can have when a writer fpeaks of facts and places not known or vifited by others. I have not perceived any defect of this kind in thefe memoirs : they contain nothing which is at all improbable or contradiaory. As far, therefore, as the adventures of the Count de Benyowfky are peculiar to himfelf, we mutt depend on his authority. The greater part, however, is capable of being Supported by collateral evidence. I lis fhare in the troubles in Poland is a recent bufinefs : mott of the perfons he mentions poffefTed eminent ttations in fociety, and many are ttill living. We are not now in the dark with regard to the land pafTage acrofs the Ruffian dominions in Alia, nor the general pofitionand other circitm-ttances relative to a considerable extent of the North-Eatt part of the old Continent. When we proceed to consider the Situation of the coafts and islands of the Northern fea between Afia and America, it is true that great difficulties * arife from the ignorance and inaccuracy of the RuSTian accounts and observations made by unfkilful, and perhaps in fome instances unprincipled men, without proper inttru- Vol. I. c ments, * See Coxe's Ruffian Difcoverics, and the authors by him cited : alfo Cook, Clerke, Gore, and King's Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Ill, p, 262,. mente, in a tract covered with fogs of fuch frequency, as to be al-moft perpetual. Here, however, we have the ineftimable advantage of recurring to the obfervations of thofe judicious navigators, Cook, Gierke, Gore, and King, whofe labours have reflected fo much honour upon the liberality and fcientific zeal of our Sovereign. The only part therefore of the Count's adventures which cannot readily be compared with the collateral teftimony of others, conflits in his visitation of the iflands of Japan, Liqueio, and Formofa; and the difcoveries which he made in the courfe of a voyage through an unfrequented part of the ocean. On the evidence of thefe facts, I need not make any obfervations, becaufe they ftand exactly in the fame predicament as all other new difcoveries do : they mufl be admitted on the credit of the difcoverer, until fubfequent refearches fhall either confirm or difprove them. Before I proceed to confider the degree of accuracy of the Count's journal, I fhall prefent the reader with a paffage or two of Captain Cook's lafl voyage, which ftrongly confirm feveral particulars in the narration of the former. When Captain Cook was at Oonalafh-ka, feveral civilities and mutual communications took place between him and Erafim GregoriofT Sin IfmylofF, who exhibits a confpicuous figure in the following memoirs. After relating thefe [ vol. II, p. 496 * of his voyage ] he proceeds [ page 499 ] to add the following : " But a voyage which he himfelf [ Ifmyloff ] had performed, engaged *' our attention more than any other. He laid that on the 12th of " May, 1771» he failed from Bolfheretzk in a Ruffian veffel, to one " of the Kuril iflands, named Mareekan, in the latitude of 470 where " there is a harbour, and a Ruffian fettlement. From this ifland he ** proceeded to Japan, where he feems to have made but a fhort Stay. ** For when the Japanefe came to know that he and his companions H were christians, they made figns for them to be gone \ but did ** not, fo far as we could underfland him, offer any infult or force. From Japan * The Edition before me is the fécond. " Japan he got to Canton ; and from thence to France in a French tf fhip. From France he travelled to Peterfburg, and was afterwards " fent out again to Kamtfchatka. What became of the veffel in which «« he firft embarked we could not learn ; nor what was the principal *' object of the voyage. His not being able to fpeak one word of " French made this (lory a little fufpicious. He did not even know « the name of any one of the moft common things that muff have " been in ufe every day while he was on board the fhip, and in " France. And yet he feemed clear as to the times of his arriving at 94 the different places, and of his leaving them, which he put down in ft writing." In the third volume, p. 193, it appears that Ifmyloff, in a letter to the commander at Bolfheretzk, had reprefented the Englifh vef-fels as two fmall packet boats, and cautioned him to be on his guard ; and that it was not without the exertion of all the commander's authority, that the inhabitants were prevented from abandoning the town, in confequence of their fears, left their vifitors fhould prove to be French. * Their extreme apprehenfions," continues Capt. King, " were t( principally occafioned by fome circumftances attending an infurrec-" tion that had happened at Bolcheretzk a few years before, in which *' the commander had loft his life. We were informed that an exiled *' Polifh officer, named Beniowfki, taking advantage of the confu-M fion into which the town was thrown, had feized upon a galliot *' then lying at the entrance of the Bolchoireka, and had forced ** on board a number of Ruffian failors, fufficient to navigate her : that *' he had put on fhore a part of the crew at the Kourile iflands -7 f< and among the reft, Ifmyloff, who, as the reader will recollect, "had puzzled us exceedingly at Oonalafka with the hiftory of this M tranfaction 3 though for want of underftanding his language, we c 2 could. " could not then make out all the circumftances attending it: that " he paffed in fight of Japan ; made Luconia -, and was there di-u reefed how to fleer to Canton ; that arriving there, he had applied to the French, and had got a paffage in one of their India mips "to France i and that mod of the Ruffians had like wife returned to " Europe in French fhips -, and had afterward found their way to « Petersburg. We met with three of Beniowfki's crew in the har-«' bour of St. Peter and St. Paul ; and from thence we learnt the " circumftances of the above ftory." Capt. King mentions that the arrival of Beniowfki at Canton was confirmed by the gentlemen of the Englifh factory there, and obferves that from Kerguelen's voyage, it appeared that this extraordinary perfon had entered the French fervice, and was commander of a new fettlement at Madagafcar, when that navigator touched there in 1774. The public prints of the year 1772 took notice of the arrival of the Count de Benyowfky at Canton in the month of September, the year before ( 1771. ) The Gentleman's Magazine for June, 1772, page 272, contains an account which is too long to be quoted, more efpecially as the circumftances are in fome refpects improbable, and in others unfounded. This account fays that a veffel of uncommon appearance arrived at Canton with fixty-five perfons on board, five being in women's apparel, commanded by the Baron de Benyorfky, who was taken prifoner by the Ruffians, in Poland, and carried to Cafan, from which place he made his efcape with others, by overpowering their guard i that they directed their route to Kamchatka, where he had a friend, who fupplied him with a veffel ; that he failed for China, but by ftrefs of weather was obliged to ftand to the Eastward, and made the coaft of America, in latitude 570 ; was prevented by contrary winds from proceeding to Acapulco, and then flood for the Philippine iflands, but was again difappointed by contrary winds ; 2 and PREFACE. vii and that laftly he reached Macao after five months paflage from Kamchatka. A paper fubjoined to this account with the Signature of Benyoriky afferts, that he left Kamchatka in May 1771, and arrived at Macao in September, after having put in at Japan. This information from the Gentleman's Magazine is evidently no more than the reports of the day. For it is not in the leafl probable that prifoners at Cafan mould imagine and execute a peregrination of at leafl four thoufand miles, over the moff inhofpitable part of the furface of the globe, witb the hope of finding a friend who would prefent them witb a fhip : or that they fhould actually obtain a Ship, and then wander over the face of the ocean in the flrange way they are here faid to have done. It may be admitted however as an evidence, that the Count did not arrive at China at an earlier period than is fpecified in his Memoirs, and this fact will be of ufe in considering the value of the information obtained at Kamchatka by the Captains Cook and King. I miift obferve therefore that Ifmyloff, who is not reprefented in any very favourable light by the Count in his Memoirs, and was guilty of a trick which feems in fome rcfpect to degrade him, by writing an unfriendly and falfe letter to be carried by the Englifh navigators to the Commander at Bolcheretzk, was probably difpofed to conceal fome part of the knowledge he poficffed,* and does not appear incapable of perverting Such facts as his own views, whatever they were, might require to be fiilnfied ; that it is by no means probable that the Count, at the head of a-fet of daring men over whom he had no well fupported authority, fhould touch at the Kurilles iflands, for the reafon he himfelf mentions, namely, the probability * II. 497. probability that they fliould change their minds and force him to return to Kamchatka ; but on the contrary, that he fhould wifh to render their return impracticable by minding for the Aleutian iflands or American fhore, in the firft place, as being more remote; and on the other hand the difpofition of his crew to proceed to the Northward might have been partly grounded on their fears of quitting the peninfula of Kamchatka. Again, it does not appear how four months could be employed in paffing fîmply to Marikan, touching at Japan, and making Luconia in his way to Macao, even fuppofing he had failed fo far out of his way as to that Spanifh fettlement. On thefe accounts then, I think that IfmylofFs information, with that of the three Ruffians at Kamchatka, confidered under all the difad-vantages of a want of language for mutual intelligence, which Capt. Cook complains of,* are really valid, fo far only as to prove that the Count Benyowfky did really exert his military abilities at Kamchatka in a ferious infurredtion in which the Governor loft his life ; that the inhabitants of Bolfheretzk were fo greatly affected and the impreffion of their fears was fo ftrong and permanent, as to urge them to think of abandoning their habitations after an interval of eight whole years an impreffion which the threat of burning their women and children in the church may readily account for : that a very confiderable time having elapfed between his departure, which is correctly given by Ifmyloff, and his arrival at China, which is an object of no queftion, he could not have fubfiffed without putting in fomewhere ; and that after leaving the Aleutian iflands, there are no places into which choice or neceffity could more immediately have driven him than the iflands of Japan, Liqucio and Formofa. In a word, the collateral evidence appears clear and pofitive where it fupports the credibility of the Count's narrative, but confufed and uncertain in the particulars wherein it differs from him ; and the whole is of fuch a nature as not to be put in competition with an authentic journal from the hands of the author. Without * II. 497. PR E F A C E. Without entering into any companion of the voyages of the Count Benyowfky with thofe of others who have navigated the Northern feas, I fhall confine my remarks to fuch parts of his journal as will admit of elucidation from the voyages of our illuftrious countrymen. But in the firft place it muft be premifed, that the Count's fkill in navigation, whatever eminence it might have procured him in Kamchatka, appears to have been very moderate. In his journal we find the latitude, longitude, wind, current and courfe. He never diftin-guifhed the latitude by account from that by obfervation. I fuppofe however that he may have had one of the old quadrants of Davis, or perhaps a foreflaff ; but he certainly did not poffefs one of Hadley's*. His latitudes in general therefore may be fuppofèd to be within half* or perhaps a quarter of a degree of the truth. I have not paid any attention to the winds and courfe made good, but apprehend that his longitudes muft be fubject not only to all the ufual errors of the dead-reckoning, but likewife to others, arifing from his not knowing the variation of the compafs, (except perhaps by conjecture) and from his confidering the current as a daily element in his log-book. He has no where mentioned the method he ufed to afcertain the direction and velocity of thefe currents, and as every experienced navigator muft be aware that no fuch method exifts, except fuch as may be derived from comparing the reckoning with celeflial obfervations or a time-keeper, it will follow of courfe that this element has rendered his longitude more uncertain. By tracing the Count's voyage to the Northward upon the chart numbered 36 in Cook's third Voyage, I find that he made Beering's ifland when his reckoning placed the fhip a degree and a half to the Weftward. * Ifmyloff", or Ifmaeloff, received an Hadley's quadrant from Captain Cook as a jirefenr, of which he in a very fhort time learned the ufes. Hence it feems probable that Hadley's quadrant is fcarcely known in thofe parts, and that the Count in particular did not polTcfs one.—Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, II. 505, Weft ward. This is a natural confequence of the Eafterly variation not being allowed for, and the fame caufe muft have affected his reckoning ftill more as he proceeded to the Northward. Hence I conclude (with the fuppofition that his latitudes were at leaft half a degree too high, and his longitudes very confiderably to the Weft-ward of the fhip's true place, both which follow from the variation being neglected) that he made Clerke's iflands on the 3d of June, and flood over for the land to the Northward of Tfuchotfkoi Nefs, where he anchored ; again returned to Clerke's iflands ; failed from thence to the Eaftward ;* made the American Continent, and coafted along it between Point Shallow Water and Shoal Nefs, which was unexplored by Cook -, after which he ftood to the Southward and anchored at Oonemak, in latitude 54e* the error of his reckoning being about five degrees in longitude to the Weftward, an error which remarkably coincides with that of Ifmyloff's chart,-]- and proves almoft beyond a doubt that the Count really arrived at the Aleuthes by this circuitous navigation, and that Ifmyloff gained his information by failing with him ; more efpecially as fuch an error in longitude could hardly have arifen in running directly from Awatfcha Bay to the Aleuthes, which lie on the fame parallel, and are only a fhort fortnight's fail afunder. I do not pretend that there are no other caufes of uncertainty in the Count's Journal, neither is it my intention to enter into a minute difquhition upon it. The public poffefs faithful copies of the documents which have paffed through my hands, and I have no wi/h nor claim to the abfurd privilege of directing their judgment. But it becomes me to ftate the reafons which guided me in examining thefe Memoirs, * The note on page 330 is too general. The Count does not appear to have reached America in that latitude. t Voyage to the Pacific Ocean before quoted, II. 502. Memoirs, and have convinced me that the veracity of the Count may be relied on ; that the difagreements of collateral evidence are much more likely to arîfe from the imperfections of that evidence, than from his want of fidelity • and that the real difficulties may be eafily accounted for by any one, whofe fkill and experience are fufficient to enable him to eftimate the probable, errors that muft have refulted from the want of inftruments, and flender knowledge of the Count in marine affairs. The other parts of the Count's Journal need no comment. That he fhould ftand acrofs the Pacific ocean and direct his courfe for China, are obvioufly the refult of the dictates of common fenfe ; that extreme diftrefs fhould follow the want of proper fubordination among a fet of exiles, or men of defperate fortune and adventure, is not at all wonderful ; and that fuch men, without any fettled deftination, and acting throughout from the impulfe either of neceffity or their own inclinations, fhould range from one ifland to another, where their wants could be beft fupphed, is what the flighteft ideas of caufe and effect would have foretold. The difcoveries and adventures of the Count on this pafiagc and elfewhere muft fpeak .for themfelves, and I have no doubt will be found interesting, as well from the nature of the incidents as the novelty of the places of action. It is ftill lefs neceffary to enlarge on the effect which the abilities and acquisitions of the Count produced at the Court of France, and the undertaking which was afterwards entrufted to his management. The leading facts of this part of his Memoirs have fufficient collateral evidence. Neither need I make any remarks on his political principles with regard to colonization, of which I think the intelligent fubjects of our free and liberal government will be at no lofs to form a proper opinion ; whether they be viewed in a civil or commercial light. I will therefore only add on the fubject of the Memoirs, that d the the Count, in his fhort hiftory of Kamchatka, appears to have had Kracheninnikow's voyage into Siberia before him, a work which Captain King * confiders as worthy of entire credit. It will eafily be feen, however, that our author, by fpeaking always in his own perfon, and mentioning his authorities in feveral places, means to confirm all the general facts as from his own obfervation, I perceive that the drawing of plate IL nearly refembles the tenth plate of the French tranflation of Krafcheninnikow ; but neither thefe nor that in the original Ruffian appear equal to that in Cook's Voyage. The plates 8, 9, 10 and 11, have fome little uncertainty with regard to their references and bearings ; both which imperfections are confe-quences of the fire which confumed the Engraver's houfe. The references on the plates will direct the reader to fill fuch blanks as were neceffarily left in the text. I muff likewife take notice, that the word caftor, which I have every where rendered beaver, is ufed throughout this work to denote the fea beaver or otter; that the word corvette, which I think denotes the kind of veffel called an hooker, has been moftly retained, on account of my being uncertain whether the French apply it to any particular veffel, or fimply to denote a packet ; and that I have kept the fpelling of proper names uniform*, though it is not fo in the manufcript, the Count's fignature in his own hand being frequently varied. The charts of harbours on the coaft. of Madagafcar are not particularly mentioned in the body of the-work : mort of them convey an account of their origin in their titles. The harbour and bay of Eaft Cape, plate XXI ; of the North coaft of Madagafcar in plate XXVI; of Vannembey in plate XXVIII; and of Louquez in plate XXIX. are found in Mr. Dalrymple's collection, where they are copied from M. D'Après, and do not effen-tially differ from the prefent engravings of the Count's manufcript.. I fuppofe therefore that the Count had them from the fame quarter as M. D'Après ; that is, either from the matters of veffels at Madagafcar, or the French Government. Mr* * Voyage before cited, III. 205. PREFACE. xiii Mr. Magellan's correfpondence on the Count's fubfequent adventures, having been fubmitted to my inflection, appears to require a very confiderable fbare of deliberation and mutual comparifon of its parts, before the more particular events can be placed in a proper light. Several of the letters from individuals concerned in this adventure contradict each other ; and fome of them are written with fuch a fpirit of enmity towards the Count, as renders the impartiality of the writers very doubtful. I will not here enquire how far it is probable that the failure of tins lafl enterprize arofe from a want of principles or prudence, either in the Count or in his affociates. The fmalleff knowledge of the human mind will readily fliew, that when lofs and wretchednefs are the only confequences of an attempt founded on the molt brilliant hopes ; quarrels and mutual recrimination muff infallibly be the refult. For this reafon I fhall flightly trace the leading fadts, with very few obfervations of my own. The Count de Benyowfky and his family, with fome of his aiTo-ciates, failed for Maryland on the 14th of April, 1784, on board the Robert and Ann, commanded by Mr. Alexander Mac Dougall. He arrived at Baltimore on the 8th of July following, having taken with him from London a cargo of the value of near 4000/. fterling, confifl-ing it feems of articles intended for the Madagafcar trade. Two caufes appear to have induced him and his friends to avoid a direct voyage to that ifland. In the nrfl place, they found it extremely difficult, if not impracticable, to procure the flag of any European power ; and in the next, there was every reafon to hope that the American merchants, whofe affairs were thrown into confufion by the ftruggle for independence, and the fubfcquent lofs of their colonial privileges in trading to the mother country, would be more ready to embrace the offer of a new channel of trade than the fubjects of more effablifhed focieties. This expectation was found to be juft. A refpectable commercial houfe at Baltimore was induced to join in the fcheme, d 2 and xiv P R E F A C E. and fupplied the Count with a fhip of 450 tons, carrying twenty guns'* fix-pounders, and twelve fwivels. This fhip, cargo and flores, was estimated at fomewhat more than for thoufand pounds flerling, ex-clufivc of the merchandize brought from London. It was named the Intrepid, and failed from Baltimore on the 25th of October, 1784 -, every one on board being, by agreement and oath, fuhject to the abfolute command of the Count, though the merchants of Baltimore had appointed a Captain and Supercargo to aflift the Count while under his command, and to conduct their affairs -homeward bound. Their deflination was the harbour of St. Auguftin, on the Eaft Coaft of the illand of Madagafcar, where they were to form a fettlement 01 emporium ; in the eftablifliment of which it was expected that the Count's influence with the natives, and the fupremacy they had conferred on him, would have been of lingular advantage. The family of the Count remained in America, on account of the pregnancy of Madame de Benyowfky. At the beginning of January the Count made the coaft of Brafil,—by miflake, as his affociates fay, and for want of keeping enough to windward ; but in his own letters he af-ferts, that he repaired for wood and water to this coaft, in preference, for reafons which he does not fpecify. The former, however, feems probable ; for they were near a month turning to windward in order to clear Cape Roque, and at laft run dangeroufly aground on the ifland Juan Gonfalvez, near the mouth of the river Amargofa, in five degrees South latitude. It was not till the month of April that the neceffary repairs were completed, and they flood acrofs the Atlantic ; being at fhort allowance of provifions for the greatefl part of the paffage. The laft letter of the Count was written from the coaft of Brafil, and confequently the remainder of this account muft come from the letters of his companions. It does not appear why he doubled the Cape of Good Hope without putting in. The firft place he touched at was Sofala, on the Eaftern coaft of Africa, where he anchored on the 22d of May, 1785, and remained a fortnight to 2 refrefk P Pv E F A C E. xv rcfrefh his people. On the 7th of July they anchored in the Bay of Antangara, about ten leagues to the South-Weft of Cape St. Sebaf-tian, and unloaded their cargo, the Count's intention being to proceed over land to the Bay of Antongil, where the fliip was to meet them. It appears by the letter?, that Lamboin, King of the North, who is mentioned in thefe Memoirs, came to pay his refpe&s to the Count, and that a body of Seclaves under a Chief or King likewife came and encamped near him, that the Count propofed to enter into the oath of blood with him, but he excufed himfelf till a future day, on account of the fatigue of his journey : and from the mafter's proteft it appears, that on the ift of Auguft, three quarters of an hour after the long boat had returned on board, between the hours of ten and eleven at night, a fevere firing was heard and feen on fhore exactly at the place of the Count's encampment, that between five and fix in the morning a few fcattered fhot were heard in a fmall wood about a mile up the country, and at day-light no iigns were perceived of any white men on fhore, but that all the effects were removed ; and laftly, that their own dangerous fituation, from the few hands and want of arms on board, and the probability that the Count and his party were cut off by the natives, together with the want of provifions, compelled them to depart for Joanna. From this ifland or Mohilia they proceeded to Oibo, where the fupercargo fold the fliip on account of the infurers. If the information ended here, it might naturally be concluded that the Count's attempt had met with its fatal termination before their departure, but there is a letter from one of the perfons on board, which ftates, that the writer and another perfon were not convinced that the firing was made by the natives, but that they figned the proteft becaufe overborne by numbers : and in another letter from an officer, who was brought prifoner to trie Ifle of France after the final deftruttion of the Count's party, which (as far as relates to the dc- ftruclion. ft ruction of the Count and his people by the French) is confirmed by the writer of the former letter, I find mention indeed of a firing heard in the night ; but, contrary to the proteft, the writer affirms, that the fhip failed in fight of thofe on fhore, to their great aftonifilment, and that it was in vain that they flood after her with the country boats. The fame writer continues to ftate, that fifteen days after the departure of the veffel the Count departed for Angoutci» leaving mod of his people behind to follow him, but the greateft part fell fick and died, two only remaining. From this letter, which, however, in many refpects feems to want explanation, it appears that the power and influence of the Count was fuch, that he had an armed force of the natives at his command, with which he proceeded to Angoutci, and commenced hoftilities againft the French by feizing their ftorehoufe. Here he bufied himfelf in erecting a town after the manner of the country ; and from hence he fent a detachment of one hundred men to take poffeffion of the French Factory at Foul Point ; but they were.prevented from carrying their purpofe into execution by the fight of a frigate which was at anchor off the Point. In confequence of thefe movements, the Government of the Ifle of France fent a fliip with fixty regulars on board, who landed, and attacked the Count on the morning of the 23d of May, 1786. He had con-itructed a fmall redoubt defended by two cannon, in which himfelf, with two Europeans and thirty natives, waited the approach of the enemy. The blacks fled at the firft fire, and Benyowfky, having received a ball in his right breaft, fell behind the parapet ; whence he was dragged by the hair, and expired a few minutes afterwards. Thus ended the life and adventures of the Count de Benyowfky ; a man of invincible fpirit, inured to hardfbips, and habituated to face danger and every extremity with a mod uncommon degree of firm-nefs. To thefe extraordinary powers, he added an intimate and almoft intuitive knowledge of the human mind. By nature, education tion and habit, he was formed to perfuade, to command, and to coerce; and his deftiny gave him ample occafion to exercife thefe talents. Of this fingular character many and various have been the opinions. Thofc whole interefts led them to oppofehim. have (pared no accufations againft him ; and their accufations are of the ftrongeft and even the moil horrid nature. His enemies have reprefented him as the unfeeling tyrant, and the unprincipled robber :—yet while he lived he never was without enthufiaftic admirers, and warm friends who readily exerted themfelves, againft every rifque and every calumny, to ferve him. If it were expected that I fhould give my opinion, I would declare, that I have not yet leen any thing againft him which will not bear two interpretations ; or which has not been written by men who contradict each other, and had an intereft in traducing him. For thefe reafons it is that I would fufpend my opinion ; and thefe are the reafons why, in the multifarious correfpondence which now lies before me, I have paffed over the recriminations in filence. I have collected only fuch facts as appear indubitable, and have fup-preffed all names, becaufe the correfpondence, on account of the prefent infirm fituatiori of the gentleman to whom it of right belongs, has paffed into my hands, without any other reftriction but fuch as the Sentiments < of every man of principle and delicacy muft infpire. London,. Dec-j,. 1789. W, NICHOLSON, > POSTSCRIPT. Since the foregoing Preface was printed* I have been favoured by Sir Jofeph Banks, Bart. P. R. S. with the communication of the following Papers* which I here infert, with a few Remarks* No. I. Extraie de ta Lettre de M. & Eve que le Bon, due 24 Septembre* 1771, de Macao. IL vient d'arriver hier a Macao un Both à Pavilion Hongrois, commandé par le Baron Hongrois, Maurice Augufle Aladar Benyorfky, Confeilier du Prince Albert, duc de Saxe, Colonel de fa Majeflé Apoftolique Royal Impériale la Reine d'Hongrie, et Officier d'un regiment de la Confederation de la Republique, A Couronne de Pologne. Ce Monfieur, après avoir reçu fept blcffûres dans un combat contre les Ruffes près de Kaminieck, fut fait prifonnier de Guerre, et conduit dans la même ville ou fe trouve détenu comme prifonnier d'Etat le Prince Szoltits, Eveque de Cracovie, Sénateur de Pologne. e Le [ s* ] Le Baron a trouve le moyen de s'échaper, après avoir reçu une patente du Prince Eveque, prifonnier, qui exhorte tous les Catholiques furtout, a fecourir le dit Sieur Alader Benyorfky, pour lui procurer le moyen de parvenir auprès de L'Empereur d'Allemagne, et auprès du Saint Siege Apoftolique. Lu patente due Prélat eft dattée de fa prifon, le 6th Novembre, 1770. De 54 hommes d'équipage, il ne refte plus a ce capitaine que 8 hommes en fanté ; tout le refte eft fur le grabat. Depuis deux mois ils fouffroient le faim et la foif : il a eu fon embarcation deux fois brifeé, deux fois ils l'ont raccomodée et remife en état» Il ne fcait ni le Portugais ni l'Espagnol, mais il parle Latin^ Francois, 6c Allemand. Il eft venu par le Nord, & a côtoyé le Japan, ôcc. No. IL An Account of the arrival of a ftnall FeJJel, of about eighty tons,, at Macao, the 23d of September laft, commanded by Baron Maurice Août Alladar Benyorfky, Colonel in the Hungarian fervice, on board of which were ffixty-two Hungarian jbldiers, and five women, who, by their account, efcaped from their im-prifonment in Siberia. Taken from the Colonel's own words, by me, Nathaniel Barlow, who was at Macao the time when they arrived there. UPON a vifit I made to the Baron abovevmentioned, foon after his arrival, I requefted of him, «s a great favour, he would be be pleafed to give me a recital of his adventures, as I told him fomething very extraordinary muil have happened to him. by his coming into thefe parts, • fo remote from his own country. Agreeable to my requefi, he very politely acquiefced, and mentioned the following particulars, in the French language. He faid, that he was firff. fecretly fent by the Court of Hungary, with a body of five thoufand foldiers, to the affiftance of the Catholic Confederates in Poland, who were at that time at war with the Protectant party of the fame nation, affiffed by the Ruffians. That foon after his arrival in Poland, and joining a body of the Confederates, they had an engagement with the Ruffians, who being fuperior in numbers, foon defeated his body, took him, and almofl all his men, prifoners, and fent them away, with all expedition, into different garrifons in Siberia. That on his arrival at the place deflined for him and his party, they were put into clofe confinement, and treated in a mod cruel manner, infomuch, that they were determined to attempt an efcape, at. the hazard of their lives : very fortunately, an opportunity offered, by the guard being reduced to a fmall number, whom they foon overpowered, took their arms, and marched off, with all expedition, towards the province of Kamfchatka, where, in a fea-port, named C/jevega, he had a friend on whom he could depend for affiflance in extricating him from the dangers that he was threatened with. Accordingly, after many days marching over mountains, and fometimes through almoft impenetrable woods, (during which time he experienced every mifery pofhble, by the want of provifions and water) he fortunately arrived at the above fea-port, where, to his great joy, he found his friend, by whofe, aflîffance a veffel was procured, and in a fhort time got ready for failing, when the Colonel and his party embarked. As he had formerly ferved in the marine fervice of the States of Malta, e 2 • he he thereby learnt Navigation, by the afliftance of which he intended making a coafting voyage of it to China ; but being drove off the coaft by a gale of wind, and not expecting to make it again, he fleered to the north-eaft, in hopes of finding fome iflands he had heard was in that quarter. Accordingly, after many days failing, and great fufferings, he fortunately arrived at one of them he fuppofed to be near the Continent of America, where he got feveral kinds of refrefhment ; and, after flaying a little time, he embarked, with a defign to go to Acapulca, but not meeting with favourable winds, fleered towards the Phillipine iflands, where, after encountering with frefh difficulties, he arrived at the Marians, from whence intending to go to Manilla, was prevented by unfavourable winds ; he then came to the refblution of fleering towards China, where he fortunately arrived at the port of Macao, after a voyage of four months. He was as far north as 63 degrees ; had with him Lord Anfon's voyages, tranflated into the Sclavonian language, which he repeatedly faid was of the greateft ufe to him, being guided, in a great meafure, by them.--In his apartment were feveral mathematical instruments, efpecially a quadrant, and a crofs ftafF. On requefting for a fight of his drafts, he, with great reluctance, produced one, but, unluckily,^ a gentleman in company telling him that one of us was a fea-captain, he immediately withdrew, and carried with him the draft, by which we loft the opportunity of knowing more particulars of this very extraordinary ■voyage. The veffel is fifty feet long, and Sixteen broad, entirely built of nr, No, [ xxnî J No. IN. (COP Y.) Baron Benyorfkfs Narrative of a Voyage from Kamfchattka to Macao, "Devenu en prifon, 1769. Anne Amenez en exile avec Mejl Princes, P. Koltik, Eveque de Cracovia, P. Kangufzko, P. Rzfevuizky, P. Pacz, Eveque de Kiove. A Kamfchatka, fous 63 degree de la Latitude du Nord, 175 Long. 1771 L'Anne. DANS le mois May, fbrtis fur le galliotte St. Piere, paffer jufque a 238 degree de la Longitude, a 57 Latitude, d'où, naviger a paffer l'Ifle Mariain par la grande tempête, et fort vents devenu a Japon, ou, ton de L'Androis, du Port Namqu, mil pieds a la Texe, de la venu a l'Ifle, Touza et Bonzo, de îa, jufque a Nangeafaki, d'où aprez avoir peu de Noires fortis et paffer par les Ifles Amuy, jufque a Formofa, et l'lfle Bafcher, enfin, prit le cours droitment, a Makao, où je fuis arrive dans le mois Septembre, 1771 L'Ann. Signe par Sortis avec 85 hommes, Baron Maurice, Août d'Aladar Arrivé avec 6-2 do* de Benyorfky, Colonelle de fa Maj. Imp. Générale Regem» tar des les Confédérés. Mem, Mem. The original from which the foregoing is taken, being wrote with very faint ink, upon bad paper, and German characters frequently ufed, have occafioned imperfections in this Copy. No. IV. Extract of a Letter from the Supra-Cargoes of Council at Canton, in China, dated 20 th November, ijji ; received per Britifi King* A fmall veffel arrived at Macao the 23d September, commanded by a Hungarian Baron, Maurice Augufto Alader Benyorfky, which has occafioned much fpeculation. They being at Macao, and cannot obtain permiflion to come to Canton, we are deprived of the means to procure the intelligence which we might poffibly otherwife do, had we an opportunity of difcourfing with him: it feems, beyond doubt, he is come from Kamfchatka, but by what track, or his motive, we have only what he pleafes to fay, being the only perfon who fpeaks about their concerns, and he very referved. We could wilh it were in our power to give you a particular account of this affair, but cannot do more than fend you the accounts we have received from others, and one that he gave himfelf, and figned by him. He has claimed the' protection of the French ; ^iad a chop procured for him and fome of his officers to come to Canton, but by their being mentioned in the chop (which was procured by Piian Khequa) under the denomination of French merchants, and the Hoppo's Officer at Macao having had them defcribed to him differently before, he returned the chop to Canton, and did not fuifer them 4 to [ xxv ] to proceed. The Mandarines here are apprehendve they may be Ruffians ; and Puan Khequa, afraid of being drawn into fome fcrape, he rather chufes to decline interfering, and they are likely to remain at Macao till the French mips leave China, which fhips they are to embark on board of for Europe. No. V. 'Extract of a Letter from Canton, in China, to Mr. Pigou, dated the zoth November, ijji. ON the 23d of September, a fmall veffel, commanded by a Hungarian Baron, arrived at Macao. He fays, that he was firff. fecretly fent by the Court of Hungary, with a body of five thoufand men, which he commanded, to the affifiance of the Catholic Confederates in Poland, who were at war with the Proteflant party of the fame, nation, affifled by the Ruffians. That foon after his arrival in Poland, and joining the Confederates, he had an engagement with the Ruffians, who defeated his army, and fent them into different garrifons in Siberia, where being cruelly treated, the Colonel and party with him refolved to make their efcape, which they eafily effected, their guard being very weak : from thence they got to the port of Kamfchatka, where they procured*a fmall veffel, and failing to the northward, made land, which they fuppofed to be part of the continent of North America, Finding themfelves wrong in their tract, they altered their courfe, and after five weeks fail came to Japan, where they had had feveral fkirmifhes with the natives. They afterwards faw the Marian iflands, and thence bore away directly for Macao, being in great diltrefs for provifions* TRANSLATION of the PAPER, No. L Extract of a Letter from M. the Bifiop Le Bon, dated September i^th, i J J i y from Macao. YESTERDAY arrived at Macao u veffel under Hungarian colours, commanded by the Hungarian Baron, Maurice Augufle Alackr Benyorfky, Councellor to Prince Albert, Duke of Saxony, Colonel (in the fervice) of her Apoftolic Royal Imperial Majefty, the Queen of Hungary, and officer of a regiment of the confederation of the republic of Poland. This gentleman, after having received feven wounds in a battle againft the Ruffians, near Kaminieck, was made prifbner of war, and conducted into the fame town where the Prince Szolits, Bifhop of Cracovia, is detained a prifoner of ftate. The Baron found the means to efcape, after having received a patent from the Prince Bifhop, the prifoner, who exhorts all Catholics efpecially to affift the faid Sieur Aladar Benyorfky, to procure him the means of repairing to the prefence of the Emperor of Germany, and before the Holy Apoftolical Court. The patent of the Prelate is dated from his prifon, on the 6th of November, 1770. 2 Out Out of fifty-four men of his equipage, there remains no more to this Captain than eight men in health , all the reft are confined to their beds. For two months pail they fuffered hunger and thirft. He has been twice fhipwrecked, and twice they have repaired their veffel. He is not acquainted with the Por-tuguefe or the Spanifh, but he fpeaks Latin, French, and fïerman. He came from the North, and has coafted the ifland of Japan, 5c c, f REMARKS REMARKS on the PAPER, No- I. THIS Letter was written the day after the Count's arrival at Macao, and ,does not contain the leafl hint of his banifhment into Siberia. It fpecifies no dates, except the Count's arrival at China, and that of the patent, faid to be obtained at Kaminieck. I fcarcely need obferve, that this account does not agree with the memoirs ; and that the Count was at or near the town of Ochozk, in Siberia, at the time the patent is faid to have been given at Kaminieck. Upon this occafion I have not the lead inclination to doubt the veracity of M. Le Bon, but whether thefe inconfiflencies arofe from the difpofition of concealing the particulars of his adventures, which evidently actuated the Count, who expected great advantages from the knowledge he had acquired; or whether they may confift, for the mofl part, of thofe inaccuracies which ufually accompany the relation of verbal communications, I fhall not here attempt to decide. On the PAPER, No. II. IN this paper it-may be obferved, that the Count, being defirous of keeping the particulars of his expedition as fecret as pofSble, judged it neceffary to communicate a pretended fet of ad- [ xxïx ] adventures. The letter inferred in the Gentleman's Magazine agrees very nearly with this report of Mr. Barlow : I (hall not therefore repeat the remarks I have already made upon that print. The mathematical inftruments in his apartment are not defcribed with fufficient minutenefs, to clear up the doubts, or confirm the affertions made in the note at the foot of page ix. It feems probable, howcvei*, that the crofs-flaff would not have poffeffed a place among his mathematical inftruments, if the quadrant had been one of Hadley's conftrucfion. Mr. Barlow fays the veffel was about eighty tons burthen :—Benyowfky (page 77, vol, I.) eflimates it at two hundred and forty : both are, perhaps, mere guelfes -, but from the dimenfions given in this paper, and the draft of water mentioned at page 301 of the firff. volume, the Count's number proves very near, though under the truth. On the PAPER, No. III. THIS is doubtlefs the original from which the fécond paper in the Gentleman's Magazine (page vii) was tranflated. As the Count's intention, certainly, was not that of conveying information, but of mifleading the enquirers at Canton, I have not thought it neceffiry either to attempt an emendation of this imperfect copy, or to attempt any tranflation» f 2 Og On the PAPERS, No. IV. & % T PIE SE Papers do not appear to require any comment. On the DRAWING, or SKETCH, of the St. PETER and St. PAUL. AMONG the Drawings of the Count, which compofed part of the prefent Work, there was one of the veffel in which he made his efcape. As it was a three-mailed veffel, differing in no refpecl:, either in hull or rigging, from an European fliip, the Proprietors did not intend to have it engraved, for which reafon it was fet apart from the refl ; and as my endeavours to find it have been ineffectual, I fear it has been irrecoverably miflaid, among other papers of no value : I Cannot, however, confidently with the principles of rectitude, forbear obfèrving, that it was exceedingly unlike the prefent Engraving, particularly in its wales, which were nearly flrait, and the guns, which were confiderably more numerous,, being eight or ten on the vifible fide. Thefe .circumftances, neverthclefs, are not enough, in my opinion, to impeach the Count's veracity, without farther deliberation. The Chinefe Chinefe neatnefs is funiciently apparent in this Drawing, but it exhibits too many marks of incorrectnefs to be implicitly relied on j of which I mall only mention, that the fhrouds do not terminate in the dead-eyes ; that part of the gun-wale abuts againft the main-mail; and that the planking upon the poop terminates upon the after mizzen back-flay. I do not therefore apprehend that I fhall feein an advocate improperly partial to the Count, when I make the fuppofition, that his Drawing was made in 1784, from memory, at the time when the publication of his Journal was refolved on ; and obferve, that an interval of thirteen years, may, without any great improbability be thought fufficient to render fuch a performance far from being correct, when made by a man whofe purfuits had been very little in the marine department. I might go farther, and attempt to guefs at the probable errors of both Drawings, with a view to difcover whether they can be reconciled ? I think they might ; but the difquifitioa promifes neither interefl nor utility. I will, therefore, only add, that the Count (vol. I. page 77,) rightly fays, that the veffel carried eight guns ; and though (page 301,) he fays he cut ports at Kamfchatka, and mounted twelve additional guns, yet it feems they were wood; and it may eafily be imagined, that the hard weather and misfortunes he met with in his voyage might force him to relinquifh that ufelefs parade, and -clofe his ports, when he repaired the veffel at the Liqueio Iflands* This occurrence of the Drawing of the veffel being overlooked in the Preface, though I thought I had omitted nothing to which the Public is entitled, leads me & mention, that the manuicript 2 copy [ XXXll ] copy at the Briti/h Mufcum contains the following Drawings, which it was not thought proper to engrave. 1. The Shipwreck (Naufrage) of the Count de Benyowiky, among the Liqueio Iilands. As it is evident that neither the Count, nor any of his companions, could have taken a drawing of the incident mentioned at the end of the firft volume, I con-fidered this iketch merely as an ornament, conveying no information ; on which account it appeared unneccffary to engrave it. 2. View of the coaft of Formofa. There is no reference to this in the M. S. and it has no note of bearings, diftance, &c. The Count's cypher on the back of the drawing refers it to Auguft 26, 1771. Concerning the PORTRAIT in t h & TITLE PAGE. THIS Engraving was made by Heath, from a miniature Portrait of half the iize, which * came into my hands in the fame manner manner as the correfpondence of the Count de Benyowfky, and others, relative to his laft expedition j that is to fiy, in confequence of the friendfhip fubfifting between Mr. Magellan and myfelf, which naturally led him to have recourfe to my affiftance, together with that of another intimate friend, for the management of his affairs, during his prefent indifpofition. THE MEMOIRS and TRAVELS of the COUNT de BENYOWSKY. THE Count Mauritius Auguflus de Benyowfky, Magnate of the kingdoms of Hungary and Poland, was born in the year 1741 at Verbowa, the hereditary lordfliip of his family, fituated in the county of Nittria, in Hungary. He was the fon of Samuel, Count de Benyowfky, General of Cavalry, in the fervice of the Emperor, and Rofa, Baronefs of Revay, Lady and hereditary Countefs of Thurocz. The early part of his life was employed in the courfe of education, ftudies and exercifes which the court of Vienna affords to fuch of its vaffals as are of illuftrious families ; and upon his arrival at the age of fourteen years he fixed his choice on the profeffion of arms. He was accordingly received into the regiment of Siebenfchien, in quality of Vol. I. B Lieute- Lieutenant, and joined the Imperial army then in the field againft the King of Pruflia,. The firft battle at which he was prefent was that of Lobofitz, on the 8th of October, 1756, under the command of General Brown ; the fécond was that of Prague, on the 6th of May, 1757, under the Prince Charles of Lorrain; and the third was before Schweidnitz, on the 12 th of November, 1757. In the following year, 1758, he had a lhare in the battle of Domftadt, under the command of General Laudon, after which period he received an invitation from his uncle, the Staroft of * Bieniowfky, to repair to Poland, in order to fecure the inheritance of his Staroftie. He therefore quitted the Imperial fervice, and haftened into Lithuania, where he was acknowledged by his uncle as his heir, and fucceeded him in the poffeffion of his lands. His tranquillity was, however, interrupted by the fudden death of his father, and the intelligence he received that his brothers in law had taken poffeffion of his inheritance. This unexpected cata-ilrophe demanding his immediate prefence in Hungary, he quitted Lithuania, with the fole view of obtaining poffeffion of the property of his family ; but on his arrival he found the whole in the hands of his brothers in law, who, by force, oppofed his entrance into his own caftle. In this conjuncture, attending only to the jufticc of his caufe and the dictates of his vivacity, he repaired to Kruffova, a lordffiip dependant on the caftle of Ver-bowa, where, after having caufed himfelf to be acknowledged by his vaffals, and being afiured of their fidelity, he armed them, and by their affiftance gained poffeffion of • Thus fpclled in the manufcript, afcer the Polifli manner* of all his effects. His brothers in law, thus defeated in their ufurpation, adopted the molt atrocious expedient to compleat his ruin. For this purpofe, they reprefented him at the court of Vienna as a rebel and difturber of the public peace ; in confequence of which falfe information the Emprefs Queen iffued a decree in Chancery againft the Count, who was, by that means, not only deprived of his property, but compelled to withdraw, with the utmoft expedition, into Poland. It was in vain that he tranfmitted many memorials from Poland, tending to juftify his conduct ; as his enemies fuppreffed them, and continued firm in the ufurpation of his property. This difgrace, added to the efforts of a difpofition naturally active, made him determine to travel ; fo that after eftablifhing his eftate in Lithuania in proper hands, he repaired to Dantzick, with the intention of applying himfelf to navigation, and made feveral voyages to Hamburgh, and from thence to Amfterdam and to Plymouth, He was on the point of making a voyage to the Eaft Indies in the year 1767, when he received feveral letters from the Magnates and Senators of Poland, which engaged him to return thither, in order to join in the confederation then forming. The perfonal regard he entertained for many of the nobility of that kingdom, added to the juftice of their caufe, and the conilderation of his own peculiar interefts, induced him to comply with the earneft iolici tarions of his friends. He accordingly arrived at Warfaw in the month of July, where he entered into an obligation upon oath with the chiefs of the confederacy, to the following effect :— B 2 i« That 1. That he acknowledged the confederation as th« only lawful tribunal of the republic, and that he would pay obedience only' to the orders iffued from its council- 2. That he would not acknowledge the King until the confederation fhould have declared him lawfully elected. 3. That he would join the confederation, on the firft notice, where they fhould determine to affemble, to op-pofe the Ruffians by force of arms ; and that he would not forfake the colours of the confederation fo long as the Ruffians fhould remain in Poland. 4. That he would faithfully obey all the orders of the council or generality of the confederation. In the month of December he left Warfaw, with the defign of endeavouring to make his rights known at the court of Vienna, but being at length deprived of every hope of juftice, he was obliged to return into Poland. Being thus unjuftly deprived of a confiderable fortune in Hungary, without the fmalleft expectation of recovering it, he determined to quit for ever the dominions of the houfe of Auftria. During his pafTage through the county of Zips, he was attacked by a violent fever, which obliged him to interrupt his journey. On this occafion he received repeated marks of friendfhip and regard in the houfe of Mr. Henfky, a gentleman of diftinction, and became enamoured of one of his three daughters, with whom he foon after had the pleafure to he united by marriage. In this ftate he found himfelf in the pofTeffion of hap-pinefs and tranquillity ; but it was not his fate to continue long in poffeffion of repofe. The confederate fiâtes of of Poland, a party of whom had declared themfelves at Cracow, taking notice that the Count de Benyowfky was one of the firft who had figned their union at Warfaw, wrote to him to join them. Their prefîing folicitarions would have been ineffectual, if he had not been acted on by a ftronger tie. His oath compelled him to go. He therefore departed without informing his fpoufe, and repaired to Cracow, where he arrived on the very day the Count Panin made the affault He was received with open arms by the Marfhal Czarnezky, and was immediately appointed Colonel-General, Commander of Cavalry, and Quarter-Mafter General. On the 6th of July (1768) he was detached to Novi-targ, to conduct a Polifh regiment to Cracow, a commif-fion which he performed with honor, by bringing the whole regiment, compofed of fix hundred men, through the camp of the enemy before- the town. The Marfhal was fo well fatisfied with the conduct of trie Count, that he prevailed on the council of the generality to appoint him Mufter-Mafter General, a place for which he had a competitor in the Prince Martin de Lubomier-fky, who, upon his arrival at Cracow with two thoufand regular troops, was declared a member of the generality of the confederation, and Infpector-General of Cavalry. Before the arrival of this Prince, the Count de Be .y-owfky had propofed to the Marfhal an expedition to feize the fortrefs of Landfcron with the Poliili regiment in the fervice of the Crown, which was quartered in that province. The Prince de Lubomierfky, on hearing of this propofal, thought the enterprize eafy, and undertook it himfelf. Without acquainting the Count, he therefore gave gave orders to his cavalry to proceed, and it was not till after his departure that the Marfhal Czarnefky informed him of this attempt. The Count de Benyowfky did not heiitate to affure the Marfhal that the Prince would be defeated by the Ruffians before he had proceeded half the way, and that there was no other remedy than to fend the reft of the cavalry, without delay, to charge the Ruffians at the inftant of their attack on the Prince. Unfortunately, the Marfhal was long in deciding ; fo that it was not till the fécond day after the departure of the Prince that the Count de Benyowfky received orders to march, with fourteen hundred cavalry, to fupport him. In confequence of this delay the Count, notwithftanding his utmoft diligence, did not arrive at Kremenka till fix hours after the defeat of the Prince. However, he had the good fortune to find the Ruffians on the fpot, not expecting any attack. Upon the information he had received from his fpies of their pofition and their negligence, he attacked and defeated them, and retook two hundred men, who had been made prifoners, of the party of the Prince Lubomieriky. After this manoeuvre he himfelf formed the project of carrying the attempt upon Landfcron into execution. On his march towards that fortrefs he .was fo fortunate as to meet with feveral bodies of the Prince de Lubomieriky's troops, which reinforced his own. At length he arrived before the fortrefs, where he fummoned the troops of the crown to furrender themfelves prifoners, and to put him in poffeffion of the place ; which he had the fatif-faction of feeing performed in the fpace of an hour's time. His firft proceeding was to engage the new troops under under their oath of fidelity, in the fervice of the confederation ; after which he difpatched a courier to the Prince Lubomierfky, (who, fince his defeat, had taken refuge in Hungary, without troops or friends,) to acquaint him with his fuccefs, and invite him to refume his command. But two days afterwards, having received undoubted information that the Ruffian General, Count Apraxin, was on his march to invert Cracow, he judged it indifpenfably neceffary to haften to the defence of that place ; and as he forefaw that a town of that magnitude could not be defended unlefs it were well fupplied witli provifions, he laid the diftricts of Bielcz, Landfcron, and Novitarg, under contribution, and obtained eighty carriages of grain, with fix hundred oxen. With this convoy he quitted Landfcron, and marched towards Cracow. On his arrival at Vielicka, a town famous for its fait-works, he met a party of Ruffians, which he attacked and defeated, taking thirty prifoners, and the fum of nine hundred and eighty thoufand Polifh florins, being the King's revenue from the falt-works. In the night of the 29th of July he came to the pafîage of the Viftula, from whence he difpatched an officer to inform the Marfhal Czarnezky of his return, requeuing that the gates might be opened, to admit his party into the town without being difcovered by the Ruffians. 7 he Marfhal, who was not acquainted with the particulars of the enterprize of the Count, but had heard by report that he was defeated and flain, was overjoyed at his return, and he entered the city with four thoufand cavalry, a large fum of money, and a fup-ply of proviflons. Immediately Immediately after the arrival of the Count, he pro-pofed to the Marfhal to cftablifh a camp without the town ; repreftnting to him, that their numerous cavalry would exhauft their magazines without being of any utility. In fupport of this propofal he obferved, that the greateft advantages would be derived from an entrenched camp, as it would facilitate the junction of feveral parties of the nobility, who durft not declare themfelves in favor of the confederation, becaufe they faw no force to fupport them againft the Ruffians, The reprefentations of the Count did not, however, prevail with the council of the confederation. Orders were given to fhut and barricade the gates of the town, including all the troops, whofe number amounted to thirteen thoufand men. General Apraxin approached every day nearer the town, and laid the furrounding country defolate, fo that it could no longer afford any fubfiftance to the befieged. Provisions, by this means, becoming very fcarce and dear, the Count again propofed to the Marfhal to permit him to fally out with a party of two thoufand cavalry, in hopes that with this troop he might throw fome provifions into the town, and perhaps caufe the Ruffian General to raife the fiege. The council of the generality accepted this propofal, and permitted him to leave the city on the 23d of July, when he paffed out at the gate of the Viftula, and fwam his troops acrofs the river, every other pafTage being fhut up. As foon as he had gained the open country he difpatched feveral officers to engage the nobility to join him, and furnifh fubfiftance for the befieged town. As early as the 8th of Auguft he found himfelf at the head of near count de benyowsky. g riear five thoufand horfe and a good number of carriages, loaded with provifions, drawn by oxen, which were like-wife intended to make part of the fubfiftance. On the 7th of Auguft he repaired to the paffage of the Viftula ; but finding it occupied by the Ruffians, he retreated towards Vielicka, for the greater certainty of introducing the fupplies into the town ; and, as he concluded that the beft method of infuring fuccefs would be to attack the Ruffians on one fide, in order to facilitate the paffage on the other, he accordingly marched on the i ç th of the fame month, with three thoufand horfe, directly to the enemy's camp, leaving the convoy of provifions under the command of the Baron de Klufewfky, Colonel of Infantry, with orders to take advantage of the moment of the attack to enter the town. At three o'clock in the morning the Count, in perfon, attacked the Ruffian camp, and compelled General Apraxin to collect all his troops to oppofe him, by which means a paffage was left for the Baron de Klufewfky. At eight o'clock the Count, being convinced that his fupplies had entered Cracow, made a preceipitate retreat, after having loft above fixteen hundred men. The Ruffian cavalry, com-pofed of Coffacks and Huffars, purfued the Count, who, in his retreat, had the misfortune to have his horfe killed under him, and, after receiving two wounds, he himfelf fell at laft into the hands of the enemy. The Ruffian General, being informed of the fuccefsful manœuvre of the Count, was impreffed with a very high opinion of him, and propofed to the Count to enter into the fcrvice of his fovereign ; an offer which was r;eject( .1 with difdain. He was, therefore, on the point of being Vol. I. C fent fent with the other prifoners to Kiovia, where his friends ranfomed him for tv/o thoufand ducats, which is equivalent to twenty-two thoufand French livres. * Being thus fet at liberty, he confidered himfelf as difpenfed from his parole which he had given to the Ruffians ; it being an inconteftable truth, that a man who purchafes the ufe of his faculties has a right to apply them to any ufe he may find neceflary for his welfare. By virtue of this indubitable right, the Count again entered Cracow, and was received with the moft perfect fatisfaction by the whole confederacy. At the firft council of war which was held, he repre-fented to the generality, that the town being no longer able to hold out, it became an object of the utmoft confequence to fecure another place of retreat. He therefore propofed to the council to appoint him to feize the caftle of Lublau, fituated on the frontier of Hungary. This project: was approved of by the council, and the execution was committed to the charge of the Count, who on the 2 2d quitted the town of Cracow, a body of fix hundred horfe being appointed to follow him. On his arrival on the frontier he ufed every exertion to obtain the intelligence neceflary to infure fuccefs to his entcr-prize. He even ventured to vifit the commanding officer of the caftle, who was not apprehenfive of the lcaft danger. After a few vifits he had the addrefs to engage more than half the garrifon, by oath, in the intereft of the confederation, and he only waited for the appearance of the detachment from Cracow. But it unfortunately happened that the commander of that body was fo indifcreet as * Or £. 961 (terling. as to divulge the purpofe to which it was deftined; fo that the news arrived at the caftle of Lublau before the troops, and the Count de Benyowfky, who waited in readinefs in the town of Georgenburg, near the caftle, was feized, and carried into that fortrefs. The precaution he had taken of remaining in Hungary did not fave him fr©m the danger, becaufe the commandant of Leutfch, an Imperial town, had permitted the foreign troops to pafs into Hungary, contrary to the rights of his fovereign. The commanding officer of the caftle treated the Count with the greateft indignity, and, pur-fuant to his order, fent him to General Apraxin at Cracow, who had taken poffeffion of that town during the abfence of the Count. It fortunately happened, however, that, in the paffage from Novitarg, a troop of two hundred > confederates, whofe commanding officer knew the unifonr. of the troops who were conducting the Count, met them and refcued him out of their hands. As foon as the officer recognized the Count de Benyowfky, he furrendered his command to him. With this fmall force he marched towards Lublin, a town where the reft of the confederation of Cracow had appointed to meet, in order to join thofe of Bar. On his arrival near Lublin he fent an intelligent officer to enquire whether the Ruffians were ftill at a diftance, and whether any part of the confederation had already repaired to Lublin. The officer, on his return, acquainted him, that he had found a party of the confederates in Lublin, commanded by M. Der->'anowfky, who was then bufied in engaging the nobility of that palatinate to declare themfelves in favor of the confederation ; but that he had likewife been informed C 2 that that the Ruffians were advancing, by forced marches, tô diflodge the confederates from that town. This news caufed the Count de Benyowfky to abandon his defign of entering Lublin, inftead of which he proceeded to Spicza, where he met a body of the confederates, who joined his party. From Spicza he publilhed feveral manifeftos, in which he exhorted the nobility to join him, fixing the rendezvous at Zamofc, to which place he directed his march. On his arrival at Krafnoflaw he learned, that a party of the confederates, who had retired to Chelm, was in danger of being attacked by a body of Ruffians, compofed of one battalion of infantry, eight hundred Cofiacks, and four hundred Huffars. He inftantly determined to haften to their affiftance, and marched the whole night between the 17th and 18th of October, 1768. His arrival was almoft immediately after that of the Ruffians, whole cavalry had began to fpread over the fuburbs. He attacked and diflodged them, and upon entering the town lie propofed to Colonel Suhalfky, whom he found with four hundred horfe in the great fquare, to leave the town and attack the Ruffians. This being refolved on, tlte Count marched out with his whole troop, pretending to fly, in order to detach the enemy's cavalry from their infantry. He had the good fortune by this means to draw them two leagues from Chelm, when perceiving them at a confiderable diftance from their infantry, he faced about and brifkly attacked them. The CofTacks were thrown into confufion at the firft charge, and the Iiuflars, after fuftaining the fhock, endeavoured to retreat towards their infantry ; on the arrival of which the Count, Count, whofe force confiftcd entirely of cavalry, retired with the lofs of one hundred and fix men, the enemy not daring to purfue him. The affair being thus terminated, the Count returned to Krafnoflaw, where he had the fatisfa&ion to meet a party of three hundred infantry, fent by the nobility of the palatinate of Sandomir, to the affiftance of Bar, the city from whence the general confederation took its name. After the addition of this troop he found himfelf at the head of two thoufand men, in want only of field pieces and ammunition. Before he quitted Krafnoflaw he affembled a council, in which it was determined to repair to Zamofc, and take pofTeffion of the town, in order to procure the neceflary fupplies of arms, money, and ammunition. On the 28th of October the Count encamped in the fuburbs of the town, and fummoned the commandant of the town to pay the contribution of three thoufand ducats, arms for two thoufand infantry, four field pieces, four thoufand pounds of gunpowder, and fix thoufand pounds of lead. On the 27th, having received nearly the whole of his demand, he quitted Zamofc, with the intention of repairing to Belcz, in order to encourage the nobility of that palatinate to declare in favor of the confederation. Upon his arrival at Grodeck he judged it proper to remain fome time, in expectation of the parties which the nobility of the palatinate of Lublin might fend to him.. Between the 6th and 1 cth of November he was joined by feven hundred and forty-three horfemen and one hundred and forty fantaflms, whereupon, judging himfelf fufficiently ftrong to appear before Belcz, he quitted Grodjck on the 1 2th, on his march towards that place. As he was pairing through through the village of Lelki he met an officer with dif-patches from General Vitt, commander at Kamieniecz, to the King. This officer, who was compelled to deliver his packet, informed them, that a Ruffian party was then in the field, for the exprefs purpofe of purfuing and deftroying the confederated forces under his command, and that the Ruffian General had fet a price upon his head. After this information, and from the particulars contained in the difpatches, he changed his deiign, andinftead of repairing to Belcz himfelf, he fent no more than a detachment of fix hundred horfe to that place, commanded by Colonel Suhalfky, to lay the town under contribution, 'i he Count paffed, with the greatcfr. part of his force, to Sokal, a town not far from Belcz, where he waited the return of his fpies. One of them arrived in the night of the 2 th, from whom he received information, that a corps of Ruffians, joined by a regiment of Polanders in the fervice of the King, were marching haftily to fur-prize the Count, who they fuppofed to be in Belcz with his whole force. At day-break he difpatched an order to his officer in command at Belcz to march out of the town in the night of the 21ft, and proceed towards the village of Lelki to meet the Ruffians, and engage them to purfue him. He exprefsly ordered him to retreat, towards Sokal, and not to face about till he arrived on the banks of the river in the way to Sokal. After forwarding thefe orders the Count quitted Sokal the 21ft of December, and placed his infantry, with four pieces of cannon, in ambufcade in a wood by the fide of the road, while he himfelf, with his cavalry, remained concealed behind an eminence nearer to Lelki. In this difpofition he paffed paffed the whole day and part of the night, in expectation of the event, frequently fending detachments towards Lelki to obferve the enemy. His officers returned every hour with information, and at length the long expected hour arrived in which he received notice that the detachment from Belcz had met the corps of Ruffians, was immediately attacked by them, and that the confederate party would very foon pafs by his poft. In fact, the Count heard feveral difcharges of fire-arms, and quickly after he faw Colonel Suhalfky retire towards Sokal, pur-fued by the Ruffians. He fufTered both to pafs until Suhalfky had proceeded beyond the wood where the confederate infantry was in ambufh. Thefe began a miart fire on the Ruffians, who inftantly halted, and afterwards retreated towards the mountain, behind which the Count lay concealed, out of the reach of cannon fhot. The Ruffians drew up in order of battle to receive the fhock of Colonel Suhalfky's party, who came upon them, fup-ported by the infantry, out of the ambufcade. As foon as the firft fire had began, the Count rufhed upon the enemy's right flank, which being forced to give way, fell upon the centre in the greateft diforder. The Ruffians, neverthelefs, fought with defperate valour as long as their ammunition rafted ; but at length being compelled to yield to force, they furrendered themfelves prifoners, to the number of four hundred men, being the remainder of a party of three thoufand. After this happy termination, the Count, furprized to find no cannon with the enemy's infantry, was informed that the Ruffian commander, General Ifmailow, having perceived that the corps of Colonel Suhalfky was only a detachment, detachment, had concluded that the Count himfelf remained at Belcz ; for which reafon he fent only the cavalry, with fix companies of chaffeurs, on the pur-fuit, and had himfelf, with four battalions, fix pieces of cannon, ten fquadrons. of Huffars, and a Polifh regiment of cavalry, proceeded to Belcz, with the intention of de-ftroying the Count's party. In order therefore to obtain the beft information of the defigns of this General, the Count de Benyowfky difpatched a Polifh Captain, M. Rib-niczki, to make the neceflary enquiries, and, if poflible, to bring the Polifh regiment over to the fide of the confederation. After the departure of this emiflary the Count retired with his troops towards Mofly, a town fituatc among the mountains of black Ruflia, about fixteen leagues from the field of battle, where lie remained till the 27 th of the month. On the 28 th about noon he was informed that a body of troops were feen on the heights, marching with their colours flying. He immediately ordered his forces to move, and marched towards them, with a determination to give them a warm reception ; but he was foon agree-ably undeceived by the arrival of a Polifh officer, whom he perceived to be his emifTary, and who informed him that the troops then on their march towards him confified of four fquadrons of Polifh cavalry, who 1 raving quitted the Ruffian fervice, were defirous of joining the confederation. The ufual oath was therefore adminiftered to them, after which the Count refolved to proceed to Bar, in order to give an account of his proceedings to the generality of the confederation, and to difpofe of his prifoners. But the following day, having received information mation of the taking of Bar, and the retreat of the Count de Potoczky towards the frontier of Turky, he was defirous of joining him, and would have carried his purpofe into effect, if he had not been folicited by the nobility of the palatinate of Lemberg, who fent feveral deputies to requeft him to approach their town, and fupport them in declaring for the confederation. He therefore marched towards Lemberg on the 4th of December, and levied a contribution in that city, but was joined by no more than fifty horfemen. From Lemberg he fent a party to Brody, to raife fome money, and himfelf marched towards the Dneifter. On the 14th he met at Zavalow a party of the confederates of the corps under the Count de Pulauzky, from whom he learned the whole of the misfortunes the confederation had fufrered, the taking of Bar, the defeat of Count Potoczky at Podhayze, and the imprifonment of the old Marfhal Pulauzky : but the event which moft fenfibly affected him was the defign of the two fons of the Marfhal Pulauzky, who, feeing their father imprifoned, were defirous of quitting the army of the confederation. All thefe circumftances determined the Count to repair to Zuaniecz on the 21ft. The young Counts Pulauzky, his old friends, received him with the greateft joy, as a friend capable of affifting in their enterprizes, and on the following day he was proclaimed Commandant-General of Cavalry, and inftalled in quality of Commander in Chief at Zuaniecz, a place which the elder fon of the Count Pulauzky ceded to him on account of the confidence he repofed in his experience. Immediately after the arrival of the Count a change was madp in the difcipline of the troops of the confederates. Th ey were better provided, Vol. I. D and and fubordination more ftrictly attended to. And as the rigour of the feafon feemed to forbid the approach of the Ruffians, the Count availed himfelf of the time to flock the two fortrefles of Zuaniecz and Okopp with provifion, in the latter of which the younger Count Pulauzky commanded in perfon. He likewife ufed every exertion to reconcile the Count Potoczky and Krafinzky with the Marfhal Pulauzky. But this interpofition had nearly proved unfortunate to the Count Benyowfky himfelf ; for the Count Potoefky, fufpeéfing him of an intention of releafing the Marfhal Pulauzky by open force, had proceeded fo far even as to iflue orders to arreft the Count de Benyowfky. The latter, however, having received information of the proceeding, quitted the camp and retired to Zuaniecz, where he connected himfelf ftill more intimately than before with the two fons of the Marfhal de Pulauzky. On the 29th of December the Count received advice of the departure of the Count Potoczky, with his troops, for Bender. He law clearly that this difunion between the two confederate parties would deftroy their force ; and for that reafon he advifed the Count de Pulauzky to write to the Counts Potoczky and Krafinzky, to repre-fent to them the numerous dangers to which they would expofe many parts of the confederation, by feparating from them \ that, on the contrary, it was abfolutely neceflary to re-enter Poland with a confiderable body of Turks to encourage and fupport the nobility in taking up arms in favor of the confederation, which they might eafily do by facrificing their private interefts to the general good of the republic. But the Count Potoczky, liflcning only to the fuggeflions of his ambition, and flattered tered by the diftinction he met with among the Turks, perfifted in the defign of not quitting the Turkifh army, in which he likewife prevailed on the Count de Krafinzky to concur. This precipitate departure of the Counts Potoczky and Krafinzky, and the diftance of the Turkifh army near Bender, entirely difconcerted the two confederate parties, compofed of feven thoufand eight hundred men, one halt of whom were commanded by Count Cafimir Pulauzky at Okopp, and the other by the Count de Benyowfky at Zuaniecz. Thefe two chiefs, in order to keep their troops in fpirits, and likewife to anfwer the effential purpofes or the confederation, took into their pay three thoufand Lipky, a kind of light Turkifh cavalry, and after having put the fortreffes into a ftate of defence, they eftablifhed two camps between Zuaniecz and Okopp. Such was their pofition on the 2 2d of January, 1769. On the 24th they received advice that a Ruffian corps, commanded by General Ifmailow, was eftablifhed at Conftantinow, in Wolnia, and that another corps, under the command of General Kretfetnikow, had fixed their quarters at Lemberg. Hence they concluded that the Ruffians defigned to moleft them by their light troops till the expected arrival,of General Galitzin with his army. To prevent this, their firft care was directed to the preferva-tion of the fortrefles of Zuaniecz and Okopp, after which they raifed their camp to march towards the enemy. The Count Pulauzky undertook to act againft General Kretfetnikow, and the Count Benyowfky againft General Ifmailow. The latter directed his march towards Skalat, a caftle and town belonging to the Count Scipion, one of D 2 his his beft friends, a circumflance which, however, did not prevent him from feizing the artillery and furniture. From Skalat he marched to Viogrodeck, Lampol, and Zaczflaw, at which laft place he received a reinforcement of one hundred and fixty-nine horfemen and eighty-two foot foldiers. From Zaczflaw he retired into the foreft of Lackow, whence he difpatched two of his officers to reconnoitre the enemy's poft at Conftantinow. On their return he learned that General Ifmailow was not yet arrived, but that he was continually expected, and that there was at Conftantinow only a Major, commander of fix companies of infantry, having with him two field pieces, four hundred Huffars, and three or four hundred CofTacks ; and that the enemy was ignorant of the pofi-tion of the confederates, whom they fuppofed ftill to remain in their fortrefles. On this information the Count de Benyowfky marched his troops the whole night between the 7th and 8 th of February, and arrived before Con-ftantenow at four in the morning. He immediately dif-pofed his troops in order, and at five o'clock attacked them in three different places. The Ruffians made very little refiftance, fo that great numbers of them were flain, becaufe the Turks gave no quarter, a circumflance which obliged the Count to threaten the Aga who commanded them, that if he did not put a flop to the carnage made by his troop, he would punifh their cruelty on the fpot. This firmnefs of the Count preferved the lives of many of thefe unfortunate men. After having thus defeated the Ruffians he took poffeffion of Conftantinow, which he laid under contribution, and then proceeded to Medzibors. On the 15 th he he took the caftle of Medzibors, the garrifon confifting of fixty-eight grenadiers, with eight pieces of cannon, and a quantity of ammunition and provifions. From Medzibors he paffed the river Bogh, and marched towards Grodek ; during which he was informed that the Ruffians, in conjunction with General Branicky, in the King's fervice, having been made acquainted with the operations and the march of the Count, had fent four thoufand men, infantry and cavalry, from Bar, to purfue him. This intelligence caufed him to haften his march, and to pafs the river Smotrick to the north of the caftle of Felftin. On the 27th, being arrived at Satanow, he was informed that the Count Pulauzky, not having fucceeded againft Lemberg, had attempted to diflodge feveral parties of Ruffians in the vicinity of that place, three of which he had defeated ; but that having received advices of the grcateft confequence, he had retreated towards Zuaniecz, in hopes of joining the Count. On the 27th the Count Benyowfky quitted Satanow, and marched towards Grodek, and as he was paffmg through the village of Oftokopia he met feveral carriages filled with wounded men, from whom he learnt that the Count Pulauzky had maintained a very fharp action with the Ruffians near the river Sre-bovicza, and had retired towards Grodek, the Ruffians not thinking proper to purfue him. In confequence of this information the Count halted to rcfrcfli his troops, and after marching all night he arrived about day-break before Grodek, where the Count Pulauzky, hearing of his arrival, met him, and conducted him into the town. The junction of thefe troops was one of thofe happy turns of fortune which alone can change * change the iffue of a well-conducted enterprise, fuch as was that of General Ifmailow, who, fince the affair at Conftantinow, had fought the Count Benyowfky without being able to join him. The Ruffian commander, upon the information that the Count Pulauzky was at Grodek with three thoufand men, determined to furround him, and would certainly have done it, if the arrival of the Count, with his corps of four thoufand three hundred men, had not intervened and prevented it. On the 28th in the evening the confederate detachment announced the approach of the Ruffians, who were on their march, to the number of ten thoufand, in two columns. On the iff of March, at feven in the morning, they were at no greater diftance from the city than one league, when the Count de Pulauzky prefented himfelf in oppo-fition to them in the order of battle, with twenty-eight companies of infantry, fupported by fix pieces of cannon, with the Turkifh and Polifh cavalry on each wing. At nine o'clock the action began, by an attack made by the Ruffian cavalry upon the left wing of the confederates, which was compelled to give way. The center was at the fame time charged by the enemy's infantry along its whole front, which likewife engaged their left : at this moment the Count de Benyowfky marched his whole infantry to fupport the left wing of the Count de Pulauzky, and himfelf, at the head of his cavalry, rufhed on the enemy's right flank, who were not in the leafl expectation of this manœuvre. The Ruffian General then di-yided his center to fupport his wings, but the enemy's Coflacks, Coflacks, who were overthrown, prevented the infantry from obeying their orders. The confequence was, that the latter were thrown into the utmoft confufion, and compelled to make a precipitate retreat, with the lofs of their carriages and artillery. This affair coft the Ruflians near twelve hundred men flain, and as many taken prifoners • but the killed and wounded of the confederates did not exceed nine hundred. On the 2d of March the two Counts quitted the town of Grodek, and marched towards Zuaniecz with the intention of calling a council of war to decide ultimately on the meafures to be purfued. On the 7 th, on a fpot between Zuaniecz and Okopp, they divided their troops in order to lead them into thofe fortrefles, to repofe themfelves, after the fatigues they had undergone. A council of war was held on the 8 th, at which the Generals Laurent, Potoczky, Grocholzky, Radziminfky,, Slabuferfky, Noviczy, and other commanders of the troops of the republic attached to the confederation were prefent. The two Counts, perfuaded that the Ruffian army waited only the return of fpring to make their approach to the Turkifh frontier, reprefented to the council, that it would be prudent to determine to quit the two pofls of Zuaniecz and Okopp, and return into Poland. The reafons they offered were, 1. That while they remained on the frontier of Turky, the Ruffians would keep them feparated from Poland, and confequently that the palatinates would never dare to declare for the confederation, becaufe unfupported by any military force. 2. That they themfelves would likewife continue unable to draw any fupply either of fubfiftence or recruits from Poland, to rcinftate their daily loflesj loftes. 3. Laftly, That the two fortrefles of Zuaniecz and Okopp could never hold out againft an army, Thefe remonftrances had no effect on the Council, which obfti-nately perfifted in the refolution of preferving the two fortrefles ; and for that purpofe they determined to fend one deputy to the Counts Potoczky and Krazinzky to requeft fupplies of men and money, and another to Con-ftantinople to folicit the fame fupplies from the Grand Signior. It was in vain that the Counts Pulauzky and Benyowfky reprefented, that before the return of their deputies the Ruffians would attack them, and put it out of their power to abandon their prefent pofts ; for the council ftill adhered to their refolution. On the 10th a foraging party brought word, that they had difcovered a numerous troop of the enemy's cavalry at Korolouka. The Council immediately ordered a detachment on the pur fuit. The Count himfelf took charge of this expedition ; but inftead of the enemy he met a party of fix hundred confederates, who had formerly ferved under the Prince Lubomierfky. On the 12th, in the morning, advice was received by the Count, that General Vitt had caufed feven hundred men to march out of Kamieniecz Podolfky, to take their pofition before Zuaniecz. The Council being informed of this, gave orders to the Count to make the neceflary difpofitions to prevent their making a lodgment, which he did by pre-fenting himfelf before them with eight fquadrons of cavalry. Upon his approach he learned that General Vitt had fent this detachment only for the purpofe of receiving a Ruffian courier from Conftantinople, who was to be put into their hands by a Turkifh detachment from Chotyin* Chotym. On this information the Count de Benyowfky acquainted the officer, that the Turks had confidence enough in the confederation to pafs the man in queftion through their hands, concerning whofe fate it was totally unneceffary for General Vitt to give himfelf any trouble; who, having confulted his own vanity in fending his detachment, might probably find reafons to repent the proceeding. This anfwer was followed by an order to the officer to withdraw inftantly with his party, or ftand on his defence. The royalift officer retired without delay, and returned to Kamieniecz ; and the Count, on his part, retired to Zuaniecz, where he found the Ruffian courier arrived, and received him in charge from the Turks to be conducted to Kamieniecz. In the night of the 15th the Count received a courier from the Count Pulauzky, informing him, that the latter having iffued out of Okopp with a detachment of troops, on his march towards Oucze, was attacked by the Ruffians, and obliged to retreat towards Grodek, a village to which he had been invited to come. The Count Benyowfky immediately marched a part of his cavalry with the utmoft expedition to his affiftance ; but though he traverfed fixteen leagues in fourteen hours, he did not arrive till after the action, which, contrary to all expectation, had terminated in favor of the confederates, though the Count Pulauzky had no more than four hundred men with him to oppofe a body of fourteen hundred. The prifoners taken in this engagement affirmed that the Ruffian party had been fent out to reconnoitre the ground, and take fome prifoners, in order to obtain information refpeding the polirions Vol. I. E of of the fortrefles Zuaniecz and Okopp, They alfo informed the Count that General Ifmailow intended in a fhort time to attack thofe fortrefles with twelve thoufand men appointed for the enterprize. On the 18th, upon his return to Zuaniecz, the Count communicated this news to the council, which was alfo confirmed by a Polifh officer who deferted from Kamieniecz to join the confederation. On the 21ft the Count de Benyowfky having received frefh advices of the approach of the enemy, engaged the Count Pulauzky to quit the fortrefs of Okopp, as being incapable of maintaining a fiege ; but the council refufed to confent to the evacuation of that place ; and at laft, on the 2 2d and 23d, being aflured that General Ifmailow was at no greater diftance than three leagues from Zuaniecz, they gave up all their hopes. The members of the council then deliberated only on the beft means of fecuring themfelves individually, and one after another they quitted the fortrefs to retire into Turky, taking with them all the Ruffian prifoners. This proceeding confequently left the whole difpofition of affairs in the hands of the Count de Benyowfky. On the 24th in the morning the Count beheld from the fortrefs the enemy's columns following each other, and fcparating at the village of Havrilouka; whence he conjectured that they intended to attack the two fortrefles of Zuaniecz and Okopp at the fame time, a circumflance in which he v/as not deceived. On the fame clay about noon the Count fired feveral eight pounders at the enemy, loaded with only one third of their ufual charge. The balls of courfe not reaching the enemy, they concluded that they might, with impunity, approach ftill nearer the fortrefs, which they did the fame day, and began to work on the erection of batteries. On the 25th the Ruffians began to fire on the caftle, and continued their cannonade till the clofe of the day, without receiving any effectual return ; but in the night between the 25th and 26th the Count, after having given orders to the commanding officer under him to fire on the enemy at day-break with his heavieft artillery, fallied out of the caftle by the gate of Ottaky, which leads towards the Dneifter, with two thoufand horfe, and pairing through Brahy, he made the entire circuit of the Ruffian camp, fo that he found himfelf by day-break at their backs. At this inftant the artillery from the caftle began a very heavy and deftructive fire on the enemy's camp, which was within half cannon fhot of the place. Their troops, who could not rally without being expofed to the fire which fwept their ranks, were quickly thrown into the utmoft confufion, which was greatly increafed by the fudden violence of the cavalry of the Count, who rufhed upon them, and forced them, at laft, to quit the camp and baggage, and fly with precipitation towards Grodek. Their terror was fuch, that they did not ftop till at the diftance of fix leagues from Zuaniecz, and on this occafion they loft eleven hundred flain, and three hundred and twenty-eight prifoners, with two pair of colours, three ftandards, and eighteen pieces of cannon. After the deliverance of Zuaniecz, the Count, defirous of aftifting his companion, the Count de Pulauzky, at Okopp, marched immediately towards that fortrefs ; but E 2 on on his arrival he found it in afhes, and entirely abandoned, except by the dying and the dead. Some of the former acquainted the Count, that the Count de Pulauzky, feeing the impoffibility of maintaining the place, had himfelf, after repelling three afTaults, fet fire to the town and caftle, and immediately afterwards rallied out, with the intention of forcing a paffage through the enemy's camp to join the Count de Benyowfky ; but that their knowledge of the fubfequent adventures of their intrepid chief extended no farther. The Count, after having feen the wounded placed in proper carriages, returned to Zuaniecz. On the 29th he received a letter from the Count de Pulauzky, who informed him, that not having been able to form a paffage towards Zuaniecz, in his fally out of Okopp, he had pafled the Dneifter, and directing his march through Moldavia, he had happily arrived at Zombor, whence he propofed to join the party of confederates at Sandomir in expectation of the arrival of the Count, whom he advifed to quit Zuaniecz and immediately retire into Turkey, in order to march freely through Moldavia on the frontiers of Hungary, where he would himfelf wait for him in the neighbourhood of Zombor. The Count communicated this letter to all the commanders under him, and determined with them to adopt the meafures propofed by the Count Pulauzky. In confequence of this decifion he fent two of his officers to the Bacha of Chotym, to inform him of his intention, and to requeft the neceflary affiftance to facilitate his paffage. The Bacha acquiefced in all his demands, and promifed the indifpenfable affiftance required by the Count. Orders were therefore immediately given to to forward the equipages to Otaky, a village fituated near Chotym ; and on the 30th he evacuated Zuaniecz and marched to Braha, a Polifh village on the bank of the Dniefter, oppofite Chotym, and under the cannon of that fortrefs. Nothing now remained but to pafs the river ; but juft as the Count was about to form a bridge, the Bacha fent him word that he durft by no means permit the eftablifhment of a bridge acrofs the river without exprefs orders of the Grand Seignor ; and moreover, that, upon reflection, he did not think proper to venture to receive the Count and his troops till inftruc-tions fhould arrive from Stamboul ** This meflage threw the Count into the utmofl embar-raffinent. For as he had evacuated Zuaniecz, he found himfelf expofed to the danger of being furrounded on the firft occafion by the Ruffians, who, having the Bacha of Chotym in their interefts, might eafily, and without danger, attack the Count whenever they pleafed. On the 6th of April the Ruffians took poffeffion of Zuaniecz, and detached a party for the purpofe of entirely deftroying the Count and his troops. In the night between the 7th and 8th he was attacked at Braha, by four thoufand men, but the precipitation of the Ruffian General faved the Count. The enemy's cavalry preceded their infantry, and firft entered the village, where they were very ill treated by two batteries the Count had conftructed upon a fmall eminence. Being thus forced to give way, they flopped the paffage of their infantry, which defcended the mountain of Braha ; and as every fhot of the batteries took effect, the Count had the good fortune to repel them. Nevertheless, * i. c. Constantinople. Nevcrthelefs, as he was by no means defirous of a fécond viflt, he quitted Braha on the 8th, and marched to Kitaygrod, where he laid a bridge acrofs the Dniefter, and entered Turky in fpite of the prohibition and menaces of die Bacha. He then paffed through Mefava, and repaired to Stadienieza near Chotym, where he pitched his tents near the camp of the Bacha of Natolia, intending to reft his troops for a fhort fpace, and to fettle upon the meafures neceflary to be adopted in facilitating his march through Moldavia. On the ioth he received an order from the Bacha of Chotym to raife his camp, and leave the dominions of the Grand Signior without delay; and this order was attended with the threat, that on the leaft iign of refift-ance he would caufe all the confederates to be cut in pieces. The Count returned for anfwer, that as the Grand Signior had granted his protection to the confederates of the republic, of which he was a member, it was with the greateft furprize that he beheld the conduct: of the Bacha, who had already forfeited his word, by promiiing him every afliftance, which he had bafely departed from when he forbad him to pafs the river at Braha, and by that means expofed him to the mercy of the Ruffians ; that there was no occafion for other proofs to convince him of the bad faith of the Bacha, who had ibid his fervices to the Ruffians ; and that he feared not his threats, becaufe he was well aflured that the brave men lie commanded would not execute a commiflion fo bafe as that of cutting off the troops of the friends and allies of the Grand Signior, who had taken refuge in his dominions. After After difpatching this anfwer, the Count waited upon the Bacha of Natolia, who was encamped near him, and to whom he communicated every particular of the conduct of the Bacha of Chotym, at the fame time that he requefted his affiftance againft the violence of that traitor. The Bacha of Natolia, who was fecretly the enemy of the Bacha of Chotym, promifed the Count his affiftance, and advifed him to fend a courier to Stamboul to acquaint the Grand Signior with the behaviour of the commander at Chotym, which the Count accordingly did the fame day. On the nth in the evening the Bacha of Chotym fent an Aga of the Janizaries to the Bacha of Natolia, with orders to fecure the perfon of the Count, and fend him to Chotym to be punifhed for his infolenee. But the Bacha of Natolia kept his promife to the Count, by fending an anfwer to the effe&, that the Count, having fent a cfauz or courier to Stamboul, was entitled by the laws to an afylum till the return of the firman of the Grand Signior; and that as his perfon was fafe in his hands, the Bacha of Chotym need not doubt his fecurity, though he refilled to put him into his without an exprefs order from the Grand Signior. After the departure of the Aga, the Bacha or Natolia advifed the Count to raife his camp, and retire, left the Bacha of Chotym might avenge himfelf by treachery : and this generous Turk, not content with fhewing the Count every mark of friendihip during his fhort ftay, detached likewife with him a body of one thoufand horfe, to accompany him to the frontiers of Poland. On - the 14th, the Count raifed his camp, and marched towards Cferniowcze, the refidence of the Hof-podar, at which place he arrived on the 16th, and from thence thence difpatched feveral of his officers to convey his baggage from Chotym ; but thefe, on their return, informed him, that the Bacha had feized the whole. Thus plundered by his allies, he marched towards Avriloveze, where he difmiffed the Turkifh Spahis, and paffed, at length, to Zadobricze, in Poland, preferring the chance of war, though in a hazardous pofition, to the bafe treatment he had received from his allies. On the 18th, after having refrefhed his troops, which confifted of about three thoufand nine hundred men, he propofed to march towards Zombar to join the Count Pulauzky, but many of the Commanders refufed to follow him, and left him to the number fourteen hundred horfe; refufing even to take charge of the fick and wounded, the conveyance of whom greatly incommoded the Count. He forced his march along the river Pruth as far as Dobrilow, where he arrived on the 26th. From Dobrilow he marched towards Oriow, and thence to Dor-chovicz, which is fituated in a valley between the Carpathian mountains. On the 5th of May he fent an officer from Dorchovicz to Zambor to procure intelligence of the Count Pulauzky ; and on the 9th his meffenger returned with the news that Count Pulauzky had retired into Hungary, and that the Ruffians were there under the command of Colonel Brincken, who being apprized of the approach of the Count, had determined to icek him. The Count, being fenfible from this advice of his extreme danger, which he could not avoid as he was fhut in by his enemies, propofed to his troops to enter Hungary, and there wait for a favorable opportunity to enter Poland, in junction with the Count de Pulauzky. But they refufed refufed to follow him, becaufe they confifted, for the molt part, of defèrters from the Imperial forces, who durft not return into the Emperor's dominions. In this diftreffing fituation he had no other alternative but to retire into the forèft of. Zyduczow, which he immediately put in execution. And Colonel Brincken would certainly have miffed him, if he had not received advice of his retreat by a deferter who left the Count at the paffage of Kippa, in the forefl of Zyduczow. The Ruffian Colonel, judging that the Count was marching towards Stry to join the confederate parties at Sanok, likewife haftened his march, and arrived thither half a day before the* Count, whofe forces were weakened by fatigue and hunger. In this ftate he was attacked, on the 19th of May about noon, by Colonel Brincken, at the head of four thoufand men. The Count was at firft compelled to give way j but on the arrival of his cannon he, in his turn, forced the Colonel to retire, who at laft quitted the field, and retreated towards Stry. The advantage of the victory ferved only to augment the mifery, of the Count, who in this ftngle action had near three hundred wounded and two hundred and fixty-eight flain, and who had no other profpeft before him than either to perifh by hunger with his troops in the forefls, or to expofe himfelf to be cut in pieces by the enemy. However, that he might have no caufe to reproach himfelf, he took the advice of his officers and troops in his march towards Bialoboboky, who were unanimous to proceed to that place. The project required a fpeedy execution, though it was impoffible to carry it into effect without firft re-frefhing the men and horfes who had juft beeu in action. Vol. I, F About About eleven o'clock the Count refumed his march, and about ten in the morning of the 20th he arrived at the village of Szuka, where being obliged to halt for re-irefhment, he was furprized by a party of CofTacks, and had only time to quit the village and form his troops in order of battle on the plain, before he was attacked by the enemies cavalry, and foon after by their infantry, fupported by feveral pieces of cannon, which caufed the greater!: deftruclion among the forces of the Count. At length, in the heat of the combat, the Count, having before received two wounds with the labre, was wounded in the body by the fhot of a cannon, loaded with old iron and other deftructive rubbifh. His fate decided that of his party, and the Ruffians had at laft the fatif-faclion of feeing him their prifoner. Colonel Brinken, the commander of the party he had fought with, can fed the Count to be conveyed to the Ruffian General Prince Proforouzky, who fent him to General * * * * commander in chief of the army, then encamped at Tarnopol, a man equally cruel and bafe, who, contrary to every fentimcnt of humanity, infulting the misfortunes of the Count, not only forbad the furgeons to drefs his wounds, but like-wife, after reducing him to bread and water, loaded him with chains, and in that ftate tranfported him to Kiow. It was fortunate, however, that the wounds of the Count reduced him to a fituation which perfuaded his conductor that he was in danger of immediate death, and induced him, upon his arrival at Polone, to make his report to Colonel Sirkow, the commanding officer at that place, who ordered him to be carried to the hofpital, where he ■ was was cured of his wounds by a French furgeon, named Blanchard ; from whofe report, when the Ruffian commander was informed that the Count was able to leave the hofpital, he caufed him to be lodged in the town, and advanced him fifty roubles for his fubfiftance. During his ftay at Polone the Count became acquainted with a Lieutenant in the Ruffian fervice, named Milck, a native of Courland, who, equally generous with his Colonel, offered him a fliare of the little he poffeffed. Thus it was, that in the loweft ftage of misfortune the Count had the confolation to find friends, and he already had began to think his fituation tolerable, when he at once experienced the reverfe, upon the arrival of Brigadier Bannier, who relieved Colonel Sirkow in his command, and who had a ftrong prejudice againft the Count. Immediately after the departure of the Colonel this commander caufed the Count to be loaded with chains, and conducted to the dungeon with the reft of the prifoners, to whom this inhuman tyrant allowed no other fubfiftance than bread and water. Upon his entrance he recognized feveral officers and foldiers who had ferved under him, and their demonftrations of efteem and friendfhip was the only confolation he received in his diftreffed fituation. Twenty-two days were thus confumed in a fubter-raneous prifon, together with eighty of his companions, without light, and even without air, except what was admitted through an aperture which communicated with the cafernates. Thefe unhappy wretches were not permitted to go out, even on their natural occafions, which produced fuch an infection, that thirty-five of them died in eighteen or twenty days ; and fuch was the inhumanity F 2 and and barbarity of the commander, that he fuffered the dead to remain and putrify among the living. The pri-fon was not opened till the 16th of July, which was the twenty-fecond of their confinement, and from thence the Count was led to the place of arms, where feveral bands of prifoners, all in chains, were already convened. The order was foon given for their departure for Kiow, and they began their march under the guard of a company, commanded by an ancient Captain of Infantry. The cruelty exercifed by the Ruffian officer towards the unfortunate men under his fuperintendance was fuch as can only be imagined by a monfter like himfelf. His brutal difpofition caufed him to deprive them of half their allowance of bread, the value of which he converted to his own ufe, and he laid the villages under contribution for exempting them from providing the prifoners with lodging, at the fame time that he left them expofed to the heat of the feafon and the rain in the open air, without tents or any fhelter whatever. Thefe unhappy men, emaciated with hunger and covered with wounds, being unable to march as faff as the commander defired, were continually beaten, and the Count himfelf was not excufed, though unable to walk without crutches. This treatment, fo infamous and ihocking to humanity, caufed the deftru&ion of fuch a number of the prifoners, that out of feven hundred and eighty-two which were put under his conduct: at Polone, he brought no more than one hundred and forty-eight to Kiow, the reft being either dead, or abandoned in the forefts in a dying ftate. On On the 4th of Auguft, having at length reached Kiow, a town on the border of Ruffia, fortified by fimple works of earth, the prifoners were again fhut up in the cafemates, where they experienced the fame hardfhips as at Polone. The ftrength of the Count's conftitution, which had hitherto enabled him to refift fuch an accmirulation of hardfhips and fatigue, gave way at length, and on the 12th he was attacked with a malignant fever that quickly produced a delirium, which continued till the 8th of September. On the ioth of the fame month the governor of Kiow, Count Voieikou, caufed the prifoners to pafs in review before himfelf and a commiftary who was charged to take an account of the name and quality of each. The Count, whom they were obliged to carry, had not ftrength to anfwer to his name when called in his turn ; whereupon the governor made enquiry refpecting his ftate, and gave immediate orders that he fhould be feparately lodged in a houfe, and that two roubles a day fhould be paid him for fubfiftance. This treatment, by enabling the Count to procure proper diet, foon put him in a fair way of recovery. But at this crifis, unfortunately for him, an order arrived from Peterfburgh to fend all the prifoners to Cazan, and the Count being forced to make this journey, though he was not compelled to walk, experienced a relapfe, which obliged the Ruffian officer to leave him at Nizym, a town dependent on the government of Kiow. M. Levner, a German merchant of that place, interefted himfelf in favor of the Count, and obtained permiffion of the Voywode to receive him into his houfe. The care and attention of this humane and generous friend reftored him to health, and enabled him to appear in decent clothes. Pie fhould have' have thought his misfortunes greatly alleviated if he had been permitted to have remained at Nizym ; but on the arrival of the fécond convoy of prifoners the Voywode placed him in charge of the commanding officer. His benefactor, from whom he was then forced to part, had the generality to prefent him with the fum of two hundred roubles, which, for fear of being robbed by fome of the Ruffian foldiers, he depofited in the hands of the commander, whofe name was Wolkow, with a requeft that he would keep it for him till his arrival at Cazan. On their arrival at Tula, the Count having occalion to purchafe fome provifions and other neceffaries, requefted a few roubles of the commandant in the prefence of fome of the other prifoners ; but the unprincipled wretch not only had the effrontery to deny his having received any money, but likewife treated the Count with the mod injurious and abufive language, and from that time ufed every means in his power to render the reft of the journey uncomfortable to him. He even carried his malice fo far, that on their arrival at Cazan he accufed the Count before the governor, Count Krafnin Samarcn, of attempting to raife a revolt among the prifoners ; and on this accufation he was loaded with chains and committed to prifon, from which he was not delivered but at the preffing inftances of the Counts Marfhal Czarneczky, Potockzy, and the young Pulauzky. After his deliverance from prifon he was lodged with a goldfmith, named Vendifchov, a native of Sweden, who treated him with great kindnefs and humanity. The reputation of the Count, and his open difpofition, procured him a numerous acquaintance among the Ruffian nobilty ; and one day, being invited to dine with a man of quality, he learned, by feveral particulars of the con-verfation, that a defign was projecting againft the government. Some days afterwards, being invited again in the fame company, one of the guefts addreffed him, and propofed many queftions refpecting the difpofition of the prifoners towards Government ; at the fame time obferv-ing that the governor of Cazan, having no more than four hundred men in garrifon, was very uneafy left the prifoners, whofe number amounted to feven thoufand, fhould revolt, and that to prevent fo dangerous an event, he had fent to Peterfburgh, requefting orders to fend them into Siberia. The Count immediately perceived the intention of the perfon who queftioned him, but not thinking it prudent to enter into any converfation by which he might feem to enter into an engagement, he only replied, that the Governor, having a body of brave men under his command, who were armed and in poffeffion of the fortrefs, had nothing to fear from men worn out with difeafe, and for the moft part actually difabled ; but that he doubtlefs acted prudently in taking every precaution fui table to the office he held. The continuation of this difcourfe led the Ruffian at laft to declare to the Count, that the nobility of many of the governments were greatly difcontented with the defpotick authority of the Emprefs, and that, in order to deliver themfelves, they were difpofed to enter into a confederacy to fhake off the yoke of flavery, and become as free as other nations ; that the prefent moment was-highly favourable to their defigns, becaufe the troops Were employed elfewhere, and the clergy, equally difcontented, were ready to join the nobility, who befides might eafily gain over the Tartars of Cazan, a people naturally difpofed to declare in favor of the Turks. He ended his difcourfe by obferving that the Ruffian nobility likewife depended much on the affiftance of the prifoners who were fo unworthily treated in their misfortunes. The Count, without any embarraffinent, replied fimply, that the prifoners being without arms, and always kept in light of their guards, could not dare to make any attempt againft government ; but that on recovering their liberty they were difpofed to fhew their gratitude in the moft zealous and effectual manner, and that confequent-ly, if they were delivered from their wretched fituation, no matter by whom, their deliverers might be affured of their attachment. After this converfation the Count rejoined the company, and was received with fuch de-monftrations of friendfhip as convinced him that the whole party confifted of malecontents. Immediately after the company broke up, the Count waited on his old friend the Marfhal Czarneczky, to whom he communicated his difcovery. On the following day the Marfhal invited feveral of the fuperior officers among the prifoners, and revealed the fecret to them, in order that by their deliberations it might be decided what mode of proceeding they fhould adopt, in cafe they fhould receive any propofals on the part of the difcontented nobility. It was accordingly determined in fecret committee, that the confederates fhould not enter into any conspiracy againft the government in conjunction with the malecontents, to whom, nevertheless, a promife might be made, that in cafe they fhould become mafters of the city, the prifoners, being fet at liberty, would form a body a body which mould act in concert with their deliverer* until the final orders of the generality of the confederation might arrive. The Count de Benyowfky was entrufted with the management of this affair, which he purfued with the greater!: zeal, prudence and fagacity, in fuch a manner as not to endanger any of the prifoners, even on the fuppofition that government mould difcover the con-fpiracy. The malecontents, on the other hand, entered into their purfuit with fo much fpirit, that they fuc-ceeded in bringing over to their party the nobility of the governments of Voronicz, Bielogorod, Kiow, and the greater part of Mofcow, the capital of Ruffia. They only waited for the appearance of the Tartars of Cazan, who had engaged to prefent themfelves before the town of Cazan with nine or ten thoufand horfe. Such was the ftate of affairs on the 6th of November, (1769) when a fudden change was produced by a quarrel between two Ruffian lords, one of whom informed the governor, that the prifoners, in concert with the Tartars, meditated a defign againft his perfon and the garrifon. This apoftate accufed the Count, in order to fave his friends and countrymen. On the 7th, at eleven at night, the Count, not fufpecting any fuch event, heard a knocking at his door. He came down, entirely undreffed, with a candle in his hand, to enquire the caufe \ and upon opening his door was furprized to fee an officer, with twenty foldiers, who demanded if the prifoner were at home. On his replying in the affirmative, the officer fnatched the candle out of his hand, and ordering his men to follow him, went haftily up to the Count's apartment. Vol. I. G The The Count immediately took advantage of the miftake, quitted his houfe, > and repaired to the quarters of his intimate friend, Major Wynbladth, who was likewife a prifoner. After relating the adventure to him, and engaging him to make his efcape together with him, they quitted Cazan, and repaired to the neareft village, where they took horfes of the countrymen, with the intention of haftening to Sebukfar. On their arrival at this place they apprized feveral Ruffian gentlemen of the difcovery of their plot, who having the ftrongeft reafons to fear the confequenccs of the Count's being arrefted, gave him a podrufchna, or order for poft horfes, with money and cloathing. From Sebukfar they paffed to Kufmoden Janfkoy, where they took poft, and continued their route as far as Nizney Novogrod, where they gave out that they were officers returning from Kizlar to Pé-terfburg, charged with difpatches from the governor. The Voivod had the politenefs to invite them to dinner, and treated them elegantly, after which he furnifhed them with a letter for the Voivod of Volodomir, which was of the greateft fervice to them, as they certainly would have been arrefted if they had not been provided with it. They ftill continued to urge their courfe, and paffed through Mofcow, as well as Twer, Velki-novogrod, and other places, in the night. At length they arrived at Petcrfburg on the 19th of November, where the Count took lodgings in a hotel, caufing his Major to pafs in the character of his valet-de chambre. Upon his firft going out he met a German tradefman, by profeffion an apothecary, who being given to underftand that the Count was defirous of paffing by fea fea into another country, directed him to the lodgings of a Dutch Captain. The Count accordingly waited on the Captain, and begged him to take him and his domeftic paftengers, promifing to pay him five hundred ducats on his arrival in Holland. The Captain agreed to receive him on board, and as he was ready to fet fail the following day, he appointed the Count to meet on the bridge of Neva about midnight, who accordingly attended there exactly at the time, with his companion. While they were waiting the arrival of the Captain with the utmoft impatience, he at length appeared, and fainted the Count, begging that he would remain on the fpot a moment, as he would quickly return, after he had finiihed fome preffing bufinefs with his correfpondent. He did not fail to return foon after, and beckoned the Count, who haftened to meet him. But at the very inftant he was about to exprefs his gratitude to the Captain, twenty foldiers feized on him, and knocked him down ; after which they conducted him, together with the Major, to the Count Cfecferin, Lieutenant-General of the Police, who, in a very mild and polite manner, propofed the following queitions to the Count. 1. He demanded the birth, country, age, and religion of the Count ? 2. Under what power he had ferved before he became engaged in the confederation ? 3. Who had perfuaded him to fign the a& of confederacy ? 4- Whether he did not know that the court of France furnifhed money for the payment of the troops ol the confederates ? G 2 5. Who 5. Who had engaged him, being a prifoner, to excite the other prifoners to revolt, and what was his deiign in cafe he had fucceeded in getting poffefTion of Cazan ? 6. Whether the other confederate chiefs were concerned in the confpiracy or not, and whether there were not certain Ruffians engaged with him to carry this abominable plot into execution? their names, and the manner in which the engagement was brought about ? 7. After deferring from Cazan, why did the prifoner repair to Peterfburg, if he had not fome premeditated de-fign ? Whence had he money for making a journey of that length by poft, and why did he pretend that his companion was his fervant ? 8. On the fuppofition that his defign was that of quitting Ruffia, why did he prefer going to Holland ? The anfwers of the Count were, 1. That he was born Magnate of the kingdoms of Hugary and Poland, is aged twenty-eight years, and profeffes the Chriftian religion. 2. That he ferved in the Imperial army in quality of officer in the war again the King of Pruffia. 3. That in his quality of Starofte, he thought it his duty to affift the republic in fhaking off a foreign yoke. 4. That he was ignorant whether or no the court of France furnifhed the confederation with money. 5. That he had never excited the prifoners to revolt, his defign being no other than that of recovering his own liberty ; and that the tyranny and cruelty he had experienced in the prifons had forced him to this attempt ; that he never had any intention of feizing the town of Cazan ; Cazan ; and therefore he could have no further intentions confequent to the imaginary capture of that town. 6. That in quality of prifoner, it was neither necef-fary nor expedient that he fhould become an informer, and confequently that he declined anfwering the fixth queftion. 7. That after quitting Cazan he had repaired to Peterfburg, for the purpofe of more eafily quitting the empire by means of fone foreign fhips ; that as he had no other defign, he had caufed Major Wynbladth to pafs as his domeftic, that their difficulties and expences might by that means be diminifhed. 8. That as to his intention of repairing to Holland, he had no other motive than his having met with a Dutch Captain, who promifed him his pafTage, and that it was, befides, of little confequence to him what country he might go to, provided it were out of the dominions of Ruffia. After this examination the Count was conveyed to the fort St. Peter and St. Paul, and there confined in a Subterraneous dungeon, feparate from Major Wynbladth. On the 23d in the morning, being the third day of his detention, his prifon was opened for the firft time, and after three days faft he received a morfel of bread and a pitcher of water. On the fame day in the evening he was conducted by an officer and fix men from his prifon to the minifter, Count Panin, who was in his cabinet, and who propofed an hundred queftions, one after the other, without giving him time to anfwer, and at laft (hewing him feveral papers, from which he affirmed that he he was acquainted with all the machinations of the Count, he loaded him with the harfhcft invectives, advifing him V> affirm all queftions that might be afked in the council, which if he failed to do, he would find himfelf in a wretched fituation. After this mild and friendly advice Count Panin ordered him to be re-conducted to his prifon, giving directions that he mould be loaded with irons. On the 23d he was again brought forth, and con-dueled before the privy council. On his entrance into the place of meeting he beheld twenty Ruffians-feated, each having a meet of paper before him, and a pen in his hand. Count Panin prefided at this council. The perfon who performed the function ot procureur read all the queftions which had been made by the Count Cfecferin to the Count Benyowfky, and alfo his anfwer s. Count Panin afterwards ordered the Count Benyowfky to (wear that all thefe anfwer s were conformable to truth, with which he immediately complied. After this, preliminary, Count Panin required him to retract his oath, and confefs the truth, otherwife he fhould be put to the torture. This threat, fufhcicntly horrid to fliake the fortitude of the m oft innocent perfon, irritated the Count, who replied to the minifter, that, as a judge, it ill became him to perform the office of executioner ; that juftice ought never to have recourfe to punifhment, before conviction of the aecufed ; and that the council having propofed to the Count to purge himfelf by oath, it was neceflary that his conviction mould be founded on proofs that, his oath was falfe, or that otherwife every violent proceeding againft him would be an act of barbarity, to which he never never could believe that her Majefty the Emprefs would give her fan ct ion. This anfwer of the Count, which Was written down word for word by the fecrctary, caufed feveral members of the council to vindicate him againft the opinion of Count Panin. Thefe gentlemen obferved, that the prifoner, having been convicted of nothing but an attempt to defert, could not be condemned as a ftate criminal. This obfervation produced a difpUte between the affefTors, and the Count was conducted back to his prifon ; from which he was again brought forth on the morning of the 25th, and conducted before the council, where he was confronted with a Ruffian gentleman, whom the governor of Cafan had fent to Peterf-burg to be examined by the council. This wretch was the fame who had accufed the Count to the governor of Cafan, He maintained before the council, that the Count knew of the plot which the Ruffians had formed againft government, that he had encouraged them, and that he himfelf was the perfon who had promifed the difcontented party to afTift them with all the prifoners. The prefident ordered the Count to anfwer this accufationy which he did, by freely affirming that he had, in feveral companies of the nobility, heard propofals treated of againft the governor of Cafan. That thefe noblemen had actually made formal proportions to him, to become connected with the party of malecontents, and to engage all the prifoners in their intcreft : but that as his fituation as a prifoner did not require him to abandon his principles and betray them, he hud kept the fecret ; and as for as related to the proportions made to him by the malecontents, he had anfwered without hefitation, that • • / the the prifoners would not engage in any attempt againft the government of Cazan, and ftill lefs againft the interefts of the Emprefs : That it did not become them to intermeddle in the pretenfions of the Ruffian nobility, who alone were to decide their own quarrel, and that the prifoners would patiently fuffer their fate, though the difcontented nobility might depend upon their fervicest in the fingle cafe only that they fhould firft fet them at liberty. The Ruffian himfelf acknowledged that this account was true; after which the Count was returned to prifon till the 29th, when he was brought before the council to receive his final judgment. At the commencement of this fitting the prefident threatened the Count to put him to the torture ; but being unable to urge any crime but that of defertion againft him, he propofed to the Count to fign a refignation, by which he obliged him-ielf never to ferve againft the Ruffians ; to quit the empire without delay ; and never to return, on pain of death. Under thefe conditions Count Panin promifed him his liberty. Count Benyowfky did not hefitate to fign his refignation, of which the following is the purport. I, the underfigned, do acknowledge, that having been feizred in my flight from Cafan> and her Imperial Majefty of all the Ruffias having pardoned me by her natural clemency, I have entered into the prefent renunciation, never to ferve any power againft the arms of her Imperial Majefty ; and that, upon becoming in poiTeffion of my liberty, I promife for ever to quit her dominions, obliging myfdtf, under pain of death, not to enter them again under under any pretext whatever. Done at Peterfburgh, the 12d of November, 1769. The Count, after having figned this engagement, inftead of being fet at liberty was reconducted to his prifon, and there confined till the 4th of December, when, about two hours after midnight, an officer with feven foldiers came to him, giving orders that they fhould take oft his chains and clothe him in a fheep-fkin garment ; after which his fetters were again fattened on, and he was conducted into the court of the prifon and thrown upon a fledge, to which two horfes were harnefled, which immediately fet out with the greateft fwiftnefs. The darknefs did not permit the Count to difccrn the objects around him, but the noife of many bells led him to think that he was followed by feveral fledges, a cir-cumftance which excited a long train of reflections on the fatality and lingular circumftances of his deftiny. At the beginning of his journey he conceived fome hopes that he was to be conducted into Poland ; but at day-break the fight of feveral villages through which he had pafTed after his departure from Cazan deftroyed that hope, and convinced him that he was on his way to Siberia as an exile. When they refted at noon the Count received a morfel of dry bread, and on defcending from his fledge to mount into another, he perceived Major Wynbladth, who was the companion of his misfortunes. The ex-ceffive cold caufed the Count to fuffer much pain from his wounds, and he was almoft frozen when the commander of the convoy made him difmount to pafs Vol. I. H the the night in a cottage. When he recovered the ufe of his faculties he perceived that he was in company with Major Wynbladth, who not being wounded was better able to fupport the rigour of the feafon. In this common ltate of misfortune it was fome confolation that they could fee each other and communicate their reflections. The Ruffian commander, Prince Maneow, Lieutenant of the troops of the Senate, being affe&ed with their deplorable fituation, informed them, in confidence, that his orders were to conduct them to Mofcow, from whence they were afterwards to be carried to Tobolzk, and thence to Kamchatka, the place of their exile. He had like-wife the politenefs to caufe them to eat with him. When they arrived near Mofcow their conductor quitted them, and returned with fledges, and a detachment of fix teen foldiers, headed by a Lieutenant, who relieved the Prince Maneow, conducted them forward on their journey. On the 13th of December they arrived at Volodomir, where they were joined by four fledges with four exiles, likewife deftincd to pafs the remainder of their lives at Kamchatka, and from that flation they had the confolation of their company. The Count, who was well acquainted with the Ruffian language, made enquiries concerning thefe four prifoners. The one was Vaffili Vaffilics Panow, Lieutenant of the Guards; the fécond Hippolite Stepanow, Captain of Infantry ; the third Afaph Baturin, Colonel of Artillery ; and the fourth Ivan Juanies Solmanow, Secretary of the Senate of Mofcow. Their efcort confided of forty-fix foldiers of Volodomir, under whom they were conducted to Nizney Novogrod, Novogrod, where they arrived on the 18th, and from thence they were drawn to Kuzemodemjazkoy, a town where their guard was reinforced with one hundred and fifty horfemen, to pafs more fecurely through the government of Cazan, at that time difturbed by the incur-fions of the Tartars, who, fince the departure of the Count, had already committed feveral ads of hoftility, and with whom a party of the prifoners deferted from Cazan had taken refuge. Thefe circumftances occafioned the commander of their party not to ftop in any of the villages, but to make the beft of his way to the town of Malmitz, fituated on the banks of the river Viattka, where the reinforcement left them. From Malmitz they were drawn to Saragut, and thence to Kunzir, from Kunzir to Tuninkz, and from thence to Tobolzk, the capital of Siberia, diftant feven hundred aad eighty leagues from Peterfburg. On their arrival they were lodged in the town, each feparately with his guard. The Governor, Count Denis Juanovicz Cfecferin, brother of the Lieutenant-General of the Police of Peterfburg, a man as remarkable for his humanity, as for the politenefs of his behaviour, not only caufed the irons of the exiles to be taken off, but likewife afforded them every kind of affiftance, even to the furnifhing them with linen ; and as he was affected with the mifery of thefe unfortunate men, he granted them his permiffion to pafs fourteen days in the town, to recover their health, which was much impaired by hunger and the inclemency of the feafon. During the whole time that the prifoners remained at Tobolczk they H 2 WCtS were furnifhed with provifions from his own kitchen, and on their departure he prefented each of them with the fum of fifty roubles, with a quantity of brandy, and like-wife five hundred pounds of tobacco, an article of great value at Kamchatka. We fhall here terminate the narrative which we have collected of the adventures of the Count, and fhall relate the fequel as it is written with his own hand. JOURNAL JOURNAL o f t h e TRAVELS of the COUNT BENYOWSKY into Siberia, in confequence of an order of the Senate of Petersburg, by which he was banilfied to Kamchatka. CHAP. I, introduction, the count arrives at tobolzk, the capital of siberia. humanity of the governor. departure from that place. villages on the road. city of tara. river and town of tomsky. the tartars interest themselves in favour of the exiles. a proposal is made to the count to escape to china, to which his wounds prevent his acceding. present to the exiles from the tartars. disinterested behaviour of their conductor. WAS born of an illuftrious family in Hungary, and *• ferved the ftates of the republick of Poland with fome diftincrion, under whofe colours I had the misfortune to be made prifoner by the Ruffians in open war, after receiving feventeen wounds. This unfortunate event fubjected me to every calamity which tyranny can inflict.. I was conveyed from one prifon to another, and at laft condemned to the unhappy ftate of flavery. In confequence of the order of the Ruffian Senate for my baniLhment, I was loaded loaded with fetters, and conducted to Tobolzk, the capital of Siberia, confifting of about five hundred houfes, inhabited by Ruflians and Tartars. It ftands at the foot of a mountain, on the top of which is a caftle, commanding the town, and ferving as a place of refidence for the governor. The garrifon of this town ufually confifts of two regiments of infantry, three fquadrons of cavalry, and two or three hundred CofTacks. The governor of Tobolczk, Count Denis JuanovieczCfecferin, a man equally eftimable for the humanity and gencrofity of his difpofition, caufed my letters to be taken off the firft day of my arrival, and, after providing me with a lodging, heaped many favours upon me and Mr. Wynbladth, the companion of my misfortunes. This gentleman was a Major under the confederation, who having fhared in my former adventures, was likewife the partner of my banifhment. The greateft favor which I obtained from the governor was, doubtlefs, the ufe of pen and paper, to diffipate my cares. Precious infiniment, which can give the fhadow of liberty where the fubftance exifts not ! Incftimable gift of art, whofe value can be truly eftimated by thofc only who have felt thy lofs ! With thee I fhall ftill pofiefs the enjoyments of the mind ; and by thy affiftance my misfortunes and complaints may be tranfmitted to future times ! I arrived at Tobolczk on the 2Cth of January, 1770, atid as I did not quit this town till the 4th of February, the benevolence and care of the governor enabled me to recover my health and ftrength to fupport the voyage with with greater courage. The governor, after having loaded me with marks of his favour, which was likewife extended to my five companions, difpatched us for our place of destination, under the efcort of a Sottnik of Coffacks, with twenty-four men under his command ; at the fame time he informed us that our conductor had orders to treat us with kindnefs. We departed from Tobolczk with fixteen fledges, fo that we had a fledge for every two excepting the commander, who had one for himfelf. The firft paufe we made was at Sobulak, a village inhabited entirely by Tartars. Our commander lodged us all with him in a houfe, and promifed that this fhould be the cafe throughout the journey. We eat with him, and the Coffacks might have been taken for our fervants, from the particular attention which our conductor ordered them to pay us. His example caufed the whole troop to omit no means of rendering our journey as agreeable and as comfortable as could be expected in a ftate of flavery. On the 5 th we departed from Jubalak to continue'our journey, and at noon we refted near a river named Supkra to refrefh our horfes. Our conductor informed us, while his troop was employed in procuring fome provifions from the neighbouring villages, that he was the fon of a Swedifh colonel, who had had the misfortune to be banifhed, and that he himfelf, being a native of Siberia, had been inrolled among the Coffacks, over whom he at prefent was Sottnik, or commander of one hundred men; that fince his promotion he had always endeavoured to obtain the charge of the exiles which were to be conducted into Siberia, as it gave him the greateft fatisfaction to * -to have an opportunity of alleviating their misfortunes. The free and open manner with which this officer exprefied himfelf, fufficiently fhowed that he fpoke his real fentiments, and it was a great confolation to us to find ourfelves under the direction of a virtuous and companionate man. From Supkra we continued our journey along the banks of the river Jrtiefh, and arrived at the fmall town of Berenowzky, where we paffed the night. At this place we found twenty exiles, who treated us with fifh. Thefe unfortunate men affured us, that in the fingle province of Tobolczky there were upwards of twenty-two thoufand exiles, reduced to feek their maintenance by the chace. From Berenowzky we departed on the 6th, and arrived very late in the night at Iiirga, a village compofed ol about fifteen houfes, inhabited by exiles; among whom I recognized an Hungarian, who informed me, that he had been Major of one of the regiments of Huffars in the Ruffian fervice, commanded, by General Horvath ; and that he had the misfortune to be banifhed for requeuing his difmiffion, in order to return .into his own country. Fie affured me, that he was a gentleman of the family of Orofz. As I ran no rifk in converting writh this unfortunate perfon in the Hungarian language, which was underftood by no one prefent but him and my fell, I afked him many queftions, and among others, how it happened that fo great a number of exiles, reduced to the m oft extreme mifery, had not yet made fome attempts to efcape ; to which he anfwered, that a coufiderable number of their companions had already attempted to efcape towards Perfia, but having been met by the Nogais Tartars they were all flain, and that this event event had intimidated the others, and prevented them from following their example. Befides which he informed me of fo many obftacles, that at laft I was convinced of the great difficulty of efcaping from exile at Tobolczk, and reflected with great fatisfacrion that my deftination was to Kamchatka, on the fea coaft, though I am per-fuaded that there is no country whatever in which liberty may not be gained by an aftbeiation of refolute men, infpired with the love of independence. On the 7 th, after having paffed the river Ifirga, we arrived at Jufka, a village inhabited by Tartars, who regaled us with mare's milk and horfe flefh. The exceffive cold and the wind, which threw up the fnow in whirlwinds and drifts, forced our commander to remain at this village four days. We quitted it on the nth early in the morning, and about noon we refted on the banks of a river, over which we forded, and from whence we proceeded to Ahufca, a village fituated on the banks of a river of the fame name, which falls into the river Irtifck. Here we paffed the night, and the next day proceeded to Tara, the capital of the province of the fame name. The commander of our troop propofed to pafs fome days in this town, on account of the feverity of the weather, as well as that we might reft ourfelves, and be better enabled to fupport the fatigues of the reft of our journey, which was to be made without fledges. During our ftay at Tara the commandant allowed us the liberty of walking in the town, and even in the environs : his friendly difpofition towards us extended fo far, that he prevailed on the Voivode to invite us to dinner, and afterwards perfuaded feveral of the inhabitants to make us Vo^. It I prefent*. prefents. Thefe confifted of habits for the feafon, and a> conlidcrable quantity of brandy. On the 2 2d we at length quitted Tara, and after having rcpafled the river Irtihka we arrived at Luky, a village inhabited by Tartars ; from whence we continued through immenfe woods and over lofty mountains, where we all fuffered greatly from fatigue, and more efpecially myfelf, who was covered with wounds. Our days journeys were very fhort, our nights paffed in the midft of fnow, and our horfes had no other food than mofs. On the 3d of April, being encamped on the river Om, we were furprized by a band of Tartars of the hord of Ba-rabuts. On their firft appearance we requefted the commandant to fupply us with arms to defend ourfelves, and immediately mounted our horfes. The Tartars approached, obferved us for a moment, and paffed by, full gallop, without molefting us. Alter their departure we croffed the river Om, and continued our march to the river Juakra, on the borders of which we pitched our tents. At day-break, juft at the moment we mounted our horfes, we difcovered a troop of armed men on foot, who called out to us, in the Ruffian language, to wait for them, which our conductor caufed us to do. On their arrival they faluted us, and afterwards addreffing our chief, they propofed many queftions reflecting our fituation, which, when they learned, they condoled with us, and informed us that they were our partners in mif-fortune, having been exiled into Siberia, and that for ten years paft they had fubfifted merely by the chace and fifhing. Their number amounted to fixty-three men, who apparently had fome enterprize in contemplation. Our Our commander, who was apprehenfive of bad confe-quences from their company, propofed to part, but they compelled him to remain three days on the fpot. Thefe huntfmen, finding our provifion of brandy excellent, did not fuffer us to depart but with regret : at length, however, being delivered from thefe importunate people, we quitted the river Juakra, and marched towards Bogorodekov, where we arrived on the 1 t th. From Bogorodckoy we croffed the river Oby, and on the 17th we arrived at Tomfzky, a town regularly enough built, but peopled, for the moft part, with Tartars. It is iituated on the banks of the river Tomfzky, and, for its defence, is provided with a kind of fort, in which the Voivode of the province refides, with four hundred foldiers and eight hundred CorTacks. The governor's name was Villeneuf, of French origin, Lieutenant-Colonel in the fervice of Ruffia, and formerly an exile. He received us with humanity, and by the perfuafion of our conductor, permitted us to remain in the town till the 10th of May, in order to avoid the inclemency of the feafon, which was fo much the more dangerous, as the weather is always extremely wet at the latter end of April and the beginning of May. We paffed our time not difagreeably at Tomfzky, be-caufe the Tartars, being informed by our conductor that we had had the misfortune to be made prifoners of war when fighting in conjunction with the Turkifh army, made it a point of religion to afîift us. Among others a dealer in fables interefted himfelf more particularly in my welfare. He propofed to me to make my efcape towards China, and exprefled his readinefs to 1 2 run run the rifle of accompanying me. He informed me that he was born in the hord of Kantay, in the country of Kalkaz, on the borders of China, and was perfectly acquainted with the road thither. I fhould have accepted his propofal with joy, if the difficulty, or rather the impofiibility, of travelling at leafl three hundred leagues on foot had not detained me. The deplorable fituation to which my wounds had reduced me was fufficient to convince him of the impoffibility of my accepting his propofition. He therefore loaded me with prefents, which, whether they came from him alone, or from the whole body of Tartars of Tomfzky, amounted to more than nine hundred roubles, a fum which we divided amongfl us, and out of which we were defirous of making a prefent to our conductor. But this generous man refufed to accept of the fmalleft trifle, and affured us, that on our arrival at Kamchatka we fhould find fufficient occafion for our money. 3Ct G i CHAP. nu: CHAP II. DEPARTURE FROM TOMSZKY. JUS.KA KRASNOIARSZK. ILLIMSK. PRICE" CURRENT OF EUROPEAN GOODS AND FURS AT THAT PLACE'. JAKUTZK. PRIVILEGED COMPANY OF TRADERS IN FURS. THE COUNT PROJECTS HIS FUTURE ESCAPE Iff CONCERT WITH M. HOFFMAN. A SOCIETY OF EXILES FORMED. THEY DEPART FOR JAKUTZK, LEAVING M. HOFFMAN BEHIND. THEIR GUARDS QUARREL. ALARMING CONSEQUENCE OF MR. HOFFMAN'S DEATH. ITS EFFECTS HAPPILY PREVENTED. /^\N the nth of May we at length quitted the town h*r of Tomfzky, and paffed through a defert country covered with woods and mountains, always encamped in the fnow, and after fourteen days moft painful march we were neceflitated to reduce our allowance to half a pound of bifcuit per day. Being thus exhaufted by hunger and fatigue, after lofing eight Coffacks and twelve horfes on the road, we at length arrived on the 18th at Jufka Krafnoiarfzk, a town fituated on the banks of the great river Jenifea : it confifts of about thirty houfes, inhabited by Ruffian exiles ; the fort, more properly called the îriiferable intrenchment, in which the houfe of the Voivode is built, is a raifed fquare furrounded with pa-lifades, and the garrifon which defends it is compofed only of twenty foldiers, who are likewife exiles. The Voivode of this province, famous for its mifery, lodged us in his fortrefs, and did not condefcend to fee us till our condudor had informed him that we intended making him a prefent. This news, which our conductor likewTife communicated to us, occafioned the Governor to invite. invite us to fupper ; and he did not difdain the acceptance of fixty roubles as a prefent, and for a like fum he fold us a fmall barrel of brandy, containing about eighteen bottles. On the 19th in the morning the Voivode preffed our condu&or to depart, and we quitted this place about noon. The continuation of our journey was not more agreeable than that from Tomfzk. No object: prefented itfelf to our eyes but an immenfe plain of fnow, here and there interrupted by mountains. Every fuccecding day becam e more fatiguing. We loft almoft all our horfes, and we paffed the two chains of mountains which feparate the government of Illimfk from that of Jenifeifk, almoft dying with hunger, having no other fubfiftence than the bark of the birch tree fteeped in water. At length however we arrived on the 25th of July, and the 26th day of our march, on the banks of the river Angara, where we had the good fortune to meet a horde of Tungus Tartars, who gave us four elks, with a provifion of dry fi£h, in exchange for tobacco and brandy. On the 26th we arrived at Illimfk, the capital of the province of the fame name, fituated on the banks of the river Illima. This town poffeffes a confiderable trade, arifing from the quantity of furs depofited here, which the exiles keep till the arrival of the Ruffian merchants, who purchafe them in exchange for European provifions and export them to China. They ufually gain 200 per cent, on the merchandizes of Europe, and on their arrival at China they again redouble their profit on the furs. The following is nearly the rate at which the merchandize of Europe is fold to the hunters and exiles of this place : one pound of gunpowder, three roubles ; one pound of tobacco, tobacco, one rouble and a half ; forty pounds of flour, five roubles ; ten pounds of butter, fix roubles ; a barrel of brandy of eighteen pints, fifty roubles ; and in proportion to thefe values they barter or purchafe one fame's fkin for one rouble ; one black fox's fkin, three roubles ; one bear's fkin, half a rouble ; fifty fkins of the northern fquirrel, (petit gris) one rouble ; one hundred fkins of the white rabit, one rouble ; twenty-four fkins of ermins, one rouble, &c. &c. The Voivode of this province, after having fupplied us with fix elks and twenty pounds of flour for our provifion, difpatched us to Uftkotfkoy, a village fituated on the banks of the Lena, where we embarked in canoes, made of the bark of the birch, in order to haften our journey. We paffed down the river Lena, which runs by Jakutfzk, and after running through all the northern part of Siberia empties itfelf into the frozen fea. Our voyage by water was very commodious and agreeable on account of the beauty of the feafon, and we happily arrived at Jakutfzk on the 20th of Auguft, where we were all lodged in one houfe, having for our guard only four foldiers, commanded by a ferjeant who relieved our conductor. The town of Jakutfzk, which is fituated in the fixty-fecond degree of north latitude, is the capital of a province of the fame name. It is compofed of 130 houfes and a fortrefs, the whole built of wood, and inhabited either by exiles or coffacks, a kind of military which the government has formed by enrolling all the male children of the Swedes and Germans formerly exiled into Siberia. This troop is ufually employed by government to levy tribute on the Tartars who are fubject. to Ruflia. Their number, number, in the year 1764, amounted to twelve thoufand armed men. During our Hay at this place I became acquainted with feveral Greek merchants to whom the Emprefs had granted the exclufive privilege of the fur trade in this province, in confideration of the fum of thirty thoufand roubles. They affured me they had already gained above eighty thoufand roubles befides the purchafe money ; but that being obliged to fhare that fum with governors and minifters, for the fupport of their tights, this trade had not been extremely advantageous, efpeciaily fince the war with Turkey had, during the laft three years, interrupted the freedom of commerce. I likewife became acquainted with feveral exiles, from whom I learned that there were thirty-five officers exiled in that* town, and that their number in that fingle province amounted to four hundred and twenty-five men. All thefe unfortunate perfons lamented the departure of Monf. de Brin, a Frenchman, Colonel in the fer vice of Ruflia, who had, during five years, been Voivode of the province ; and who, unfortunately for them, had been relieved by a Ruffian as remarkable for his cruelty and barbarity as his predeceffor was for his generofity and good nefs. On the third day after my arrival in this city I received a vifit from the Sieur Hoffman, a Surgeon, who was fent from Peterfburgh to Kamchatka, to exercife his profeffion as Surgeon Major of the Government, with a falary of one thoufand five hundred roubles. At our firft meeting I perceived, from his converlation, that he pofleffed a penetrating mind and a worthy and amiable vlifpofition. The account I gave of my misfortunes, and the excefs of barbarity under which I had long fuffered, affe&ed him greatly ; and as he confidered his million to Kamchatka as an exile, he did not heiitate to pro-pofe, without any previous overture from me, his opinion that on our arrival at Kamchatka, we mould direct our attention to an efcape by the way of fea, either to Japan or China ; and that he faw no other difficulty than the procuring failors to conduct, the veffel, which he propofed to purchafe under the pretence of employing it in fifhing. This proportion convinced me that he was determined to fhare my fate. I therefore affured him that he needed not be uneafy with regard to navigating the veffel, becaufe I was fufHciently capable of undertaking that tafk by virtue of the experience I had acquired during feveral voyages. I likewife informed him that it was with the grcatcft fatisfaction that I learned his refolution, which I had myfelf conceived and formed from the firft inftant that I heard that Kamchatka was the place of my exile; and that provided he continued in the fame opinion, and kept the moft profound fecrecy, I would anfwer for its fuccefs. From that day our difcourfe was continually direclcd to the means of fecuring our efcape. I ran no hazard in making this propofal to my companions, who, during the whole journey, had fhewn me the moft particular refpeel:, which was increafed by the junction of Mr. Hoffman, who united himfelf to us by oath. On the 29th of Auguft the company elected me their chief ; it was compofed of Mr. Hoffman, Major Win-Mad th, Captain Panow, Captain Hoppolite StepMno, Colonel Baturin, and Secretary Sopronow. ■ The ardent V°i<- I. K defire defire which we all had to carry our defign into execution, induced us to ufe our endeavours with the Voivode to difpatch us to Ochoczk, a fea port in Siberia, from whence we were to embark for Kamchatka. He readily acceded to ourwifbes, and difpatched us on the 29th of the fame month under the guard of two Szottnik, or captains, with twelve Coffacks under their command. Mr. Hoffman unfortunately could not depart with us, on account of the neceffity of carrying his effects with him. On our departure from Jakutzk we were attended by moft of the exiles, who regaled us with a good dinner on the banks of the river Lena. Among thefe unhappy men were two Ruffian Lords, of the family of Gurgiew, both young, who, after having ferved in the guards of the Emprefs, were exiled by her orders on the death of the late Emperor. The new manner of travelling on fledges drawn by elks was very agreeable to us. The fwiftnefs and agility with which thefe animals run can hardly be conceived, and their manner of fubfifting is ftill more furprifing : an handful of mofs mixed with urine, enables them to fupport the fatigue of three or four days. The fixth day after our departure we arrived on the banks of the river Tola, where we were obliged to remain two days, becaufe our conductor thought proper to employ that time in vifiting the Tartar chiefs of the hord Jakutti, to extort prefents from them, of which they brought a tolerable large quantity in fkins of martins, foxes, and rofzomak, an animal peculiar to this province. Its figure nearly refembles that of the European wolf, and its fkin has the fame appearance^ excepting that its colour is a gloffy black. The women in Siberia make bonnets of this fkin. On the third of September we pafTed the river Tola, and continued our journey without interruption thus far, excepting a difference which happened among our conductors, during the time our camp was pitched on the banks of this river, where they made a flop for the purpofe of gambling, an occupation which they had ftrenuoufly followed ever fince our departure from Jakutzk. One* of the Coffacks having loft all his provifions in play againft the chief, thought proper tô indulge himfelf in fome difrefpectful expreffions, upon which the Commander ordered the Coffacks to tie him up and give him one hundred lafhes with the whip. Inftead, however, of executing the orders of their commander, the Coffacks took the part of the culprit, and after having ftripped their officer naked, entertained him with more than three hundred ftripes ; an operation, which, though we bore no part in it, neverthelefs afforded us fome diverfion. This adventure was quickly followed by an event which greatly alarmed us. We were informed by a Coffack, fent exprefs from Jakutzk, that Mr. Hoffman was dead, and that, after his deceafe, the governor had found certain interfiling papers among his effe&s, which he had forwarded to the governor of Ochoczk, in a packet, to be put into the hands of our conductor, -uldreifed to Mr. Plenifner, Commandant of that town, recommending to him not to fend us to Kamchatka, I his relation convinced us that the Sieur Hoffman had either written fome letters to his friends at Peterfburg, K 2 in in which he informed them of his project, or that he had made fome notes relative to our affair. After many fuppofitions, we concluded that the Governor at leaft fufpcctcd our project, if he was not entirely convinced of it ; and that he had fent difpatches to the Governor of Ochoczk, in confequence of which, it was probable we might be fent to prifon a fécond time. In this fituation, I propofed to my companions to feize the packet and change the contents by the affiftance of Mr. Sophronow, who having been Secretary, might draw up a letter to our advantage, to be included among the other papers. My proportion was accepted by my companions, and we immediately determined to avail ourfelves of every means of executing it, An opportunity foon after prefented itfelf. On the nth of September, as we were palling the river Aldan in boats, our elks at the fame time fwimming over, the boat in which our conductor was placed with his difpatches was overfet by the malice of the Coffacks ; who, after having well flogged him, were délirons of playing another trick, to difembarrafs themfelves entirely of his company. It was a happy circumftance for him that he was a good fwimmer, and quickly reached the fhore. The readinefs with which I ran to his affiftance, and the fufpicions he had of his Coffacks, led him to attach himfelf to me, and that more cfpecially, hecauie he obferved that my companions treated me with refpect, and of courfe that I might be very ufeful in defending him, in cafe the Coffacks fhould hereafter make any attempts againft his fafety, * This rough paffage over the river Aldan obliged our conductors to halt, in order to dry their cloaths, and I. feized feized the occauon to treat them with brandy, at the fame time that I engaged them in a gaming party. My ftratagem fucceeded fo well, that after having confumed nine pints of brandy, they every one tell afleep. During this period of infenfibility we feized the difpatches, which we found drawn up in fuch terms as were calculated to render our captivity extremely wretched, and mewed that we had every reafon to congratulate ourfelves on the lucky chance which offered itfelf. The letter of the commandant of Jakutzk to the commanding officer of Ochoczk was to the following effect :— " The two Szottnik, Kolofow and Roftarguew, con-" duel fix prifoners of flatc, fent by order of the Senate u as exiles to Kamchatka, whom you arc*defired to con-" fine in prifon without delay, and keep them fafe u until you fhall receive from me more ample informa-c5 tion respecting their conduct and defigns, in order " that you may then examine them with the utmofl " ftridnefs. My prefent knowledge reflecting them is I determined to fpeak privately to Mr. Cruftiew, who had an afcendancy over the others ; and who, on account of his having refided eight years at Kamchatka, could eafily afford me every neceflary information. After our converfation had turned for a confiderable time upon the difagreeable events of the life into which we were about to enter, and our hofts having affured us that there were fome among them who had groaned under this flavery for twenty-fix years, Mr. Panow, one of my companions, who during the whole difcourfe had appeared abforbed in contemplation, fuddenly exclaimed, " How is it poifible, my friends, that brave men like you " can have endured this unhappy fate without having " made fome attempt to deliver yourfeves from tyranny ? t£ You are afraid of death then, and in this cafe I fear we " fhall find no true affociates in you."—He would have continued his difcourfe, but Mr. Cruftiew made a fign to me to interrupt him, which I did by directing the converfation to another fubject ; but at the fame time I re-folved to afk the reafon from Mr. Cruftiew, why he objected to our converting in an open manner. Our entertainer caufed brandy and tea to be ferved, and propofed to his companions to receive us in their cabins and fhare their provifions with us, ob-ferving to them that we fhould not be able to build new cabins during the winter. The congrefs applauded this propofition, and, to conciliate our union, we fwore a mutual friendfhip ; after which every one received a companion. My lot, in which I confefs there was a flitdit management, gave me to Mr. Cruftiew. C II A P, COUNT de BENYOWSKY. 89 CHAP. V. THE COUNT FORMS AN INTIMACY WITH MR. CRSUTIEW, AN EXILE. SOCIETY ESTABLISHED FOR PROJECTING THE MEANS OF ESCAPE. THE COUNT'S SPEECH AND PLAN OF A CONSTITUTION. THE EXILES WAIT UPON THE GOVERNOR AND THE CHANCELLOR. THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS THE COUNT TO TEACH THE LANGUAGES TO HIS CHILDREN. AN UNFORESEEN EVENT TENDS GREATLY TO MITIGATE THE DISTRESSES AND ADVANCE THE PROJECTS OF THE EXILES. /^YUR places of habitation being thus fettled, every one q*f retired, and I feized the firft opportunity of being alone with Mr. Cruftiew, to enquire the reafon why he had interrupted the difcourfe of Mr* Panow, at the lame time that I affured him I could not perfuade myfelf that any one amongft them could be fo bafe as to betray his companions : it is very true, replied he, my dear friend, ^that you can have no reafon to think fo meanly of any of them, though it is very certain, that there are fome among us who would rather pafs the reft of their lives in this curfed country than expofe themfelves to the mercy of the waves. But the moft humiliating circumflance is, that there are among us fome wretches, who, in hopes of obtaining then-liberty by betraying our fecrets, would certainly lofe no time in communicating our projects to the governor \ f°r, continued he, there exifts a law, which is the only one in favour of exiles, to the cffeét, thatevery exile who fhall have revealed to the governor any plot concerning his authority, or relating the public peace, which may be Vol, I. N carried carried on by other exiles, mall be immediately fet at liberty. He ended his difcourfe by affuring me that his life and his utmoft exertions were entirely at my fervice ; that he would avail himfelf of the firft occafion to declare me chief of the fociety, and that, in a word, my principles and views fhould in future be the rule by which he would direct his own. We, therefore, referred the more ample consideration of our interefts till another occafion, when we propofed to determine the manner of executing an attempt, either to fet ourfelves at liberty, or fauifice our lives in the purfuit. Such was the iffue of the firft day of my arrival, after which we retired to reft. I made many reflections on all that had happened during the courfe of the day, and determined on the means of preferving the fecret of whatever we might in future deliberate or conclude upon amongft ourfelves. I perceive that I cannot in future relate the continuation of my memoirs in the form of an hiftory, and fhall therefore proceed in the form of a journal. On the 5th, I arofe and examined the whole cabin, which appeared to be very well furnifhed ; but what furprized me the moft agreeably was, an alcove of the fame kind as that in which I Slept, which was filled with French, Ruffian, Englifh, German, and Latin books, placed in order. I found Anfon's Voyage laying on a table, and began to read it with pleafure, but had fcarcely finifhed the firft page before Mr. Cruftiew entered and embraced me. Our firft converfation turned on this famous voyager, and my friend informed me that for fix years pail he had deliberated in his own mind on the means means of quitting Kamchatka, and making his way to the Marian iflands. The account of the ifland of Ti-nian, as defcribed in that publication, had ftruck the imagination of Mr Cruftiew fo forcibly, that the ifland, in his opinion, was nothing lefs than paradife. From this turn of mind, I determined to acquaint him with the refolution of myfelf and my companions, at the fame time propoling that he fhould join us. He joyfully accepted my propofition, and kneeling before me, immediately took an oath of fidelity and obedience. He affured me likewife, that by his incorporation into our fociety, he fhould reinforce it with twenty other companions ; but he requefted my permifiion to fpeak to them concerning it. I was delighted with an acquifition of fuch confiderable value, but confined myfelf to take his oath of confiant friendfhip, at the fame time that I begged him not to act precipitately, but to wait for the approbation of our fociety ; the rules of which I was endeavouring to eftablifh for the purpofe of fecuring our mutual prefervation and regulating our conduct. After thefe preliminaries I informed my companions, and we eftablifhed a committee of the following members : Myfelf, chief, Panow, Baturin, Stephanow, Solmanow, Wynbladth, Cruftiew, Wafiii, my old fcrvant. N 2 At At the opening of our affembly I addreffed the meet-g as follows : " A variety of events has forced us to this place, where we find ourfelves opprefied under one common misfortune. We are all aware of its cruelty and barbarity, and its duration threatens us with the moft dreadful confequences. The excefs of our misfortune ought, therefore, to lead us to feek our own fafety, by throwing ofT this abominable yoke of Slavery, to which injustice and defpotifm hath condemned us. The equality of our unfortunate fituation renders our conditions equal : there can be no queffion therefore of preference among us in confequence of the titles we may have formerly pofTelTed, whether by birth or acquifition. At this moment we are equal by the very nature of our fituation ; and from this point it is that I will proceed to propofe to you a constitution relative to ourfelves, in order that we may, with perfect, fafety, eftablifh a plan of operation, the execution of which will lead its to liberty." u From our own experience in the world we cannot but be convinced, that no fociety can exift without 4 the choice of a perfon, to whom the fupremacy fhall ' be intrufted. The choice of fuch a perfon ought * therefore to engage our firft attention. He Shall be c our creature, but at the fame time that we give him < our confidence, it will be neceffary that we pay him < the moft perfect fubmiffion. In order to proceed < without delay to this nomination, I propofe the moft * fimple method ; namely, that every one Shall write the 1 name of the perfon on whom his choice Shall be fixed, " and : and the plurality of names fhall determine. When a : chief fhall be thus elected, let him fwear to keep the : following four articles : " i. That he fhall employ his utmoft abilities and : every poffible means to form a plan, which he fhall 1 carry into effect, at the peril and rifk of his life. This 1 plan fhall tend to fet us at liberty as early as pof-' fible ." " 2. That he mail not give any diftinguifhed preference 1 to any perfon amongft us ; but fhall inform the c committee of every thing which he may think of ad-' vantage relative to his operations." u 3. That in cafe the chief fhall be defirous of re-£ nouncing his plan, or fhall remonftrate to that pur-i pofe to the committee, or even fhall converfe to that * effect with any individual feparately, he fhall be 4 punifhed, ipfo facJo, with death, and the committee \ fhall have the right to execute this fentence in what-| ever manner may to them appear the moft expedient." u 4. That after the chief fhall have made his oath he * fhall receive a feparate oath from each of the indivi-? duals who form the fociety, and that the oath fhall in c fubftançe be as follows : u 1. That each member of the fociety fhall employ [< his utmoft exertions and abilities, at the peril of his * life, to co-operate in the execution of the plan which * fhall be adopted for the obtaining of liberty." - 2. That having acknowledged the authority of his * chief, he fhall obey him with the moft perfect fub-! miftion ; and that as he finds himfelf, by injuftice and defpotifm, difcarded from all civil and political fociety, he u he will, without any reftriction, obey the orders of ^ break, to enquire what fituation I had chofen for the new edifice, and on going out of my hut I found almoft all the pieces of wood for the building ready. As foon as I had marked out the fituation the workmen began to put them together. After breakfaft I repaired to the governor's houfe to give the ufual leffons to my fcholar s, whom I found ready, with the alphabet in their hands. When they had faid their fpelling leflbns, they requeftcd me to write fome German and French words in the Ruffian characters. It fortunately happened that I was provided with a grammar of the Ruffian, German, and French languages, which I had found among the books of my friend. I put this into their hands, with fome inftructions for the ufe of it. As foon as the leiTons Were ended, I was aiked a thoufand queftions concerning ^y country, its manners, cuftoms, &c. When I was preparing to depart, the governor's lady arrived, and after difmi fling her children, made me fit down befide her. She informed me, that fhe was the daughter of a Swedifh colonel, exiled into Siberia -y that fter mother had changed her religion, and that fhe had: married Mr. Nilow, at that time lieutenant-colonel, at worthy worthy man, but greatly addicted to drinking, the excefs of which rendered him brutal and infupportable ; that fhe enjoyed no pleafure excepting that of feeing her family grow up around her, though at the prefent inftant, after having fuffered the mortification of feeing her two eldeft daughters married to two officers who were addicted to gluttony and drinking in the moft difgufting excefs, fhe could not but lament the fate of the youngeft, who was intended by her father to be married to a certain kuzma, one of the moft difagreeable perfons. in the univerfe. She therefore intreated me to endeavour to gain the confidence of the governor, and to ufe my utmoft exertions to change this refolution. My reply to this good mother was, that I would do my beft, and that at all times fhe mould find me obedient to her commands. Soon alter I took my leave, and returned home, where I found an invitation from Mr. Hettman to form a party at chefs. In the mean time we dined, and after dinner Mr, Cruftiew prefented to me the candidates for reception into our fociety. About four o'clock a woman came to take my meafure for fhirts and clothes, according to the cuftom of this country, where the women rjerform the taylor's bufinefs. At feven o'clock I waited on the chancellor, where I found five merchants. We played five games at chefs, four of which I won, and after receiving one hundred and eighty roubles, 1 took my leave. On the oth a merchant, named Cfulofnikow, hearing that I pofiefled fome money, propofed to me to play a couple of games with him, but declared that he would not play for lefs than two hundred roubles a game. I accepted his propofal, only deferring it till afternoon, becaufe becaufe I was obliged to attend my fcholars at the governor's houfe. When I entered the hall I was furprized to find Mifs Aphanafia abfent, and frill more to hear that ifie was ill in bed, but being defirous of taking her leflbn, (he had afked leave for me to come to her, which her mother had granted. I was accordingly introduced into her chamber, where this amiable girl difclofed the fentiments of her heart with fuch opennefs and fimplicity, that the Ruffian language at that moment appeared to me the moft mufical in the univerfe. Our converfation was interrupted by the appearance of Madame Nilow. I therefore took my leave, and on my arrival at home I found Mr. Cfulofnikow, who loft three games at chefs. The reft of the day was employed in fettling the order for the reception of the candidates to be prefented by Mr. Cruftiew. We agreed that the council of eight fhould alone-be entrufted with the fecrets, and that fuçh other perfons as might in future be admitted fhould be informed only of fuch particulars as the council might judge neceflary to communicate to them to fecure their confidence. At this meeting, therefore, the form of the oath was drawn up, and we employed the reft of the evening in preparing an entertainment. On the 10th, at day-break, Mr. Cruftiew went in fearch of his candidates, and at nine in the morning ^turned with them. Their names were as follow : Demetrius Kuzneczow, a free Ruffian merchant. Aphanafi Kumin, Captain of the Coffacks, free. Andrew Gurcinin, Chamberlain of the Emprefs Elizabeth, an exile. John Sibaew, Captain of the Hunters, free. Vol. I. . P Alexis Alexis Protopop, Archdeacon of the Church, free. Levonti Popow, Captain of the Hunters, free. John Cfurin, brother to the captain of a merchant fhip, free. Magnus Meder, of the Admiralty, exiled twenty years. John Wolkow, a free hunter. Caffimir Bielfki, a Polifh ftaroft, exiled fifteen years before. Gregory Lobczow, Colonel of Infantry, an exile. Heraclius Prince Zadfkoy, exiled eighteen years before. Julian Brandorp, a Swede, exiled fix years before. Nicholas Srebernikow, Captain of a regiment of Guards, an exile. Andrew Biatzinin, an exile. At eleven in the morning the candidates were introduced to the committee, and the oaths and engagements were read to them. They immediately took the oath, and figned their engagements ; but in order to confirm their fanclion we determined that all thofe who were of the Ruffian religion fhould go to confeffion, and take the facrament to corroborate their oaths. In confequence of this order Mr. Cruftiew attended them to the church, where their confeflions were received, and the iâcrament was adminiftered to them by the Protopop. After their return we celebrated our little feaft, and the governor with his family, the chancellor, and the hettman, with feveral other principal perfons of the town, came to us in the evening, and honoured our affembly with a vifit, which fixed the epoch of the independence of the exiles : For the governor, being extremely drunk, fwore, that he acknowledged acknowledged me as chief of the exiles, and commanded the chancellor to regifler an acl: in the chancery, to authenticate this nomination ; at the fame time promifing to write a representation in my favour to government, in order that I might be employed in the fervice of the ftate : The chancellor and the hettman fupported the intentions of the governor, and had the fatisfaction to win near feven thoufand roubles from the merchants, at chefs, who by this means paid the charges of our entertainment. On the nth we determined to go in chace of the bear, and obtained permiffion from the governor of four days abfence. On this day I received a confiderable prefent in linen and fome peices of plate from Mr. Nilow. Oh the 12th we departed, to the number of fix teen, well armed, with eight fledges, and went down the river which was frozen. At the diftance of twenty-eight verftes we flopped at the dwelling of the tajou or chief of Cfekawka : he gave us an account of the feveral viiits he had received from the bears in his neigbourhood, and entertained Us and our dogs with a dinner ; after which lie conducted us to a brook which fell into the river of Kamchatka. But the inftant that he perceived three bears at play on the banks of this rivulet, he earneftly entreated us to retire, affuring us that thefe creatures would be the death °f us. After delivering this advice, he decamped, and we approached our enemies 'till within the diftance of mufquet fhot, when we difcharged our fire-arms, and Wounded them. Enraged with their wounds, they came forward to attack us with the utmoft fury. It Was a fortunate circumflance that my companions were P 2 accuftomed accuftomed to this chace. They met the bears, and, after a long combat, flew the whole three ; for none of them chofe to quit the field of battle. The following circumftances are proper to be taken notice of refpecting this manner of hunting. At fight of a bear one of the hunters advances to begin the attack, which he does by prefenting his left arm to the animal, having previoufly fecured himfelf by thick pieces of wood, fattened lengthways upon the arm, in order that the bear may not break it at the firft gripe. The moment the animal feizes the arm the hunter ftrikes him with a lance within the left fhoulder. After this ftroke the other hunters continually run their lances into the body of the animal, who often breaks the weapons, and, if the firft ftroke be not effectual, throws down his opponent and ftrangles, or at leafl: maims him. After having flain thefe three bears we laid them on our fledges and returned towards Cfekawka. At the half diftance we met the tajou with twenty natives of Kamchatka, armed with lances and bows. They acquainted us that they came to affift us ; but when they faw the d^ad bears they fung our praife, and conducted us back in triumph. The firft care of the Kamchatka men was to fkin the bears, for which they gave us twenty-fix martins fkins, and eight foxes fkins for the flefh. This bargain was very agreeable to us, and we refolved to fally forth by moon-light to make another prize. We fuc-ceeded very,well in this attempt likewife, for we flew five others, but Sibaew was wounded. Among thefe bears there was one of prodigious fize, and as white as fnow. We let apart his fkin as a prefent for the governor ; governor ; and propofed to apply the four others to our own ufe as mattraftes. We therefore laid them on our fledges, and returned towards our habitations, where we fkinncd them, and falted the fiefli ; after which we carried our prefent to the governor, who was highly pleafed with it. CHAP. VIII. PUBLIC SCHOOL OPENED. THE SOCIETY OF EXILES MEET ON BUSINESS RELATIVE TO THEIR ESCAPE BY SEA. CHESS. THE COUNT COMPOSES CHARTS OF THE COASTS AND ISLANDS ADJOINING TO KAMCHATKA. DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCE OF THE. AFFAIR LAST DEBATED IN THE SOCIETY OF EXILES. AVERTED EY THE COUNT, WHO NARROWLY ESCAPES ASSASSINATION. I IIS ENEMY PUNISHED. ON the 14th, the fchool-room being ready, I received my fcholars, and made choice of MefT. Cruftiew and Panow as my afliftants. At four in the afternoon the governor's children appeared. The number of my fcholars amounted to twenty-three, among which were three merchants, who came to learn arithmetic. On the 16th Sibaew requcftcd me to call a meeting, tn order to communicate a difcovery relative to our enter-Prize. I appointed that very night at eleven o'clock. When the committee was aflembled, I demanded of him the communication he had to^nake, which was as follows, In In the courfe of the preceding month of Auguft, Cfu-lofnikow failed from Ochoczk with a veffel of one hundred and fifty tons, armed, and bound to the Aleuthes iflands, to catch beavers. His crew confifted of twenty-eight hunters, who had never been at fea before, and thefe being overtaken by a violent tempeft, had run the veffel affiore. Cfulofnikow in this juncture had forced the people to work without intermiflion to get the veffel off the ground ; and upon their refufal to perfevere, had obtained military affiftance from the governor to compel them. In confequence of which treatment they had unanimoufly determined, firft to get the veffel off, and afterwards to make their efcape with her out of ftavery. Mr. Sibaew having been confulted by them on this affair, took advantage of their difpofition to infinuate that they had no chance of fucceeding in their attempt unlefs they could engage me to take the command, which they immediately refolved to do, and entreated him to inform me of their determination. He therefore thought it incumbent on him to acquaint the committee, that they might determine what was propereft to be done in thefe circumftances, which in his own opinion he thought very advantageous to our interefts ; as by increafing our number we might put ourfelves in a fituation to employ open force in feizing a veffel, and making our efcape with our arms in our hands, in cafe we could not fucceed by ftratagcm. This propofition appeared very interefting to us. The opinion of every perfon prefent was therefore taken, and the fociety was at laft induced to adopt mine, which was ;$s follows : That That Sibaew mould return for anfwer to them, that I Was greatly affected with the fufferings they endured, but that having already been betrayed, once before, in my endeavours to affift the unfortunate, I could not truft to their propofals. For it would be fufficient if out of twenty-eight there fhould be one apoftate who might betray me ; and as the enterprize was of the nature of a revolt, they would be punifhed by being condemned for life to the mines. I recommended that no other anfwer fhould be made them on my part but this ; but I engaged Sibaew to encourage them in their difpofition to emit Kamchatka, and perfuade them to ufe every means of gaining my confidence, while I referved to myfelf the conduct, and management of their plot when it fhould be brought nearer to an iffue. On the 17th in the morning Sibaew arrived with two of the principal perfons of the crew of Mr. Cfulofnikow, the one named Lapin, who was mafter, and the other Parencfin, who was carpenter. They both threw themfelves at my feet as foon as they entered, and conjured me not to abandon them in their enterprize. They obferved, that their refolution ought to be agreeable to nie, as I fhould thereby fecure myTiberty ; and they offered to engage themfelves by oath to be faithful and °hedient to me in all my commands, and1 to follow m^ to the end of the world. I continued to urge difficulties until they had affured me that they would engage themfelves by the moft ficred oath, and take *he holy communion to corroborate every engagement uito which I might think proper to require them to c-ntcr. This refolution determined me to give themu fome fome hopes that I would accept the charge, provided they engaged their companions to follow my fortunes under the fame oath. For which purpofe 1 told them, that as foon as they were all agreed, they might come to me, in order to execute their oath of union. After their departure, I affembled my companions, and communicated to them the agreement I had made with the chiefs of Cfulofnikow's people. The fleps I had taken were approved, and the company finding themfelves reinforced by twenty-eight ftrong, robuft and determined men, no longer doubted of fuccefs. We agreed from that day forward to bufy ourfelves in making cartridges, and preparing our arms. Each of us was directed to provide a mufquet, a pair of piftols, a fabre, a lance, and fixty cartridges. On the 18th I paffed the day with the chancellor in playing at chefs, and I won feven games. On my return I found Mr. Norin, lieutenant of the garrifon, who afked me to lend him five hundred roubles, which he wanted to fit himfelf out, as he was nominated commander at Nifnioftrogg. I promifed to comply with his re-quefl, on condition that he gave me his word of honour to behave with humanity towards the unfortunate exiles dwelling within the limits of his jurifdiction. He accompanied me home, where I put the five hundred roubles into his hand, and received in return his pro-teftations of friendfhip and gratitude. My companions were much concerned at my liberality ; but when I affured them that I had near five thoufand roubles in my box, they found themfelves more at cafe in that On the 19th the chancellor defired me to compofe a reduced chart of the Kurilles and Aleuthes iflands, together with the coafts of Kamchatka, and Ochoczk ; and, in order that I might obtain the neceflary information, he gave me permiflion to take out of the archives whatever pieces I might find relative to the fubjeft. As this bufmefs tended to divert my wearifome fituation, and, at the fame time, to fupply me with the knowledge which Was requifite to the execution of my project, I undertook it very willingly ; and on that very day I received out oi the Chancery feveral journals and relations of fea voyages, made either by the officers in the Imperial Ruffian fervice, or by individuals. At the firft perufal, however, I was convinced that I could advance nothing with certainty, except fuch articles as I found in the journals of Span-berg, Bering and Tfirikow. On the 20th Madame de Nilow prefled me much to teach her daughter mufic. Unfortunately, however, my whole knowledge of this art confifted in playing the harp, an infiniment which it would have been a miracle to have found in Kamchatka. Neverthelefs, to pleafe this! kdy, I promifcd to make one; though I had never handled any cabinet-makers tools. On my return home I confulted with my friends, concerning the ac-c°mplifhment of my promife ; and, after I had made a model, Mr. Panow undertook to affift me in the con-ftfuââon of the inftrument ; Mr. Cruftiew engaged to lr^ake the firings with the entrails of dogs and rein deer, and Mr. Stephanow promifed to make all the iron fcrews. Vol. I. Q_ On On the .21 ft, Mr. Cfulofnikow, the merchant, came to me, and reproached me with having excited his crew to mutiny, and threatened that, if I did not point out the ringleaders to him, he would dire&ly go and complain to the governor, and demand an order for my im~ prifonment. The direct, and affured manner in which this man made his attack, led me to fear fome treachery on the part of his people ; but, as it was neceflary to avoid every appearance of confufion, I replied, that he muft be out of his fenfes to accufe me with fo ftupid an undertaking. I admitted that his people had applied to me for an engagement to build my houfe, and that I had made a bargain with them, which, however, I would willingly cancel, if the governor judged it inconvenient. I aflured him that I entered into this explanation, not with a view to juftify myfelf to him, whom I defpifed too much to think of making any reply to his accufations ; but that I did it to make him bluffi at his want of humanity. I moreover aflured him, that I fhould lofe no time in waiting on the governor, and making him acquainted with the execrable treatment with which he purfued his people, who, though unable to fubfift without working, were deprived even of that refource, as far as his power could go ; and that, as to myfelf, I fhould foon find an opportunity to punifh him for his infolence, in having dared to attribute fuch proceedings to me. During our converfation, feveral of my companions came up ; and when informed of the fubject of our difcourfe, they attributed his proceeding to a defire of avenging himfelf for the lofs of a fum of money againft me nie at chefs. The conteft foon became warm, and terminated in a fhower of blows, which fell to his ihare. To prevent the bad confequences of this adventure, I immediately waited upon the governor, and informed him of the accufation of Cfulofnikow, not forgetting to mention the infolence of his behaviour. The governor, irritated by the reprefentations of his lady and the reft of his family, fent a ferjeant in fcarch of Cfulofnikow, and the moment he appeared, without fuf-fering him to fpeak, he declared to him, that if he ever infulted me in future, he would fend him to prifon, and profecute him for having loft the veffel entrufted to his care ; and that fince he had information that the veffel could not be got off, he would difeharge his crew from their contract, and give them full liberty to enter on board of any other veffel. The governor accordingly fent his officer to the chancellor, in order that his commands might be carried into execution ; and poor Cfulofnikow found himfelf obliged to fubmit without fpeaking a word. I thanked the governor, and returned homewards, out had fcarcely proceeded one third of the way before I was attacked by Cfulofnikow and his coufin, With two flout bludgeons and drawn knives. I had no °ther arms than a flick, and was at a diftance from every place of affiftance. However I fet myfelf in a flate of defence with my back againft a ftore houfe, and in this filiation I received many ftrokes on the arm. One of my blows was fo lucky as to fall on the head of Cfulofnikow's companion, and extended him upon the earth ; Upon which, having only one to deal with, I attacked my lnan with fury, broke my flaff, and then flew upon 2 him him with my fifts. At the firft onfet I had the good fortune to ftrike him fuch a violent blow that he vomited blood, and begged his life, which I granted, at the fame time that I reproached him with his treachery. I promifed, however, not to fpeak of this adventure to the governor. After I had left him and was proceeding on my way, I met Sibaew, who feeing me all bloody, with feveral contufions on my head, enquired what had happened, and upon being informed, he ran to the governor's houfe to carry the news. The governor immediately fent a detachment to feize Cfulofnikow and his coufin, the latter of whom died that afternoon, by the fracture of his fkull. Cfulofnikow was condemned to fix months public labour, and his whole property confifcated to the ufe of the ftate and the church. For my part it was with great difficulty that I reached home, and notwith-ftanding every care, I was obliged to keep my bed ten days, during which time I received continual vifits from the chiefs of the country, and efpecially the family of the governor, which appeared to be highly interefted in my welfare. CHAP. CHAP. IX. THE EXTLES NARROWLY ESCAPE POISONING, ON NEW YEAR'S DAY. DISCOVERY OF THE AUTHOR, WHO DISCLOSES THEIR PROJECT, AS COMMUNICATED TO HIM BY ONE OF THEIR NUMBER. THE EXILES MEET, AND PUT THE TRAITOR TO DEATH IN THE NIGHT. FARTHER ENQUIRIES MADE BY GOVERNMENT, WHICH ARE RENDERED ABORTIVE BY AN ACCIDENTAL CIRCUMSTANCE. ON the 1 ft of January, 1771, we paid our refpects to* the governor and other principal pcrfons, and afterwards afTembled, in order to make a kind of entertainment. We had received from feveral merchants, pre mts of tea and fugar, with which we regaled ourfelves. But this pleafure coft us dear ; for in a quarter of an hour after we were feized with violent cholics and vomiting. Mr. Panow was the firft who aflured us that we were poifoned, for he aflirmed that he had obferved many of the pieces of fugar tafted fait. In confequence of this fuppoiition, each of us drank a large quantity of whale oil. It is impoflible to defcribe our fufferings ; fome were affected more than others, and as to myfelf, who had only taken one cup of tea, I found, alter I had taken the oil, that my pains difappeared with only a trembling lrt all my limbs. But my utmoft exertions were required to attend my other companions, confiiling of fourteen perfons, many of whom vomited blood. During this crifis, feveral of our companions came to* fee us, who, when they found what had happened, made iafte to bring a quantity of the rein deer's milk,, which which at laft mitigated our pains, and caufed them to go off* with a trembling of the limbs, excepting Mr. Cfurin, who died in the night, and Mr. Panow, who continued fcarcely alive. As foon as we had recovered our forces and began to reflect upon this event, we examined the fugar. I gave a piece to a cat, and another piece to a dog, wrapped up in part of a fifh. Both thefe animals were ftrongly convulfed, and burft in the fpace of half an hour. This experiment convinced us that Mr. Cafarinow, a merchant, had poifoned the fugar ; but as it was of importance to fearch this affair to the bottom, we determined to keep the fecret, for which reafon we caufed the Protopop to attend the burial of Mr. Cfurin, and Mr. Panow, finding himfelf better, was conveyed to his hut. On the 2d, about noon, I waited on the governor, with the intention of giving him an account of our accident ; and, as a proof, I carried with me the fugar loaf. The governor was not inclined to give credit to my declaration, for which reafon I offered to convince him by fending for Mr. Cafarinow, and propofing to him to drink tea, at the fame time that notice might be incidentally taken, that I had prefented the governor with a loaf of fugar. For I obferved that the behaviour of Cafarinow on this occafion, could not fail, either to clear up his innocence, or indicate his guilt. Madame Nilow approved my propofal, and the governor confented to follow my advice, on condition that I fhould be a witnefs to what might happen, from a neighbouring chamber. The governor accordingly fent for the chancellor, the hettman, and Cafarinow, with two other merchants. The moment I faw them arrive, I retired into the next room, room, where I could hear every thing that paffed. The chancellor and the hettman arrived firft, and were informed of the bufinefs for which they had been requeftcd to come. They concluded that Cafarinow had executed this aâ: of revenge againft me on account of his having loft a large fum of money at chefs, and declared that they did not doubt the truth of my relation. They at the fame time obferved, that if the fad fhould be eftablifhed againft Cafarinow, it would be abfolutely neceflary to punifh him with the utmoft rigour of the law, by condemning him to labour in the mines, after confiscation of his whole fortune. Cafarinow at laft arrived with the two other merchants : the governor received them politely, and entered into difcourfe concerning the fitting out of fome (hipping for the iflands Aleuthes, to catch beavers. In the midft of their dialogue, the governor propofed tea, which was accepted by the whole company, and he continued his difcourfe with Cafarinow, by afking if he was not in the habit of taking tea feveral times in the courfe of the day, to which he anfwered in the affirmative. In the *nean time the table was fet out, and the governor, looking at the fugar-loaf upon the table, expreffed his fur-ptize at the generofity of the exiles who arrived laft, and obferved that he had received as a new-year's gift from me, two iugar loaves, part of which he had now the pleafure of offering to the company. At thefe words Cafarinow ^nicd pale, and upon the governor's enquiry whether he ^as ill> he replied he was, and begged leave to retire. The chancellor replied, that his illnefs would go off after a c°uple of difhes of tea. He continued, however, to make make his excufes, but at laft the cup of tea being poured out was prefented to him, and the governor inlifted on his drinking it. At this crifis the unhappy wretch no longer doubted but that he was difcovered, and, throwing himfelf at the feet of the governor, declared, that he had poiloned the fugar, with the intention of delivering fociety from fuch a monfter as myfelf. He affured the governor that he would himfelf be convinced of this after hearing the depofition of a perfon of the name of Piat-finin, who had difcovered to him a plot, which I had formed, to arm all the exiles, and to feize veffels in order to efcape from Kamchatka. The governor was too much enraged at the attempt of Cafarinow to pay any attention to his words ; but committed him to prifon, giving orders to the chancellor to proceed to the confifcation of his property, and to regifter the fentence againft him from his own confeffion, of an attempt to poifon. After having feen this wretched man dragged to jail, and the governor's dinner time being near, I retired. Immediately on my arrival I affembled the council, and afterwards all thofe who had entered into the oath of confederacy. I declared to them the treafon of Piat-finin, who was then prefent, and the meeting fentenced him to die, but granted him three hours to prepare himfelf for death : the Protopop attended him, and in the evening he was led out and put to death during the nignt, by mooting him through the head. In confequence of the depofition of Cafarinow, the chancellor caufed a cofiack, of the name of Piatfinin, to come before him, and queftioned him concerning the face. This poor wretch was at a lofs what to anfwer, but abfo- lutely lutely denied ever having fpoken to Cafarinow, and the chancellor did not give himfelf the trouble to confront them, but contented himfelf with inferting in the fentence a declaration of falfhood againft the depofition of Cafarinow. CHAP. X. THE COUNT CONSTRUCTS A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT FOR HIS SCHOLAR MISS APHANASIA. MEMBERS PROPOSED TO THE SOCIETY OF EXILES. PLAN OF OPERATION SETTLED. THE GOVERNOR PROPOSES a JOURNEY. LARGE SUMS OF MONEY WON AT CHESS, AND PART PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNOR'S FAMILY. MISS APHANASIA DECLARES HER AFFECTION FOR THE COUNT IN THE PRESENCE OF HER FATHER, WHO IS EXCEEDINGLY IRRITATED, BUT IS PACIFIED BY HIS COLLEAGUES IN OFFICE, THE GOVERNOR MAKES THE NECESSARY DISPOSITIONS TO REVERSE THE SENTENCE OF EXILE' ! UNDER WHICH THE COUNT WAS BANISHED. ON the 3d we were informed of all that had happened at the governor's as well as at the chancery, and it Was with the greateft fatisfadion that we refleded on our narrow efcape from the confequences of treachery and Poifon. Several of us, however, were afflicted with fe-Vcre fits of illnefs afterwards. On this day my mufical lnftrument being finifhed, and the firings mounted, I parried it to Madame Nilow, and played a few airs upon lt: before her, and though the found of the infiniment Was far from being lively, the melody was thought inchant- ting by the governor and all his family. From that day forward their youngeft daughter Aphanafta was infepa-rable from her inftrument. On the 4th Mr. Stephanow informed us, that he had difcovered that Bocfarow, Ifmailow, and Lapin, three young perfons apprenticed to the fea, had refolved, together with five or fix hunters, to feîze a veffel, and efcape to the Aleuthes iflands, to eftablifTi themfelves there. Fie obferved, that fince the propofal firft came from them he could depend on their fidelity; but as the treachery of Piatfinin had made a ftrong impreffion on the minds of my companions, I contented myfelf with propofing that Mr. Stephanow fhould form a connection with them, and encourage them in their refolution till we fhould have decided refpecting their admiflion ; but that we fhould poft-pone our decifion to the time of the execution of our project. My opinion was agreed to, and Mr. Stephanow was intrufted with the management of this affair. On the 5th a committee was held, to confiait on the means of carrying our project, into execution. It was here determined, that, in order to prevent all fufpicion in future, the greater part of our companions fhould quit the town of Bolfha, and fettle at Nifney-oftrog during the winter, under pretence of following the chace : But that in the courfe of the month of March, or at fixrtheft by the 15th of April, they fhould rejoin me, in order that as the harbour began at that time to be cleared of ice, and the fhipping would be fitting out, we fhould embrace the carlieft opportunity of feizing the firft veffel we fhould be ready, in which we would embark, and leave Kamchatka. In confequence of this refolution it was determined mined that Meffrs. Cruftiew and Stephanow fhould undertake to make fure of part of the Crew of the firft veffel which might be fitting out, with a view to facilitate the execution of our project ; while I fhould attach myfelf to the governor, the chancellor, and the hettman, for the purpofe of fruftrating the effect of the infinuations of the merchants, who, from the treachery of Piatfinin, and feveral other circumftances, had been confirmed in their fufpicions. On the fame day I requefted the governor's permifiion of abfence for my companions, that they might hunt near Nifney Novogrod, which I obtained. On the 6th they departed, after I had given them two hundred roubles to facilitate their eftabliftiment, together with a letter of recommendation for Mr. Norin, commanding officer at Nifhey-oftrog. On the 7th the governor propofed to me to accompany him on a journey he intended to make in the courfe of the month, together with his family. I complied with his orders, and promifed to be ready, but the chancellor and the hettman, who came in foon after, reproached me for abandoning their parties. The governor, however, aflured them that he fhould not be abfent longer than feven or eight days ; in confequence of which they determined to make the fame journey, on condition that We took a chefs board with us. The governor was ourious to know the fum they had won at that game ftnee I had borne a part ; and, upon making a calculation, lt: appeared that it amounted to forty-two thoufand roubles, in money and furs. The chancellor, to fhew his attachment to the governor, aficrted, that he had agreed with me to fet afide one-tenth part of the R 2 profits profits as a prefent to the governor's family, which he called me, as well as the hettman, to witnefs. The governor was highly pleafed with this declaration, and immediately caufed his daughters to be called, and communicated to them the news of their good fortune ; obferving, that they were indebted to me, in the firft place, for this advantage, and next, to the friendfhip of the chancellor and the hettman. I perceived that Mr. Hettman was offended at the ftep the chancellor had taken, for which reafon I called him afide, and repre-fented to him that this act of generofity, as well as all the good confequences which might arife from it, would be fhared by him, as well as us ; and that there ftill remained a vaft field for us to extend our advantages. This affurance fet his covetous heart fomewhat more at eafe. The governor's family expreffed their acknowledgements to us ; but Mifs Aphanafia added, that fhe hoped, from the goodnefs of Mr. Chancellor and Mr. Hettman, that they would intereft themfelves in my favour, and obtain the abolition of the fentence of my exile, and the neceflary grace, in order that I might be employed in fome charge under government, that her fincere defire of feeing me happy, and of partaking in my happinefs, might be accomplifhed. At thefe words the governor flew into a rage, and loaded me with invectives, but the chancellor and hettman remonftrated ftrongly againft the injuftice of blaming me for the fentiments of his daughter. They obferved it was not impoffible but that I might in future poffefs a charge under government, and in that cafe the governor could not do better to infure the happinefs of his • family. Their arguments at length had fome effeer on the governor, who became calm, and addrefled them in thefe words : Gentlemen, you are witnefs to the declaration juft now made by my daughter, of which I fhould be much afhamed ; but, fmce you find it exeufable, I pardon her, and undertake to employ my credit in mitigating the fentence of exile againft Benyowfky. I therefore requeft that you will fign an act which I fhall propofe to you, which, according to the laws of the C zar Peter, difcharges every exile from his fentence. This law enadts, that every exile who fhall have difcovered a plot formed againft government, or the chiefs, fhall be difcharged from the rigour of his fentence. The exile before you has a right to this abfolution ; for he has revealed to us the attempt of Cafarinow to poifon us. Without his declaration neither you nor myfelf would now have been alive. You cannot therefore difpenfe with figning this aft of abfolution, which we will fub-mit to the fenate, with our letters of recommendation, for the fake of the form only : For the ordinances of the Emperor do not prefcribe this to be done, but are pofitive in enacting, that every governor or voivode, prefident of a college, or chancellor, with the confent °f his counfellors, fhall be authorized to pronounce this ahfolution. This fpeech of the governor was received like an oracle, ai*d the chancellor invited the governor immediately to call a meeting the following day, to carry his refo-hation into efTedt. The hettman made hafte to engage Madame Nilow to join them, in order to confirm the governor governor in this ftep, who beholding his family at his feet, and the chancellor and the hettman urging every entreaty, confented at laft, and complimented me with my liberty. CHAP. XI. the count is in danger of being put to death by his associates. their suspicions removed. an embarrassing dilemma. presents made to the count. the manner of his absolution from the sentence of exile. he makes a proposal to the council. generous disposition of the chief inhabitants of the town. consequences of 1 he count's advancement. THIS bufincfs was not conduced with fecrecy. The governor's family divulged the adventure con-fufedly, and the whole town was informed of my approaching abfolution before I left the governor's houfe \ which I did, after having received orders to appear the following day at the chancery at eleven in the morning. In my way I met many perfons who loaded me with compliments, and when I arrived at home, 1 found Meffrs. Panow, Stephanow, Baturin, and Cruftiew, who ac-cofted me with fome confufion, and informed me that I muft appear before the general meeting. I enquired what prefling affair demanded my prefence, and obferved that I had very agreeable news to communicate to them; but great was my aftonifhment at the anfwer of Panow, who mi orme d informed me that this news would coil: me my life, to which he added, that 1 was a traitor, and that nothing more could be faid on an affair which was of fufficient importance to be decided according to the conititution I had myfelf eftablifhed. Surprized at this difcourfe, I had no time to confider what motives could lead them to act in this manner. It was in vain that I folicited my bell: friend, Cruftiew, to give me fome intimation of the buiinefs ; for he refufed, by obferving that he was forbidden to fpeak to me, and that it was neceflary I fhould appear before the aiTembly. I then entered, and the firft objects which prefented themfelves to my fight were two of my allouâtes, armed with fabres, at the door, and a goblet on the table filled with poifon. Thefe preparations led me to fup-ppofe that I was charged with treachery, and that the proceedings of the governor in my favour had induced my companions to believe that I had accufed and betrayed them. On this fuppofition I demanded leave to fpeak, and immediately related to them every thing which had paffed at the governor's houfe, together with the decifion of the governor. After having ended my difcourfe, I demanded judgement. Confternation and joy was on every countenance. Mr. Panow advanced towards me the firft, and, throwing himfelf at my feet, entreated my pardon, affirming that he was the author of all that I faw. He informed lr*e, that as he could not believe my connection with the chiefs of the government was fimply the effect of accident, ne had long fiifpecled me of treachery, and had not ceafed to follow my fteps ; and that he had, on that very morning, followed me, and was convinced of my duplicity, when he he heard that, by virtue of the ordinance of the Czar Peter, I was declared to be at liberty : a conviction which infpired him with the refolution of affrilinating me ; though he had deferred the execution of his purpofe, merely with the intention of informing his companions of their danger. That in confequence of his declaration, they had determined to put me to death ; but that the prefervation of my life was owing to the refolution of Mr. Cruftiew, who perfuaded the meeting to hear me before they proceeded to the commiffion of a crime, as he would anfwer for me at the expencc of his life : And as the afiurance of Mr. Cruftiew was now found to be true, he in treated my pardon for his precipitate hafte. I embraced this worthy aflbciate, and thanked him for his care, at the fame time begging that he would, in future, entertain a better opinion of me» The fears of the aftbeiation being thus difllpated, they indulged themfelves in the pleating reflections, how much my liberation would tend to infure the execution of our project. After the riftng of the affembly, I consulted with Meffrs. Cruftiew and Protopop about my apprehenftons refpecting the governor's daughter and her mother, who feeing me in a ftate of liberty, preflèd me to marry her, which was out of my power, becaufe I was already married, and refolved to profucute our voyage. The firft reprefented to me, that my marriage being by compulfion, would be unlawful, and that I might clear myfelf of it on my return into Europe. The fécond propofed to me to repeat the form of marriage, without entering into a ny engagement ; to which effect, he promifed to give me a certificate. They both endeavoured deavoured to convince me that I needed not heiitate to comply with the folicitations of the governor's family, for the purpofe of fupporting the common interefl. But I refolved to do nothing which might injure my reputation. I therefore declared that I would put off this affair as long as I could, in order to gain time, and that I did not defpair of obtaining their confent to defer the marriage till the month of May ; at which period, it Would be in our'power to fettle the bufinefs in another manner. I confefs that in my own mind I felt the utmoft regret and uneafînefs, to be the inftrumcnt of diftrefs to an amiable girl whom I tenderly loved ; but the hope that fhe might, at fome future period, be happier in a" marriage more fuitable to her fituation, tended in fome meafure to render my reflections lefs afflicting. I employed the reft of the day in preparations to make a decent appearance at the chancery, and in the evening I waited upon the chancellor and the hettman to thank them for their favours. Both thefe gentlemen loaded me with compliments ; the chancellor obliged me to accept a traineau, very elegantly conftructed of whalebone and gilt, which was drawn by four white dogs, and accompanied by a flave to direct them ; and the hettman Prefented me with a parca, or peliffe of beaver's fkin, edged with the fkin of the black fox, together with a bonnet of hlue velvet bordered with fables. On the 8th, all the exiles affembled at my houfe. At ten o'clock the fecretary of the chancery, Mr. Szudeikin, came to invite me to the chancery. I accordingly ordered my fledge to be harneffed, and waited upon the chancellor, attended by my companions, who remained at Vol. i. S the the gate. The fecretary introduced me into the council chamber, where I found the* governor fitting as pre-fident, with eighteen other principal gentlemen, including the chancellor and the hettman. The governor made a very long fpeech, in order to render me truly fenfible of my good fortune, in having fallen into the hands of juft and enlightened men. He enlarged much on the mildnefs of the Ruffian government, and the excellence of its laws, and concluded his difcourfe by praifing the Emprefs, whofe virtues he extolled to the Ikies. After his fermon, he ordered the chancellor to read the act of my abfolution, which was word for word as follows : " Actuated by the inviolable duty of juftice, after 44 having materially examined the behaviour of Auguftus ic Samueloviez, an exile to this place, by order of the go-" verning fenate, and (purfuant to) the will of her Impe-*c rial Highnefs, Catharine, Emprefs and Autocratrix of *c governor, with the principals of the regency, doubtlefs ct to carry into execution a deiign of feizing the govern-C( ment of this province, and depriving the empire of the " dominion thereof. That the faid Auguftus Sa-cc mueloviez, in order to prove the criminal intention, C€ hazarded his own life, with the lives of feveral of his cc companions, by making a trial of the force of the poi-tc fon on his own perfon ; and that in this manner, at the 'J peril of his life and the lives of his friends, he clearly 4< proved the guilt of the above-named: which evidence tl was laftly confirmed by Cafarinow himfelf, who con-" fefted his crime. May it therefore pleafe his excel-" lency the governor, conformably to the ordinances of " the late Czar Peter, to pronounce the fentence of ab-<£ folution from exile, iri favour of the faid Auguftus * ployed my mind, and more efpecially the ideas to which I gave birth, of eftablifhing empires, and robbing the Spaniards of their remote poffeffions by arranging this chimerical project in writing. Neverthelefs it led me to the probability, that at fome future time California might be taken by the Ruffians, and that the Spanifh co'onies might, fooner or later, become their prey. About COUNT de BENYOWSKY. 14-7 About noon I waited on the governor, and gave him an account of the project, of the hettman, with fo many reafons in its favour, that he declared himfelf fatisfied with it, reduced, no doubt, by the hope of obtaining the government of Ochoczk. After dinner, when the chancellor and hettman arrived, the propofition of the latter was treated of at large, and I law, with the greateft Jatisfaction, that all thefe three perfonages adopted my plan, which they commiflioned me to draw out. It therefore lay with me to create thefe three governors, to whom I accordingly promifed the utmoft exertions of my pen in their favour. This day gave me a decided fu-periority at Kamchatka. Hitherto I had been ufeful to thefe three chiefs, but when they adopted a fyftem, the compofition of which refted with me, I became more than ufeful, for I was then indifpenfably neceflary to them. In the evening I retired to enquire concerning the preparations for our entertainment. Mr. Cruftiew gave me an ample account, from which I was fatisfied that every particular was arranged in the beft manner. Ou the 15th, at nine o'clock, all the exiles came to me, perfectly well and even richly clothed. We proceeded from my houfe to that of the governor, in twenty-three fledges, each drawn by four dogs, where we were received affectionately. The chancellor and the hettman heing prefent faved us the trouble of going to their houfes. The governor gave us a lift of perlons whom he deiircd to ■2Ç admitted. I then detached feveral parties of my companions to invite the guefts, while myfelf, with Mr. Cruftiew and my intended Ipoufe, went to the town-houfe to give orders. We bad eleven muiicians, and fixty-lcven U 2 covers covers were ferved up to thirty-five gentlemen and thirty-one ladies, for the y dung gentlemen and unmarried ladies were invited only to the dance, which followed the entertainment. As the hettman had lent me three peices of artillery, we fired them off*on the arrival of the governor's family. At two o'clock the company fat down to table, and did not rife till five, at which hour the younger part of the company began the dances, which lafted till three. Mr. Kuzneczow infinuated himfelf fo well into the favour of the governor, that his company, and the offer of fix fledges to carry the governor's effects and equipages, were accepted of. He immediately informed me of his fuccefs \ for which I embraced and thanked him with all my heart. When the governor retired, he told me he would defer his journey till the 17th, as he was defirous of a day's repofe after this entertainment ; a refolution which was very agreeable to me, as I myfelf felt the fame necefftty for an interval of reft. When the company broke up, Madame Nilow prefented her youngeft daughter, and declared her my future fpoufe. This attracted compliments from all fides, with à degree of jealoufy from fome of the merchants and young officers. When I had feen the governor home, as I excufed myfelf from remaining at his houfe, Mifs Nilow accompanied me home, to look to my health, as fhe faid ; and I paffed the whole of the 16th within doors, till the evening, about fix o'clock, when I conducted my intended lady home, and received the orders of the governor, who placed the whole care of his voyage and the bufinefs of a fecretary upon me, Our attendants were to to confift of nineteen fledges and forty-fix perfons, and our departure was fettled at fix in the morning of the 17th. Plate II. exhibits a view of the fledge drawn by dogs. CHAP. XIV. a JOURNAL OF AN EXCURSION MADE BY THE GOVERNOR OF BOLSOREZKY OSTROGG, IN COMPANY WITH THE COUNT DE ft ^ TtiktrT *lT»\tC\ i\ Til PFTX3fi ' TJ « nt 'I'K wmWEW 11 ' \ Vi benyowsky. THE following is a journal of our travels. On the 17th in the morning, about ten o'clock, we quitted Bolforezky Oftrogg, and arrived at Molerowka, at which place the tajon, being informed of our arrival, regaled us. with fifh and cavear, and made the governor a prefent of feveral furs. The weather was fevere and frofty, with an eafterly wind in our faces. On the 18th we left Molerowka, and proceeded to Baniowka, where we were received and entertained by exiles, who likewife made the governor a valuable prefent of furs. On the 19th we left Baniowka, and the river of the Erne name, and, after much labour and fatigue, we arrived at Hereboftova. Here the tajen of Koanik complained to the governor, that a foldter of the garrifon of ^erclmey Oftrogg, after having violated his daughter, had flash llain her. In confequence of this accufation, which was proved, the governor directed me to expedite an order to Verchney Oftrogg, that the faid foldier fhould fuffer the knout until he died. On the 2cth we arrived at Chiakollautka, almoft martyred by the impetuoflty of the wind, and very near being fwallowed up by the drifts of fnow. We had fcarcely entered the jourt of the tajon before it blew a perfect hurricane, and in the morning we found our dwelling buried under the fnow. The country people exerted themfelves to open a paffage through the fnow, in order to get out. Being defirous of taking a view of the country, I afcended through the hole; but it was im-poftiblc to difcover the leaft ligns of any houfe, though I knew that our attendants were lodged in nine different adjacent jourts. The continuance of the hurricane, which considerably augmented the quantity of fnow about us, compelled us to remain here till the 25th. On the 26th in the morning we departed, and towards evening arrived at Valowka, where we found certain exiles, whofe occupation confifted in making fait in the bay of Avatcha. On the 27th I accompanied the governor to vifit this famous bay. It is a noble bafon, into which I obferved that a large river and three others emptied themfelves, though the Ruffians affirm the contrary. We afterwards proceeded to vifit a ftore-houfe fituated to the northward of the bay. On the 28th our attendants joined us, and we paffed near the lake of Navafchova, and arrived at Katchoun, where the governor received very confiderable prefents. Here Here we were joined by the hettman and the chancellor, whofe company ferved to enliven our converfation. On the 29th we paffed near another lake named Kimak, and proceeded to Alzime. On the 30th we left Alzime, and arrived at Tahallka, where the governor determined to reft. The tajon, who was one of the moft confiderable in the province, did not fail to regale us with rein deers flefh, the fruit of larac, * and Jukola, which is a kind of fifh dried. On the 2d of February we proceeded to Kronotowa, where I was defirous of feeing the head land of Kronock, which lay to the eaftward of us, while the lake of Kronock lay to the weft ; but the governor oppofed my defign, by affuring me that the road was not cleared, and I might probably be buried in the fnow. On the 3d we proceeded to Katham, from which place I fent to Nifney Conratiew, to advife my companions of our arrival, and to direct them to bring a prefent of their fineft furs for the governor, the chancellor, and the hettman. On the 4th we arrived through a very bad road* over mountains and precipices, to Chovalova, where we found Mr. Norin, commanding officer at Nifney, together with the principal merchants, waiting for us ; who informed the governor that confiderable prefents were prepared for his arrival in town. On the 5th, after having paffed the river Kamerath, a part of the exiles prefented themfelves before the governor,, to whom they announced their intention of making prefents,. and afterwards joined our fuite. On the fame day, about fix in the evening, wre arrived at the town or village of Verchney, where the governor alighted at the habitation* * This word is obfeure in the mannferigt; tion of the protopop, and I lodged with him ; but the others fixed their lodging with the town's people. On the 6th I received orders to forward all the prefents to Bolfha, and, from a moderate eftimation, I found that the governor's journey to Nifney had been worth near feven thoufand roubles to him. We remained in this town till the 13th ; and as the feverity of the cold did not allow me to make any excurfions, I employed my time in drawing up a description of Kamchatka, in order to promote the clefigns pf the governor. My work was interrupted only by the game of chefs, which was eagerly ftudied by every one who was defirous of diftingui(hing himfelf from the common rank of people. My winnings at this game amounted to near thirteen thoufand roubles, in furs and ready money, which the chancellor and the hettman fharcd with me. On the 13th we reached the village of Kamenin, where all my projects would have been overthrown, if a lucky accident had not averted this moft imminent danger. On the 14th, in the morning, I came out to direct Mr. Kuzneczow to fend an exprefs to our aflbciates at Bolfha, to advife them of our return. As foon as I came out I was accofted by a native, who rccjnefted to be introduced to the governor, as he faid he had a letter for him from an exile who had been taken ill, and was by that means prevented from waiting on the governor himfelf. I ordered this man to follow me, and went with him to Kuzneczow, where, after opening the letv , I faw it contained an account of the fecrets of our u? hi, from one of the aflbciates named Levantiew. This - un came came from Nifney to join the governor, and make his report in perfon ; but, happily for our caufe, a violent cholic feized him in the middle of his journey, and forced him to adopt the expedient of fending a letter to the governor. Upon this information I ordered Kuzneczow to depart immediately with Ivan Kudrin, and dif-patch the traitor. I then rejoined the governor, with whom I breakfafted, after which we proceeded on our journey. We arrived at Kolitova, where I requefted the governor to remain, on pretence of viliting the volcano of Krafnaist. He confented, and on the 15 th we proceeded to view this famous volcano. I approached within five toifes of its mouth, where a hidden exhalation of fulphureous fume furprized me, and caufed me to fall backwards among the hot afhes, which burnt my face. But, fortunately for me, there were feveral natives of Kamchatka near at hand, who were provided with iron hooks, with which they dragged me out, and, after having rubbed the burned parts with whale oil, they reconducted me to Kolitova, where I found Mr. Kuzneczow returned from his expedition. He reported, that Levontiew had declared his refolution to his coufin at Nifney, who, not being able to diffuade him from it, had poifoned him in a glafs of brandy, which they drank together ; and that, on the arrival of Kuzneczow, this unhappy wretch was at the point of death. He cc-nfeiTcd his intention to Kuzneczow, and entreated, as a favour, that he would put him out of his mifery, at the fame time that he declared the fociety had nothing more to fear, fince his letter was intercepted ; becaufe he had difcovered his intention to no one but his coufin, who, Vol, I. X faithful faithful to his engagement, had poifoned him. This account gave me great iatisfa&ion, and induced me to prefs the governor to return ; but, as he was determined firft to vifit Tigilb, nothing could be done but follow him. On the 16th we arrived at Napana, where I met a foreign exile whofe acquaintance I immediately requefted, and was not a little furprized to behold a man of the age of ninety-two years in perfect, health. He told me his name was Ehrenfchild, a Swedifh colonel, who had been exiled forty-nine years before into Siberia, and had dwelt at Kamchatka for twenty-two years. I propofed to him to join us at Bolfha, to which he confented, and for which purpofe I obtained the governor's permiffion, but this unfortunate perfon died a fhort time after. On the 17th we arrived at Chippin, where we found the jourts forfaken. On the 18th we arrived at Volofka, which was likewife deferted, and on the 19th we at laft arrived at Tigilb, a town and fort, which I fhall hereafter defcribe. At this place the governor remained three days, and received confiderable prefents. On the 2 2d we proceeded from thence to Galiny. On the 23d we arrived at Belozolova, and on the 24th at Sigican. On the 25th we reached Takout, from whence the governor fent the chancellor and the hettman the next day to Verchney Oftrogg to infpedt the military, while he himfelf, with his attendants, continued his journey towards Bolfha. On the 27 th we arrived at Ivanka, and laftly, on the 28th, at Bolfheretzkoy Oftrogg, where I was received by my friends witli that cordiality which can only be found in a fociety united by indiffoluble intercfts. The fatigue fatigue of my journey did not allow me to proceed in copying out the work I had written for the governor, which, for that reafon, was not prefented till fome days after ; and as it may convey fome information refpecting this remote part of the world, I fhall infert it in this place. CHAP. XV. AN ABRIDGEMENT OF THE HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF KAMCHATKA. THE peninfula of Kamchatka forms the north-eaft extremity of Alia, extending from the 62d to the 51ft degree of north latitude. The weftern coaft of Kamchatka is very iinuous, forming many harbours, and is interfered by many rivers, among which Bolfha is the largeft. Veffels from Ochoczk enter this river, whichy however, they cannot do with fafety but at the time of fpring tides, which rife between nine and eleven feet. It is difficult to go up this river on account of it's rapid ftream and the great number of iflands it contains. Kamchatka, by offering an afylum for our navigators during winter, engages them in the purfuit of difcoveries. At the prefent time it is merely a place of rendezvous, and ftorehoufe for the exchange of rich furs, brought by the hunters from the Kurelles and Aleuthes iflands; but X 2 in in cafe the fovereign fhould think proper to eftablifh colonies in thofe iflands, and cultivate a trade with China, Japan, Korea, and Idzo, Kamchatka would become a fource of great riches and profperity to the Ruffian empire. This peninfula may likewife ferve to eftablifh a communication between the two continents of Afia and America. The only commodious port on the eaftern coaft is the bay of Avatcha, named Racova. The governor of Kamchatka has built a regular fortrefs, capable of defending its entrance. The inhabitants of the torrid zone are indebted to the fun for the art of producing fire, but the northern nations owe this to volcanos. I apprehend thefe phenomena to be an effect of the central heat of the earth, which burfts forth, and that the fea may contribute to the phenomena by a fermentation, engendered by the faline parts of the waters, filtrated through the earth. Without entering into conjectures refpecting the origin of volcanos, 1 muft take notice- that there are more than twenty in the peninfula of Kamchatka; of thefe, the three moft celebrated are at Avatcha, Tolbatfchz, and the third near the river of Kameralteria. The fame principles which have given rife to volcanos have produced a great number of hot fprings, which have been found to poftefs the cfîicacy of mineral waters. The water which flows from thefe fprings is covered with a black fcum, fome of which I collected, and found it perfectly adapted for ufe as India or China ink. With regard to the fertility of the foil of Kamchatka* after having made many remarks and obfervations, I cannot avoid avoid contradicting the different accounts which have been delivered at the chancery. All the attempts which have been made to produce grain have been unfuc-cefsful, except on ground prepared by manure. Though fome wood is naturally produced, fufficient for the con-ftrudtion of huts, there is none proper to be ufed in the building of fliipping. In this refpect I can contradict Mr. Steller, who likewife reports, that this country abounds in herbage, and that the cattle are of a prodigious lize. If there had been any cattle at Kamchatka in hia time their number ought to have increafed till the year 1771, in which I made the tour of the place ; and throughout the whole of Kamchatka I found only five cows and two bulls, which were fed with the bark of birch nine months in the year, for there is no verdure except between the months of July and September. Neither is the climate and the air of Kamchatka fo mild as many writers pretend. A continual mi ft, which covers the whole country, produces fcorbutic diforders and other illncffes, which check population. The cold is fo extreme that feveral foldiers were found, during the late winters, frozen on their ftands. The long» duration of the fnow likewife occafions blindnefs, info-' much that the natives of the country feldom exceed forty years of age before they become blind. Kamchatka produces metals. Near Avatfet I found iron ores, and near Girova the ore of copper. The mountains afford rock chiyftal, forrie fpecimens of which arc green and reddifh ; the natives of the country ufe it to make heads for their javelins. The only kind of tirées which grow in Kamchatka are a fpecies of baftard fir, cedars* i58 MEMOIRS and T.RAVELS or- cedars, willows, and birch ; the cedar affords a grain which the natives are very fond of : the bark of the willows and the birch ferves them inftead of bread. The only ufeful plant in this country is the farana, which flowers, and affords fruit in the month of Auguft. The natives of Kamchatka make a large provifion of this fubftance, which, together with cavear, forms a certain pafte, which they think delicious, but upon which I think I never could fupport life. Befides the farana, government has caufed another plant to be collected, under the name of Vinovaya, from which a kind of brandy is diftilled, which produces a moderate revenue, but is hurtiul in its ufe, as nothing can equal the poifon of this plant. The governor would act very prudently by prohibiting this distillation, and importing a larger quantity of brandy from Europe. Kamchatka makes no great figure with refpect to animals. The firft rank belongs to the dog, which ferves inftead of draught horfes, and, after it's death, affords a fkin for the clothing of man. The dogs of Kamchatka are large, but a&ive and laborious ; they are fed with opana, which is a compofition of ftale fifh and the bark of the birch, but they are moft commonly obliged to feek their own food, which they find in the rivers produced by the hot fprings, where they find fifh. The fox comes next' after the dog ; its fkin is gloffy, and there is no fur in Siberia which can be put in competition with the fox's fkin of Kamchatka. The ram of Kamchatka is excellent food ; its fkin is highly valued, and its horns are likewife an article of commerce ; commerce ; but of late years the number of this Tpecies has greatly dimini (hed. The fable is very common in Kamchatka, and the natives continually hunt this animal, as do likewife the hunters. The number of fables brought to market laft year from Kamchatka amounted to fix thoufand eight hundred. The fur of the marmotte is very warm and light. Bears are very numerous in Kamchatka ; their difpofition is gentle, and they do no mifchief, except in their own defence. The hunters are obliged to hunt the bear for fubfiftence, but it often happens that they get torn, though the bear very feldom kills a man. It feems as it this animal fpared the life of the creature it no longer fears : they have never been known to hurt Women. Thefe creatures are fat during the fummer and lean in winter. Amphibious Animals. The manate refembles a cow in the form of its head. The females have two nipples, and hold their young againft their bofoms. The French have named this animal lamenti, from its cry. It has a black rough fkin, as thick as the bark of an oak, and capable of refifting the fttoke of an hatchet. The teeth of the manate are preferred to ivory. Kamchatka affords annually of thefe between two hundred and fifty and three hundred. The flefh of the manate refembles beef when full grown, and veal when young. Kamchatka likewife affords beavers. The fur of this creature is as foft as down ; its teeth are fmall and fharp, but / but its tail fhort, flat and broad, terminating in a point. Beavers are catched here with the line, and fometimes they are (hot under the ice. The fea-lion is of the fize of an ox ; its cry is dreadful ; but, happily for navigators, it is one of the figns of the vicinity of land during the fogs, which are fo common here. The fea-lion is a timid animal ; it is ftruck with the harpoon, or fhot with the mufket, or bow and arrow. The fea-calf is found in great abundance near all the iflands and headlands of Kamchatka ; it never goes far from fhore, but enters the mouths of rivers to devour fifh. The fkin of the fea-calf is ufed to make bufkins. The inhabitants of Kamchatka take this animal with the line. Kamchatka affords a large quantity of different kinds of fifh, from the whale to the fmallefl fpecies, but the birds of this country are few -> and as I know of nothing new with refpect, to either, I mail here conclude this article. CHAP. CHAP. XVI. AN ACCOUNT OF THE NATIVES OF KAMCHATKA, THEIR ORIGIN, FOOD, HABITATIONS, RELIGION, ETC. THE NARRATIVE OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE EXILES RESUMED. PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE SOCIETY OF EXILES ALTEREP. CONSEQUENCE THENCE ARISING. ■IK, rHrw 3'j"j£iq iitOlu JLOaGOV i J.,-,. , ;! v i !.. J/Ja THE original people of Kamchatka call themfelves Itelmcn, which word denotes inhabitants of the country. If we were to attempt to difcufs their origin from the conftruction of their language, we mould declare them to be defcendants of the Mongal tartars : their figure tefembles that people ; their hair is black, their beard is thin, and their face broad and flat. This nation polTeffes no tradition refpecting its origin : it was numerous at the arrival of the firft Coffacks, but has fince greatly dimi-uiffied. The natives of Kamchatka have no other fubfiftence than fifh, roots, bear's flefb, and the bark of trees, with Water to drink, and fometimes brandy, for which they pay very dear to the merchants. Though this people is at prefent cloathed, for which advantage they are indebted to the Europeans, it has coft triem. dear, when placed in the balance againft the barbarous and tyrannical treatment they have experienced *r°m their new mafters. Their women are exceedingly difpofed to luxury, to fuch a degree, that they do not perfonri the offices of the kitchen without their gloves °n ; and they would not, on any account, fuffer them- Vol. î. Y felvcs felves to be fcen by a ftranger without their gloves and rouge, which they fmear in large quantities upon their hideous countenances. Thefe people dwell in two kinds of houfes ; their winter habitation is called yourth, and that of the fumnicr balagan. Thé whole religion of the natives of Kamchatka confifts in the belief that their God, having formerly dwelled in Kamchatka, fixed his habitation upon the banks of each river feveral years, and peopled thofe places with his children, to whom before his difappearance to eftablifh himfelf elfewhere, he gave the circumambient country for an inheritance. For this reafon they never quit a domain fo ancient and unalienable. The fenfations of this people are merely corporeal. Happinefs, in their opinion, conhfts in idlenefs, and the gratification of the natural appetites. It is impofîible to perfuade them that any mode of life can be more happy or more agréable than theirs, and they always confider the manner of living in Ruflia as worthy of their utmoft contempt and difdain. The inhabitants of Kamchatka have a peculiar cuftom in contracting marriages ; but as this ufage is defcribed in the memoir of Spamberg, I fhall not repeat in thisit place. Every intimacy between the fexes is allowed of> and, according to the principles of the Kamchatka nation, a plurality of wives is allowed ; but the Ruffian government forbids poligamy, in which refpeâ perhaps it tends to depopulate this country. It is difficult to conceive what reafons could lead (° wretched a people, who have nothing either to lofe or to gain, to enter into war. But it is very certain that they are ftrongly addicted to revenge. The object of their Wars can be only that of making prifoners, to employ the men in work, and fubject the women to their pleafures. There is no doubt, however, but that the Coffacks on their arrival excited troubles and differences among them, in order to profit by their inteftine wars. The conqueft of this nation has been a very difficult tafk to the Coffacks, for, though feeble in its wretchednefs, it has fhewn itfelf terrible in its defence. They have availed themfelves of ftratagem and treachery when forcewasun-fuccefsful ; and if it be true that this nation is bafe, yet the fear of death prevails fo little among them, that filicide is very common. There are inftances of thefe people being befieged by the Coffacks in a place of retreat, and, when deftitute of all hope of efcape, they have firft cut the throats of their wives and children, and afterwards killed themfelves. The ufe of muchomor is convenient for this purpofe, as a dofe of it caufes them to die by a profound fleep, which deprives them of all fenfation. The muchomor is a kind of champignon, very common in this country ; the infufion of which caufes drunkennefs and hilarity, but, if ufed to excefs, produces ftrong convul-fions, which terminate in death. After I had prefented my abridgment of the hiftory of Kamchatka to the governor, who found it a mafter-piece u* his opinion, excepting that the expreffions were not fufficiently free from a foreign manner, I applied all my attention to contrive fuch meafures and precautions as l!iight infure the fuccefs of my plan. The two inftances °f treachery I had experienced made me very uneafy ; atid as I had to do with people who were governed by Y 2 the the prejudice of religion, I could not take too much precaution to fecure myfelf. In confequence of this, I convened all my affociates on the ift of March, about fix in the evening. I opened the committee by giving an account of my voyage and the death of Levontiew, after wh eh I declared that it appeared neceflary, in my opinion, that we fhould fummon all thofe who were abfent, in/ order that we might be ready to defend ourfelves, or to make an attack in- cafe of neceffity. Mr. Meder informed the committee that he had prepared one ^hundred cartouch boxes, each containing forty-eight full cartridges, and iixty other charges faftened to each ; and that Mr. Cruftiew had collected, or caufed to be made, lixty knives, which might be ufed to advantage inftead of cutlaffes, as each of them was eighteen inches long and three broad : that fixteen pair of piftols and thirty-fix hatchets had been purchafed ; and that Mr. Panow had caufed one hundred pikes to be made. The number of our company amounted to fifty-nine perfons, every one of whom appeared fully determined to fupport each other. I therefore affured my companions that when we had united our forces we mould be able to refift every open attack, provided we were all together. For this reafon I ordered Mr. Panow to fend an immediate exprefs to thofe that were abfent. The approach of fpring permitted our coming together without exciting any fufpicion ; becaufe the governor and all the inhabitants of Kamchatka were perfuaded that our attention was taken up in preparations for our eftablifhment on the extremity of the peninfula. In In order to give more ftrength to this general opinion, I propofed to the fociety that we fhould draw up a memorial, and prefent it to the governor, in which we fhould pray him to grant us a fhip to tranfport all our provifions and effects-. The meeting was on the point of breaking up, when Mr. Panow made a motion. He began by obferving that the indifcretion of one fingle perfon would be fufficient to deftroy all our hopes ; for which reafon he held it to be of the laft neceffity to refolve in this committee that the affociation ihould give up all authority into my hands, in order that, after having given fo many proofs of my attachment to their interefts, I might in future be dif-penned from communicating my intentions refpecting the rneafurcs I propofed to take, and the means which I intended to employ in carrying my plan into execution. He therefore propofed that the whole fociety fhould agree to fubmit implicitly to my orders, and to ratify this fub-miflion by an oath. He obferved, that when the fociety had thus granted me the fupreme authority, it would depend upon myfelf to nominate my council and the chiefs who might be propofed to the parties I fhould hereafter form. Mr. Stephanow oppofed this motion ; but it was agreed to by the fociety, fo that Mr. Stenhnnow remained alone. In order to difîipare his confufion, I declared that I Would nominate him a member of my council, becaufe, as he was the only one who miftrufted my intentions, he might fuperintend my anions. The meeting, however, oppofed his nomination, at the inftance of Mr. Panow, who declared that Stephanow had rendered himfelf incapable capable of any confidence on our part, and that it was merely with a view of excluding him from our fecrets that he had made his propofition. For he could not, as he obferved, conceal that he was in pofleflion of indications of treachery meditated on the part of Mr. Stephanow, though he had never chofen to fearch to the bottom of his intrigues, becaufe he was defirous of fparing the life and honour of his relation. But he threatened, that if Mr. Stephanow did not confent to receive and fub-mit to the future orders, till the day of our departure, he fhould hold himfelf obliged to employ every means in his power to come at the knowledge of his proceedings, and to expofe him to the company. I was extremely aftonifhed to hear Mr. Panow exprefs himfelf in this manner, in the prefence of Mr. Stephanow, who did not anfwer a fingle word. The company, equally furprized, requefted me to force Mr. Panow to declare what he knew ; but I refufed, by obferving, that I refpected the fentiments of Mr. Panow, and placed the moft unbounded confidence in his declaration. Neverthe-lefs I afked Mr. Stephanow, whether he would receive and obey the orders ; to which he anfwered in the affirmative, at the fame time that he loaded me with inventives, and declared that I was indebted to Mr. Panow for the prefer-vation of my life. He called his relation to witnefs, that he had no wifh to betray the interefts of the fociety, and that his vengeance had no other object in view than myfelf perfonally ; a lofs which, he faid, was of little confequence, as he was well allured that many of the company were more capable of executing the appointment of chief than myfelf. He even took upon him to declare, that I had I had abufed my authority in putting Levontiew to death, in which affair his coufin had been deceived ; though the truth was, that I was defirous of ufurping his fortune after his death. This confident affertion excited the indignation of Mr. Kuzneczow, who prefented the letter of the deccafed to the fociety. The hand-writing was immediately known, and the contents juftified my refolution. This circumftance, however, produced no change in the ideas of Stephanow, who demanded the judgment of God between him and myfelf. This judgment is founded on a cuftom of the Coflacks, which eftablifhes that the two opponents fhall fight a duel, in prefence of witnefies, and the perfon overcome is efteemed guilty. His ridiculous appeal produced a divifion in the meeting. The moft rational part were of opinion that it was neceflary to interpofe their authority, and condemn Stephanow ; but the reft hefitated. Upon this divifion I thought it proper to anfwer for myfelf, being aflured that it was of the greateft confequence that I fhould give proofs of refolution. I therefore replied that I accepted his challenge, and appointed ten o'clock the following day to give him fatisfaction, at the diftance of two leagues from our habitation. The aflbciates agreed to accompany us, under pretence of hunting. This incident occafioned the final termination of Mr. Panow's propofition to be retarded. He thought proper, neverthelefs, to keep Mr. Stephanow in fight, and to endeavour to pacify him ; but finding it impoffible to produce any alteration in his difpofition, as he himfelf told me, he abandoned him to his unhappy fate-On, On the 2d in the morning I ordered my fledge to be harneiled, and departed wfthMefTrs. Cruftiew and Kuzneczow for the rendezvous. , Mr. Panow attended his relation, and at nine o'clock the whole company were met, and determined that the quarrel fhould be decided with the broad fword. As foon as we had received our arms he advanced towards me with unexampled temerity. I parried the firft: ftroke he made, by engaging his fword, which broke in two ; at which inftant I ftepped back to let him fee that I was not difpofed to take advantage of his being difarmed. The wretch then drew out a piftol, and fired it at me, without any other effeét except that the ball grazed my left arm. His treachery, irritated me to fuch a degree that I advanced towards him,, , though I faw a fécond piftol in his hand, which, however, miffed firé. I then feized him and threw him on the ground. The aflbciates immediately came up, and urged me to put him to death. This, however, I refufed, I put him into their hands, requefting that they would fpare the life of this wretched perfon ; but my requeft did not prevent their infulting and ill treating him on all fides. Mr. Panow took change of him, and we returned to our habitations, where I appointed a meeting of the committee at fix in the evening ; and in the mean time I vifited the governor, with whom I dined. Our difcourfe ran upon the projects of Mr. Hettman. I omitted nothing to confirm the governor in the hope of pofTc fling the government of Ochoczk. After dinner Madame Nilow called me afidc, and informed me that her daughter prcfTcd her refpecting the conclufion of our marriage, and confequently that it depended on me to perfuade her to to wait the moment fixed for our union ; but that if I confented (he would undertake to difpofe her hulband to agree to the celebration of our union. Being thus obliged to gain time, I had no other means of excufe than to urge my intention of firft making an excurfion to fix my new colony, and to build a houfe, and arrange my houfehold affairs, that her daughter might not be expofed to the rigour of the feafon, without every neceflary convenience. After a long conver fation this good mother adopted my reafons, and pleaded my caufe with her daughter, to whom fhe introduced me ; but as fhe foon after left us, the whole charge fell upon me, and it was with difficulty that I prevailed on this amiable young lady to confent to the delay. CHAP. XVII. VARIOUS proceedings in the association for projecting the escape of the exiles from slavery". AT fix in the evening, I repaired to our meeting, where Mr. Cruftiew prefided in my abfence. He addrefled me in the name of the whole company, which granted me the entire authority and moft abfolute command over the fociety. I accepted their fubmiflion, which was confirmed by mutual oath. Alter this ceremony, I required Mr, Panow to declare the motives which had determined Mr. Stephanow to attempt my Vol. 1. Z life; life; he at firft ' begged me not to prefs him in this re-fpecr, as he obferved that he had given his word and oath to the unfortunate Stephanow, though he would not conceal that, in a long converfation with him fince his laft accident, he had obtained his permiffion to difcover the caufes that had produced his enmity towards me. My friends all declared unanimously that it was neceflary the wretch fhould himfelf appear, whereupon Kuzneczow immediately went out to fetch him. This unhappy man appeared before us, riot only without the leaft confufion, but with a degree of audacity by which he appeared to dare me. I made a fign to Mr, Cruftiew, who queftioned him concerning the. difpofition of his mind, and the caufes which had produced his extreme malice againft me. His anfwer was to the following effect. " Ever fince I firft knew your chief, I found it im-" poflible to forgive that fuperiority which he has affumed C£ over us all. My jcaloufy was often outrageous, but the " confidence he repofed in me ufually reftored my recol-" lection, and I have often applauded my own refolution " in overcoming my natural difpofition, which led me to " offend. I had even perfuaded myfelf that I poffeffed " the moft unfhaken attachment to him, when I was " furprized by jealoufy. I beheld the lovely daughter " of the governor, I became enamoured of her, and the " certain knowledge of her approaching marriage with " your chief, caufed me to fwear his deftructiom You 4 < know the reft, gentlemen, - and I here proteft, that u though his gencrofity has preferved my life, it has " made no change in my intentions. If, therefore, it be " of tc of any confequence to you to preferve his life, do not u fpare mine." • Several members of the fociety reprefented his folly and bafenefs to him, but his anfwers only fhewed that his mind was in a ftate of defperation. His fituation, never-thelefs, affected me, and I addreffed myfelf to him in a mild and friendly manner, alluring him that I harboured no refentment againft him, though he had juft reafons to blame himfell for the little confidence he repofed in me, before he made a determination to engage in fo bafe an attempt againft my fafety. I acquainted him that it was very true I had an eftecm for the governor's daughter, and had reafons to think myfelf the object of her affection ; but that I did not intend to marry her, and confequently his defpair was premature. I then called the whole company to witnefs the truth of my affertions ; whereupon the: unhappy Stephanow fell at my feet, begged a thoufand pardons, and entreated me to forget all that had palled. I promifed the moft abfolute compliance with this requeft, ;on condition that lie would inviolably fubmit to the orders of the fociety; and with a view to make fure of him, I nominated three aflbciates to attend him and watch his motions. After I had thus received the fatisraction of recalling this man to his fenfes, I adjourned the committee till nine o'clock. * On the 3d, Mr. Panow waited upon me in the morning, to thank me for .the goodnefs I had fhewn to his unhappy friend, at the fame time that, in his name, he requeftcd permillion to fee me. I confented, the more willingly5 ■ as I could depend upon the rectitude of Mr. Panow. Stephanow arrived about ten o'clock, and en- Z 2 treated treated me to confirm the promife that I did not intend to many the governor's daughter, which I did with the utmoft earneftnefs ; upon which he begged, that at the inftant of my departure I would permit him to carry her off. Compaffion for the man's unhappy fituation, as well as the neceffity of laving myfelf from the excefs of his defpair, induced me to promife, after advifing him to be patient, that I would ufe every means to fatisfy his wifhes, as far as their accomplifhment might agree with the inclinations of the young lady. This promife contented the poor man, who then returned to his confinement. Mr. Panow, after his departure, embraced me cordially, with many thanks for the pains I took to re-ftore the peace of mind of his relation. The reft of the day was employed in compofing the order of fervice for my companions, that every one might perform his tafk with propriety. In the evening the hettman came with feveral merchants to lofe fome games at chefs, which happened to his wifh, and produced no fmall profit ; for his winnings did not amount to lefs than two thoufand five hundred roubles that night. On the 4th, I received a letter from Nifney Oftrogg, from one of the aflbciates, named Loginow, who advifed that three exiles from Verchney Oftrogg had re-folved to wait upon me, in order to be admitted into our fociety, though he was aflured that their defign was to-regain their liberty by betraying me. He exprefled his fufpicions that thefe three exiles had been informed of our defign by the late Levontiew, and concluded his letter by informing me that himfelf and Sibaew had re-folved to return very foon, with all the other aflbciates. On the 5 th, I convened a meeting to draw up a petition to the governor, requefting a veffel for the carriage of our uteniils and effects to Lopattka, in order that we might form our eftablifhment. After this bufmefs was difpatched, I informed them of the approaching arrival of our companions from Nifney Oftrogg, and the project of the three exiles of Verchney. With regard to the laft affair, we refolved that we would confefs to them that it was very true we had formed a defign to efcape from the tyranny under which we had fuffered, but that fince the governor had extended his protection to us, we had determined to form a new colony at Lopattka, and consequently we fhould propofe to them to affociate in our undertaking* I requefted all the members of our fociety to converfe with them agreeable to this arrangement. Towards evening,, a certain merehant, named Krafitni-kow> arrived, and propofed to me to enter into a contract with him for the fole furnifhing of our colony with fupplies ; on which account he promifed to give credit for twelve thoufand roubles. I replied, that this affair being a common concern to all the individuals who compofed this new colony, I could notr for that reafon, make any fti-pulation with him until I had firft received their m-ftructions, though I did not doubt their confcnt, on- account of the great advantages the fociety would derive from fuch a credit This, poor merchant already devoured in imagination the great advantages which fuch an exclufion muft produce. In hopes,, thereloie, of purchafing my goodwill, he drew a purfc of two hundred! roubles out of his pocket, which he preffed me to açcèp , and which I did act think proper to reiufc,: as it &rv I the better to cover my intentions and confirm the public in the perfuafion that a new colony was really about to be formed, With this view I likewife begged him to procure me fome good carpenters and blackfmiths. On the 6th, I was invited to fpend the day with the hettman, who put a confufed mafs of papers into my hands, containing his projects relative to the Aleuthes iflands ; from which he begged me to compofe a memorial to be prefented to her Imperial Majefty. The head of this man was filled with fuch a numerous arrangement of chimerical projects, that it was with the utmoft difficulty I could difluade him from the grofteft abfurdities in the foundation of his fyftem ; and perhaps I fhould not have fucceeded, if the chancellor, who arrived during our conference, had not fupported my reafoning. In the evening the governor's family arrived, who, at my requeft, invited fome of my companions, among whom was Mr. Stephanow. I had before found an opportunity to perfuade Mifs Aphanafia to diffemble her ibntimcnts towards him, which fhe promifed to do, and I could depend on her promife. In this manner we palled the evening very agreeably, and I had fufficient leifure to make my 'reflections on the weaknefs of the human mind, when I faw that the ftme Stephanow, who, a fhort time before had ufed every cifort for my deftrue-tion, was now continualiy loading me with the titles of his guardian angel and -'benefactor. Upon our departure I accompanied the governor's lady home, at her own requeft, where I learned the difcourfe which had palled between Mr.' Stephanow and "Mifs * • Aphanafia. COUNT de BENYOWSKY. 17$ Aphanafia. The amount was that Stephanow had declared his love in due form, and entreated her to accept him for her hufband. To this the lady anfwered, that as fhe had not yet had a fufficient opportunity to become acquainted with him, fhe could not accede to his propofal ; but that fhe hoped time would tend to advance his expectations. She affured him that fhe had no averfion to his countenance, but that the accomplifhimnt of his hopes would, it was to be feared, find great ob-ftacles on the part of her parents, who expected a fortune to fecure her future welfare; and, as Mr. Stephanow, being an exile, could have no pofic/lions, the adjuftment of that bufinefs would doubtlels be very difficult. She further acquainted him that this greateft obftacle could only be removed by my protection, for which purpofe fhe recommended him to employ every means of cultivating my friendfhip. I thanked this amiable young lady for her goodnefs, while at the fame time I felt the fmcereft regret to behold myfelf the inftrument of her future affliction, though her kindnefs and friendfhip banifhed, for the moment, thefe afflicting thoughts from my mind. C II A P. CHAP. XVIII. THE EXILES IN DANGER OF TREACHERY. THEY ENDEAVOUR TO PROCURE A VESSEL, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS. THEIR MILITARY ARRANGEMENT. FINAL PROJECT. ON my return home Mr. Cruftiew informed me of the arrival of MelTrs. Ivafkm, Voladimir, and Puf-karew, the three exiles concerning whom I had received information from Verchney. On the 7th in the morning I received a vifit from Mr, Stephanow, who fatigued me by his meannefs. At ten o'clock Mr. Ivalkin came to fee me, together with his two companions. Their firft conversation turned upon their fufferings and their birth, which they finifhed by compliments, and the obfervation that they had lived long enough in the world to be ready to fubmit to the commands of fo enlightened a chief as myfelf, at the fame time that they declared the intention for which they had come fo far; namely, to be in readinefs to facrifice their lives to promote my in-terefh I thanked them for their compliment, but declared, that as I was equally wretched with themfelves, it was out of my power to ferve them in any other way than by mitigating, in fome meafure, the hardfhips of their fituation, for which purpofe, in cafe they chofe to allbciate with us to form our new colony, I would readily fhare with them the advantages which our labour and in-duftry might procure. This reply had a very ftriking effecl upon their countenances. Mr. Ivafkin replied that they had formed very different hope*, as they had heard from from fome of their intimate friends that I had refolved to purfue a plan to fet the exiles at liberty ; the hope of co-operating in which had been the fole motive of their application to me. Upon this declaration I aflured them, that it was true that the unhappy ftate of flavery in which I found myfelf, as well as the fuffcrings of fuch a number of brave men, had led me, at firft, to the determination of running all rifles to procure our liberty, but that fince government had granted us fuch diftinguifhed marks of protection, and had given us the means of procuring an eafy and comfortable fituation, I had changed my refolution, and had perfuaded all my companions to re-linquifh theirs ; in confequence of which they had refolved to affift in my labours. I continued to difplay to them, at full length, the advantages that might be expected to refult from our enterprize ; and I gave fo flattering an account of the hopes I had conceived of it's fuccefs, that they were entirely convinced of it's reality. Several of our companions entered foon after, and the converfation turned entirely upon the means I had adopted to render our eftablifhment fuccefsful. I took this opportunity of afking Mr. Ivafkin for his determination, who replied, that the thing required mature examination, and could not be decided in an inftant ; but Meflfs. Pufkarew and Voladimir declared that they would nnite themfelves to us without referve, and at the fame time proceeded to fay, in the prefence of Mr. Ivafkin, that as for him, they were determined to have no further connection with one who had formed the villainous project of obtaining his pardon by betraying a number of brave men. They declared that they had undertaken Vol. I. A a the the journey with him, expreflly with the intention of fruf-trating his defign, in cafe our views had been to efcape from Kamchatka, and proceeded to relate the whole of Ivafkin7s project, who finding himfelf difcovered, began to intreat for pardon. I faid no more to him in reply, than that the idea alone of fo vile an undertaking convinced me that he could not efcape difgrace and punifhment, though, with refpect to myfelf, as my conduct had been fuch as to fear no reproaches, I would confent to pardon him, on condition that he never again appeared in my fight. After his departure, as I did not think it prudent to expo fe myfelf to the enterprizes of fo bafe a wretch, I immediately waited on the chancellor, and acquainted him with* Ivafkin's attempt. This account enraged the chancel-lor to fuch a degree, that he immediately went to the governor, and obtained an order to difpatch Ivafkin to Verchney, with an injunction never to return again to Bolfha. Thus ended the attempt of this infidious wretch. My companions congratulated me on its happy iffue ; but I required them to difcover none of our views or intentions to our new affociates, becaufe I was defirous firft of gaining a knowledge of their real intentions before we fhould communicate any particulars of information to them. On the 8 th I convened the chiefs of our fociety, and went in a body with them to the chancery to prefent our petition, which the governor caufed to be read. The decifion of the council was, that, as government could not furnifh us with a veffel, we fhould be fupplied by baydars, which are large boats. In confequence of which refolution, a fufficient number of thefe boats were ordered to to be delivered to us, which, by making feveral trips along the fhore, might render us fervices equally effential with thofe of a larger veffel. To prevent delay the governor ordered them to be immediately delivered, and at the fame time he caufed the conceflion of the land of Lopattka to be given into my hands, together with the permiffion to begin my operations as foon as I thought proper. This refolution, fo unfavourable to our interefts, de-ftroyed our hope of poffefling a veffel in our own power. I therefore affembled a committee, in which, 3fter confiderable difcufllon, it was determined, that we mould poftpone our departure, under various pretences, till we could feize a proper opportunity of gaining poffeffion of an armed veffel by main force, and by that means making our efcape. And, in order that the execution of this project might not be left entirely to accidental events, we appointed the 12th for a fecret committee, the members of which were immediately nominated, and were as follow : Myfelf, Prefident ; Mr. Cruftiew, Mr. Kuzneczow, Mr. Baturin, Mr. Panow, Mr. Gourcfinin, and Mr. Wynbladth. On the 12th Sibaew and Loginow arrived from Nifney-' 0ftrOgg with twelve other aflbciates. I dined this day ^ith the governor, and after dinner Madame Nilow acquainted me that (he defigned to caufe a complete houfe to be conftructed in wood, that it might be carried . to the fpot where I might eftablifh the principal place °f my new colony. She aflured me, that Ï need not give mvfelf any uneaflnefs concerning the arrangement °f my houfehold affairs, as flic was determined to take A a 2 charge • charge of the whole ; for fhe declared her intention, that my marriage with her daughter fhould be celebrated in the month of May at fartheft. This delay removed the apprehenfions I had began to entertain. I thanked her with all my heart for the care fhe had the goodnefs to take of my future eftablifhment, and paffed the reft of the day in the company of this worthy family. It was very late before I x*eturned home, where I found a letter from Mr. Norin, commanding officer at Nifney, which was brought by Sibeaw. This officer had forwarded to me a quantity of furs, in payment for the fum I had lent him. He felicitated me on my poffeffion of the favour of the governor, and my approaching marriage, and concluded his letter by requefting my protection. On the ioth I conferred with the different perfons appointed to form the committee of the 12th, and the reft of the day was employed in attending to our arms and ammunition. On the nth the private meeting was held by adjournment, to appoint the order of fervice, in cafe we fhould be obliged to act by main force. It was fettled as follows in three divifions. The left wing, commanded by Mr. Wynbladth. Mr. Kuzneczow, Stephanow, Sibeaw, Bielfky, Lopcfow, With thirteen aflbciates. The The center, Myfelf, chief. Mr. Panow, Ruimin, Meder, Srebernicow, Loginon, Baturin, With fourteen affociates. The right wing, commanded by Mr. Cruftiew. Archidiacre Protopop, The Prince Zadzkoy, Brandorp, Novozilow, Lapkin, Volkow, With twelve aflbciates. With regard to Meflfs. Pufkarew and Voladimir, as well as lfmaelow and Bayarew, who had been before propofed by Mr. Stephanow, we determined to communicate no part of our intentions to them 'till after the expedition. On the fame day it was determined, that all the arms fliould be carried into our hall of meeting, where they fhould be kept charged, and in order to conceal them from view, an alcove fhould be erected for that purpofe. On the 12th, at eight in the morning, the committee met, wherein I propofed to confult refpecting an expedient to procure a fuitable veffel, in which we might effect our efcape as foon as the port fhould be open by the thawing of the ice. Mr. Wybladth propofed to embrace the opportunity, when a veffel fhould be on the point of failing, failing, as the captain ufually gives an entertainment the evening before, at which a part of our fociety might introduce themfelves with a quantity of poifoned liquors, which might be adminiftered before the clofe of the night, fo that about midnight it would be eafy to get pofleflion of the velTel ; after which, on a fignal being given, the whole affociation might go on board, and force the crew to fet fail without the leafl oppofition. His advice was rejected. Mr. Gourcfinin was of opinion, that we might make our efcape with ©ur boats, in which we might pafs from one of the Kurelles iflands to another, and thence to Japan, where we might meet with Dutch vefTels, and gain a paffage to Europe. His advice was not approved of. The difficulty of navigating thefe boats in the open fea was attended with evident danger of feparation ; befide9 which, in order to arrive at the eftablifhment of the Dutch at Nangafaky, it would be neceflary to fail round Japan, which was impracticable. Mr Panow declared that he would not prefume to make any propofal on account of his ignorance in fça affairs, but referred intirely to me for information. Mr. Baturin propofed to give the governor an entertainment on the pretended occafion of our approaching departure to Lopattka, to which we might invite all the principals of the town ; and that in the middle of the night, we fhould feize and keep them as hoftages until government confented to deliver a vefTcl to us. This proportion was likewife rejected, becaufe complicated in the execution; for as the garrifon amounted to two hundred and ïoriy foldiers, a number, greatly fuperior to ours, it it would always be in their power to force us to fet the perfons at liberty, whom we might have feized ; befides-which, as there were near feven hundred Coffacks in the town, it was not probable that fo confiderable a number of armed men would not intereft themfelves in a quarrel of this nature. Laftly, a difficulty equally infurmoun-table arofe from the officers of the marine in the port, who might collect their fulors belonging to nine or eleven veffels then in the harbour, and render our efcape im-poffible. Meffrs. Kuzneczow and Cruftiew preffed for my opinion, which I ftated by reprefenting to the commitee the inconveniencies annexed to the execution of the projects before propofed. I convinced them that every attempt by main force would be impracticable, and therefore not to be made, unlefs called for by the preffing fituation of events. I avowed my readinefs to facrifice my life ; but, at the fame time, expreffed my opinion that our affairs were not fo defperate as that we fhould leave every thing to chance. I informed them that my wifh was to take advantage of the departure of the packet St. Peter and St. Paul, which would be ready on the 15th of May, and was manned by only twenty-two failors, with five or fix paffengers. It was therefore my dcfire, that ten or twelve of our aflbciates fhould engage as failors on board this veffel, and that Mr. Kuzneczow, being a merchant, might agree with the captain for his paffage, by which means it would be eafy to engage the captain by promifes and money to receive feveral bales of furs fecretly in the night, on pretence of evading the duties. This arrangement would require the captain to fail out of the harbour hour in the evening, when it would be eafy for us to board the vefTel by the affiftance of our boats, in which cafe we fhould find ourfelves matters of the veffel without any ef-fufion of blood, as our number would exceed that of the crew four to one ; after which we might fend back the failors and officers in our boats, and continue our voyage. The end of our debate was, that my propofition was unanimously approved, and the committee charged Mr. Kuzneczow to felecT. twelve aflbciates, and procure them to be entered on board that veffel. In the evening the whole fociety affembled, and received the agreeable news that the meafures for carrying our enterprize into execution were abfolutely fettled, without endangering the life or fafety of any one. This declaration fet every mind at eafe. After which I acquainted the fociety that I thought it neceflary to make a journey to Lopattka, in order to fix the public opinion refpecting the eftablifhment of our colony. The meeting approved my propofition, whereupon I nominated Meffrs. Stephanow, Panow, Wynbladth, and fix others, to accompany me. On the 13th, I acquainted the governor, and alfo the chancellor and the hettman, with my intentions. The governor gave directions for fupplying me with an order, that all the tajons, or chiefs of the villages of Kamchatka, fhould afford me the fame affiftance as would have been given to himfelf. Madame Nilow promifed me provifions for the journey. The reft of the day was employed in preparing our fledges and refrefhing the dogs. CHAP. CHAP. XIX. a JOURNEY TO LOPATTKA. SIBERIAN SORCERY. RETURN TO BOLSHA. ON the 14th, at feven in the morning, I departed with four fledges ; we flopped at the governor's houfe to breakfafl and take our leave. The governor's fon and Mifs Aphanafia, accompanied us as far as Nichilova, where we dined with the tajon, and afterwards parted. I continued my route as far as Tfckawka, where we flept at the houfe of the tajon. Here we found a fchaman, who called himfelf a forcerer, and who, according to the opinion of the natives, had dealings with the devil. I was defirous of being a witnefs of the manners of thefe impoflors, and therefore prefled the tajon to bring the fchaman to me, that he might tell my fortune : the tajon accordingly ufed his endeavours to perfuade him to gratify my expectations ; and a prefent of fix roubles fecured his compliance. Here follows an account of the manner in which the forcerers of Kamchatka exhibit their artifices : He firft caufed all the women to go out of the yourth, after which he ftripped himfelf entirely naked, and Wafhed his whole body with his own urine. He then clothed himfelf in a long garment made of dogs feins, tanned ; upon his head he placed a capuchin with two horns, and laftly he faflened a drum to his belt. Thus equipped he placed himfelf in the center of the yourth, turned round once, cried out, kutti* kuiuiy kutuchtdy and drew a bottle out of his Vol. I. L> b budget, budget, part of the contents of which he drank. He then threw himfelf on the ground, where he remained motionlefs for ten or fifteen minutes. At the expiration of this time he began to howl and cry, and foon after got up and beat the drum with all his might, and without any intermiffion, except at intervals to give more efficacy to his howlings. His motions were fb violent that he fcreamed out with all his force, and at laft, his mouth, eyes, and all his limbs, became convulfed in a manner truly mocking to behold. When an hour had thus paffed, during which he made every imaginable contortion, the fchaman fat down on the ground, and began his prophecy with a hoarfe and feeble voice. The following is what he faid, word for word : C£ Thou art come to demand thy fate of " my fpirit ; he will fécond thy efforts to avenge the li death of the fpirits of our fathers whom the Ruffians '* have cut off. It is Kutuchta who is with thee. Thou but as it was ftill covered with fnow, I could not form any judgment refpecting the foil. For this reafon I contented myfelf with erecting feveral piquets, to denote the fituation of the future town, and then I drew a plan of the place, with the intention of. more effectually fecuring the good opinion of the governor and other principal inhabitants. From this place we departed directly for Tontina, where we arrived in the evening. On the morning of the 2iff, after a fhort repofe, I xequefted the tajon to furniffi me with two Baydara, in which, with a gentle breeze at north-weft, I failed round the cape in a very fhort time. The ifland Schoumtfkoy being in fight, I determined to land on its north-weft fide, where I paffed the night, becaufe there was no wind, and I did not wifh to fatigue the rowers. On the 2 2d, I failed to the ifland Poromufir ; and as the wind began to draw round to the eaftward, I determined to pafs over to the ifland Anfigonone, commonly c.illed Alaide. We quitted Poromufir at ten in the morning, and arrived at Alaide at three quarters after three, where we flept upon the fnow, having no other-bed than our bear's fkins. On the 23d, the beauty of the weather, with the wind in the fouth-weft quarter, tempted me to return to Bolfha by by fea ; but as I had left my fledges and equipage with the tajon of Tontina, I refolved to fend Mr. Panow thither in one of the boats, that he might return with our equipage to Bolfha. After his departure I fet fail at eleven in the morning, and failed north-eaft a quarter north, with a ftrong breeze, under which we made great way. About five in the evening we arrived at the entrance of Lopattka, where we got in with much difficulty, as we had the misfortune to run aground on the bar. On the 24th, at four in the morning, we departed from Lopattka and failed along fhore until we arrived at the port of Bolfha at three in the afternoon, and came to an anchor at Tchekawka, a bay at the entrance of the port ; for the river being frozen, we could not proceed further by water. Hence I fent to the tajon for fledges, and after making fome prefents to the Kurelles of Ton-tina, I departed for Bolfherezk, at which place I arrived on the 25th, at three in the morning. My return furprized Mr. Cruffiew, who informed me, that the governor's lady had lent orders to the tajon of Nifchilow, to inform her of my arrival, as fhe had determined to make a party of plcafure to meet me. But the news which gave me the greateft fatisfaction was, that every thing was quiet, and no one any longer doubted the reality of our project.. I then laid down to reft ; but as I intended to furprize the governor, by appearing before him and prefenting my plan, 1 gave orders Lo awake meat fix in the morning, when. I got up and fketched out my plan, with the fituations of our gardens, which, on* the whole, made a very pretty appearance. I finifhed'-myy .work. work at ten o'clock, and immediately waited upon the governor. The ferjeant of the guard knew me at a diftance, and carried the news to the governor and his whole family, whom I found on the draw-bridge. I was greatly affected at the manner in which they received me. The governor took me with him into his clofet, and heard the account of my excurfion ; but upon the light of my pian it was impoflible to conceal his joy. He obferved that the enterprize was really one of the moft happy thoughts in the world, and faid he had not the leaft doubt but her Imperial Majefty would give marks of her fatisfaction on receiving the plan, together with his reprcfentation of the collateral circumftances. Full of this project, he fent for the chancellor and the hettman; to communicate his ideas to them ; while in the mean time he fent me to give an account of my abfence to his dear Aphanafia. This beautiful and lovely young lady received me with thofe tranfports which the candour and opennefs of her difpofition did not permit her to conceal, and her refpect-able mother bore a fhare in her joy. I was detained to dinner, and, during my ftay, had no leifure to reflect on the agitation of my mind. The different queftions of the governor, the chancellor, and the hettman, which required proper anfwers, af-lordcd fufficient employment for my whole attention. But as foon as dinner was over I retired, on pretence of taking fome repofe, but was very far from being capable. For, on my return home, I could no longer fupport the anxiety which poffeffed my mind, and forced me to attend to an infinity ot reflections that prefented themfelves. Every day brought the moment of the execution cution of my enterprize nearer. Gratitude, and the attachment Ihad formed to the governor's family, feemed to reproach me ; for I clearly law that my departure would be artended with the ruin of him, and all his family, becaufe the court would attribute to him alone the crime of granting me the means of making my efcape. Thefe reflections were fti 11 further aggravated by the con-fideration that our enterprize, though well planned, might fail, and, in that cafe, no other expedient would remain than to attack and gain poffeffion of the fort by furprize ; an expedient which could not be carried into execution without fîfldng the blood of thofe who had fo greatly interefted themfelves in my welfare. It was evident that the governor, who had given me his confidence, and had honoured me with his friendfhip, was intitlcd to my moll: grateful returns ; but, on the other hand, as the chief of a party, I fhould become perjured, and unworthy to live if I fhould endanger or abandon the interefts of the fociety. Such were my reflections, which I communicated to Mr. Cruftiew, a man of underftanding and a fincere friend After he had heard me, he embraced me, and aflured me that, from the knowledge of my character, he had always been apprehenfive of this crifis that he was infinitely obliged to me for the confidence I had placed in him, and would fpeak his fentiments with freedom. He admitted, that the court would impute my efcape to the governor, if information fhould be given refpecting the advantages he had afforded me ;* but that the chancellor and the hettman, being likewife concerned, there Could be no doubt but they would draw up their report • in in fuch a manner that the court mould know nothing of what the governor had done in my favour. For this reafon, he obferved, that I might difmifs my appiehen-fions more efpecially as my obligations to the governor could not be put in competition with my duty to the fociety. Such, he faid, was his opinion with refpect. to our future efcape ; but in cafe we fhould be obliged to a£t by open force, one or the other event muft happen, either that we fhould all be put to the Iword, or fhould become mafters of the country. In which laft cafe, it would be in my power to carry the governor with me by force, who, no doubt, would embrace this determination with pleafure, with a view of efcaping from punifhment ; and that, on our arrival in Europe, I tnould find means to fhew my gratitude to him and his whole family. Thefe reafons, weak as they were, ferved to quiet my mind, and I perceived, that when the mind eafily gives way to defpair, it is as eafily comforted. They who may read the prefent palTage ought to beware of deciding either on my weaknefs or my fortitude. When Mr. Cruftiew obferved that my anxiety was removed, he propofed to afiemble a committee, which I appointed to to be held at eleven that evening. CHAP. COUNT de BENYOWSKY. 193 CHAP. XX. a DANGEROUS DISTURBANCE AMONG THE EXILES. ITS CONSEQUENCE. THE principal aflbciates met, and Mr. Kuzneczow informed me, that he had fucceeded in placing ten hunters and two natives of Kamchatka, on whom he could rely, among the crew of the packet St. Peter and St. Paul, and that he had likewife agreed with the captain for his palTage to Ochoczk, as well as refpecting the embarking and private conveyance of his merchandizes. This account of the advanced ftate of our affairs gave me the greateft fatisfaction. On the 26th in the morning, I received an invitation for myfelf and friends from Madame Nilow, to attend her on an excurfion in our fledges. We therefore waited on the governor, and fet out with him and his family, accompanied by the chancellor and the hettman. At the diftance of two leagues from the banks of the Bolfha, near its entrance, we flopped and examined fome houfes, newly and very neatly built in wood. After this infpec-tion, the governefs informed me, that they were defigned for me and her daughter, obferving, at the fame time, that fhe thought it became her, as a mother, to give us houfes and furniture, as her hufband had given us land. The governor, who was 'till this inftant unacquainted with his lady's undertaking, highly approved it, and ordered the chancellor to direct workmen to finifh the building. Mr. Stephanow, who was prefent, and Vol. I. C c heard heard all that paffed, could not avoid obferving to Mr. Cruftiew, that he faw very clearly that I deceived him, and fhould deceive the whole fociety, after which words he went off with his fledge. Mr. Cruftiew concealed this difcourfe from me, and only faid, that he was obliged to go ; immediately after which, he left us : fo that I remained alone with Mr. Baturin, with whom I waited upon the governor home, and dined with his family. After dinner, Mr. Sibeaw requefted to fpeak with me, and informed me that it was abfolutely neceflary I fhould go home, as Mr. Stephanow had produced a dangerous riot. I fent him back with the affurance that I would come without delay ; but as it was neceflary th:t I fhould give fome reafon to the governor for my hafty departure, I told him in public, that I was informed Mr. Stephanow had again fallen into a ftate of phrenzy, which required ray affiftance. Mifs Aphanafia faid openly, that fhe knew his diforder, and was convinced it was not at all dangerous. It was to no purpofe that I made figns to her to defift, as fhe took no notice, but directing her-felf to me ; You are going, faid fhe, to intereft your-felf in favour of an unhappy wretch, who wifhes to deprive you of life ; upon which fhe burft into tears. Thefe words excited the governor's curiofity, who demanded an explanation ; whereupon I gave him an undifguifed account of my adventure and combat with Stephanow, not omitting to obferve, that his enmity arofe from his paf^ fion for Mifs Aphanafia. Upon this information, the governor defired me to let him fend him to prifon, where he would contrive to render him a little wifer. I infifted, however, upon its being left in my power to imprifon him at home, and, at the fame time, reprefented the neceffity of this act of authority for maintaining fob-ordination among thofe who were deftined to form the new colony. He therefore determined to grant me this right, and the chancellor added, that it was very proper that I fhould be permitted to exert my authority. Seeing the governor in this difpofition, I requefted the conceifion of this power in writing, and accordingly the chancellor drew up an inftrument, which the governor immediately figned. Thefe tranfactions prevented me from returning home as foon as I fhould otherwife have done. Upon my arrival, I found more than fifty foldiers or coffacks round our habitations, difputing with my companions. I was immediately informed that Mr. Stephanow, after a difpute with Mr. Cruftiew, had called a foldier, who was in fight, and told him to run for affiftance, for that otherwife I fhould put him to death, and that he had fecrets to reveal to the chancery. The foldier had collected others, and feveral coffacks came to the affiftance of Stephanow, who was already fhut up by our companions. The foldiers infifted that he fhould be fet at liberty, and at laft attempted to force their way into our habitations, fo that our companions were obliged to take arms to check their impetuofity. Upon this I enquired if any of the foldiers could read writing, and a corporal anfwered in the affirmative. I made this man read the conceffion of right, figned by the governor and the chancellor ; after which he begged my pardon, and intreated that I would not inform the governor of what had paffed, I promifcd him I would not, and thus the difturbance ended. C c 2 As As foon as I came within doors, Mr. Cruftiew informed me that he had luckily followed Mr. Stephanow, from a conviction that he was going to create fome difturbance \ but that as he did not overtake him till his arrival at his houfe, he took Meflfs. Kuzneczow and Gourcfinin to accompany him. They all three entered Mr. Stephanow's houfe, whom they found bufy writing. At fight of them he flew out into exclamations and threatenings too dangerous to be heard by ftrangers, and ended by declaring to them, that he would immediately go and difcover the whole plot, Thefe circumftances evidently fhewed how much this madman was to be feared. They attempted to feize him, but he proved ftrong enough to overthrow Mr. Cruftiew and Mr. Gourcfinin, and, in fpite of the efforts of Mr. Baturin, who held him faft, he had got out of the door, and excited the foldiers to affembie, in order to deliver him ; for he told them, that the other exiles intended to poifon him, and that he had fecrets of treafon to declare at the chancery. Mr. Cruftiew proceeded to obferve, that while the foldier ran to the town, they bound and gagged Stephanow, whom they fhut up under guard ; but a multitude being afterwards got together, and demanding the liberty of Stephanow, they faw themfelves neceflitated to take arms, while Sibeaw flood over the prifoner, with orders to put him to death, at the firft report of any fire arms. This relation put me in fear for the life of the unhappy wretch, for which reafon I made hafte to change the orders of Sibeaw ; after which, fearing that the reports might reach the governor, I fent Mr. Cruftiew, with inftructions to inform inform him of what had paiTed, and then I gave orders to affemble the whole fociety. We only waited the return of Mr. Cruftiew to begin our proceedings, who at laft arrived, and brought the good news, that the governor left me entirely mafter of the prifoner and his punifliment ; but that with regard to the aflfembling of the foldiers and coffacks, he would give orders that no perfon in future fhould dare to approach our quarters with the intention of committing violence, under pain of fifty ftrokes of the knout, and condemnation to the public works for three months. This agreeable meiTage was delivered to me by Mr. Cruftiew in the full meeting, and as foon as he had taken his feat, I demanded their advice how to act with regard to Stephanow. The greater part were for putting him to death, as a man capable of exceffes which, fooner or later, would endanger the fociety ; and infifted that it was better to fave the lives of fifty-feven perfons by facrificing one fmgle perfon, efpecially one who was a criminal. I could not, however, confent to this refolution, on account of my attachment for Mr. Panow, who was related to the prifoner, and was not then prefent. I therefore ufed every perfuafion to induce them to defer the execution till his return ; but the company appeared very unquiet, and preffed me to pafs judgment upon him. I fucceeded at laft in calming their apprehenlions by a ftratagem. I propofed that Stephanow fhould be brought before us, be reproached by the whole company, and that fentence of death fhould afterwards be paffed on him \ but inftead of arfenic and corrofive fublimate, I would only give him an emetic, the effects of which would lead him to believe believe his death near at hand. I allured the meeting that I was convinced that this crifis would produce his reformation, and that the inftant would decide his fate, and convince him that life or death would depend on his repentance or perfeverancc in his criminal defigns. My propofal had its effect: on the company. I therefore fent four armed affociates for the prifoner, and in the mean while the dofe of emetic was made up, confifting of three grains. On his arrival he appeared before us with fome firmriefs, but at the fight of the goblet on the table, he turned pale. Before any queftion was propofed to him the order of the governor was read, and as he knew his hand-writing it was fhewn to him, that he might believe the evidence. After this preliminary, I reprefented to him that his firft mifconduct indicated nothing more than malevolence againft my perfon, and that therefore he had been pardoned \ but the prefent cafe being of fuch a nature as to endanger the whole fociety, it was not in my power to change the laws of the conftitution, and confequently that I muft deliver him to their judgment. Mr. Cruftiew then difpiayed all his rhetoric to reprefent to this unhappy wretch his crimes, and his blindnefs to his own individual intereft. His difcourfe threw the miferable Stephanow into tears, who confeffed himfelf to be worthy of the greateft puni (liment. After this, each of the company beftowed fome words of deteftation on him, and as this ceremony lafted for fome time, poor Stephanow fainted, and fell on the ground. By the application of fpirit of fal ammoniac and vinegar, he was brought to himfelf. During the time of his infenfibility, Mr. Cruftiew drew out the fentence, fentence, to which he liftened with the greateft anguifh, but at the laft words, which were,. " for thefe caufes the cc faid Stephanow is condemned to drink the liquor con-" tained in the bowl, in order that death may enfue," he fainted away a fécond time. Upon his recovery he afked to fpeak with me, which being granted, he intreated me to pardon Ins faults, and to deliver him, if poflible, from this fatal judgment, promifing that his life and blood fhould be employed in my fervice. He then openly declared, that this misfortune was, no doubt, a punimment from the hand of God, whom he had offended by attempting to contract a marriage, though he was already married to a wife then living in Ruflia. He proceeded to declare, that from that moment he abjured the madnefs of love, which had led him to the lofs of his life in fo difgraceful a manner. At length this unhappy man, being urged to drink the liquor, implored the grace and companion of the company, but in vain, for they perfifted in the execution of his judgment. Being thuis convinced of the firmnefs of their refolution, he at laft took the cup in his hand, but upon bringing it to his mouth, his courage again failed him, and he fell back into the arms of Sibeaw and Baturin, who held the cup. On his recovery he wept bitterly, and again in-treated the company to pardon him. The peculiar ftate in which I beheld him, moved me to compaflion ; and as there was reafon to fear that the drink, though fimply an emetic, might deprive him of life through appre-henfion, I interpofed to obtain his pardon, which was granted, on condition that he fhould be kept a prifoner '"until our departure. He confented to this - but, as he was was too much exhaufted, the company did not prefs him to fign his fubmiflion. He had fcarcely ftrength enough to thank me in a few words for my protection before he fainted again. I caufed him to be taken to Mr. Cruftiew, where he was bled by Mr. Meder ; but this precaution did not preferve him from a violent illnefs, which feized him and kept him in his bed till the time of our departure. This incident having employed us almoft the whole night, the meeting broke up a little before day. On the 27th I awoke very late, and was, by that means, prevented from waiting upon the governor in the morning, as I had promifed. Mifs Aphanafia came to fee me, and reproached me for my neglect. She break-fafted with me and Mr. Cruftiew ; after which ihe returned, happy in the information that I had nothing more to fear from Mr. Stephanow. About noon, Mr. Panow came to me. This worthy aftbciate having been informed of the intereft I had taken in the fafety of his relation, fell on my neck, and thanked me for my indulgence. He afterwards told me, that he knew that Stephanow had meditated the carrying off* the governor's daughter, and had for that purpofe, connected himfelf with Ifmailow and Bofcarew, with fix others, who were determined to quit Kamchatka, but that he had defered advifing me of the plot, becaufe Ifmailow and Bofcarew had aifured him, that they would not take any ftep without informing him of it. Mr. Panow recommended thefe two men to me, as likely to be fer-viceable on board, on account of their knowledge in fea affairs. After After dinner I went to Stephanow with Mr. Panow. This unhappy man related to him his laft adventure, in which he did not fpare every expreiîion fuitahle to the enormity of his crime. It was with fome fatisfaction that I was convinced of the fincerity of his repentance. Mr, Panow did not fail to exprefs a due fenfe of his conduct, and advifed him to ftiew his gratitude to me in future. We foon retired, as we were not defirous of increafing his confuiion ; after which we returned to my houfe we where fpent the evening very agreeably. CHAP. XXI. THE COUNT NEGOCIATES WITH THE CAPTAIN OF A VESSEL. PREPARATIONS FOR THE APPROACHING CRISIS. ON the morning of the 28th, Mr. Kuzneczow re-quefted to fpeak with me in fecret, for which purpofe I begged Meflrs. Cruftiew, Panow, and others, who were prefent, to retire. He then informed me, that Mr. Cfurin, commander of the Corvette St. Peter and St. Paul, had acquainted him, that he was unwilling to return to Ochoczk, becaufe of his debts, and for fear of the confequences of a procefs then againft him in the Admiralty court, the iflue of which, if it fhould turn againft him, might condemn him to the mines. He would not, therefore, confent to make the voyage but on condition that Mr. Kuzneczow would find fecurity to the Vol. I. D d amount amount of three thoufand roubles, and would promife to obtain leave of the Admiralty that he might take the command of a merchant veffel. Mr. Kuzneczow obferved that this overture had entirely difconcerted his project, as he could not depend on the compliance of another captain, in cafe Mr. Cfurin mould give up the command. This account at firft alarmed me, but, upon ferious reflection on the fituation of Mr. Cfurin, I perceived fome reafon to hope that it would forward the project of gaining him over to my interefts. I immediately communicated my ideas to Mr, Kuzneczow, who thought them very well founded ; but he objected that Cfurin was fo Itrongly attached to a girl at Kamchatka, that he never would confent to go without her: I removed this laft difficulty, by obferving that he might carry the girl with him, to which Mr. Kuzneczow could make no objection. As it was my wiffi to become acquainted with the fen-timents of Mr. Cfurin by perfonal converfation, I directed Mr. Kuzneczow to bring him to me, and to promife, in general terms, that he would do every thing that might be neceffary to render him the fervices he required. When Mr. Kuzneczow was gone, I rejoined Mr Cruftiew, who was in company with feveral of our aflbciates. I freely told them what I had heard, and the refolution I had adopted ; but I found them ftrongly perfuaded that I fhould not fuccced in the attempt. After dinner, Mr. Ivuzneczow arrived, and informed me of the approaching vifit of Mr. Cfurin ; I therefore went: home and had juft time to order tea before he came. He made a thoufand excufes on his arrival for the liberty he had had taken of waiting on me, and requcfled to know if I had any commiffions for Ochoczk, as he, being the commander of the St. Peter and St. Paul, would gladly take charge of them, and I might depend on his diligence. On this offer I replied, that as it was my intention to import fome provifions and other articles for the ufe of my colony, I would avail myfelf of his kind offer to put a couple of thoufand piaftres, into his hands, .that he might convert them into fuch articles of merchandize as I fhould direct. To this I added, that if it wTas in my power to render him any fervices he need only fpeak, as I knew the gentlemen of the fea were obliged to engage in certain indirect bufmefs to enable them to fupport the charges which were neceffary to maintain their iituation with credit. I hoped therefore that he would not be offended at the offer of a fum for that purpofe. The open and undefigning manner in which I made this offer, appeared to affect him, and his manner convinced me that I fhould have no difficulty in fettling my bulinefs with him. Our difcourfe was interrupted by the appearance of tea, but we refumed it as foon as the table was cleared. He began by informing me of the fubject of the procefs he had at the Admiralty, the eaufe of which was as follows. Captain Lewafcheff had commenced a procefs againft Mr. Cfurin, for exciting a mutiny among the crew of the fhip St. Ecathcrinaj in the expedition of the year 1769. Several failors depofed that Mr. Cfurin was the canfe of the overfetting of the boat in the middle of the river Bolfha, in which captain Kreniczin then was; and, as the captain was drowned by this accident, the procefs had been in- D d 2 flituted ftituted criminally againft Cfurin. His explanation of the affair afforded ample matter to enable me to convince him that he would certainly be condemned. My reafons appeared to be fo well founded, that he declared he would pretend illuefs, in order to avoid commanding the veffel. This decifion reduced me to the neceffity of forcing his fécond retrenchment, which I did, by repre-fenting that his delaying his departure would not favc him ; becaufe, doubtlefs, when the council faw that he was determined not to return, they would require the governor of Kamchatka to fend him under guard, fo that by this manœuvre, he would gain only a few months delay ; after which the confufion of his affairs would be frill greater than before. He admitted the truth of this remark, and entreated me to fend him to my new colony, or, at leaft, to favour his procuring a paffage to the Aleuthes iflands, where he would fmifh the reft of his unfortunate life. As he faid thefe laft words he burft into tears, and faid, that he could give up his life and fortune without regret, but that his affeâion for a young perfon with whom he lived, was fuch, that he could not bear the thoughts of Laving her. After this confeffion, he begged me to have pity on his fituation, and grant him my protection and advice* I promifed to reflect ferioufly on his affairs, but obferved, that it would require fome time to confider maturely what was beft to be done. I gave him my word, however, that I would clear him of his embarraffment ; but at the fame time, as a previous condition, I infifted that he fhould not mention his fituation to any one, nor think of quitting the command of the veffel. He fwore fwore that he would comply with my directions, and thus we parted. But as I thought it neceflary to intereft his mind by fome immediate advantages, I called him back, to put a bag of five hundred roubles into his hands, With the compliment, that I begged him to accept of this advance to purchafe a prefent for his lady. He refufed at firft, but I forceel him to accept the prefent by declaring, that, if he perfifted in his refufal, I ftiould not believe he was really attached to my interefts. He therefore accepted my prefent, and I was delighted at having made fo good a bargain. On my return to Mr. Cruftiew, I informed the fociety of the good difpofition of my client, and they were not a little aftonifhed at the rapidity of my proceedings. In Confequence of which, they determined no more to op-pofe my deciiions in future, but wait, with patience and calmnefs, for the refult. I aflured them of my readinefs to perform my part, and promifed to neglect nothing to fecure the fuccefs of my plan with the moft fcrupulous attention. I obferved, that by this management, fteadily adhered to, the moment of execution would be naturally cafy, provided we were not forced to precipitate our meafures, in confequence of treachery from our own aflbciates, or a difcovery on the part of government. This laft reflection induced Mr. Panow to requeft that I would at leaft communicate to the fociety the plan I fhould adopt, in cafe we fhould be difcovered or attacked when we leaft expected it. To this pofitive queftion I thought proper to anfwer, that my refolution would depend on circumftances, and the meafures taken by Government -> fo that it was impollible, at this moment, to to fix my determination. But in the mean time I exhorted the fociety not to be alarmed at the crifis, which might furprize us, but to confirm themfelves in the refolution of dying with courage. I likewife added, that to prevent any fuvprize, I had fecurcd means of receiving pontile advice refpecting every ftcp which Government might take againft me ; amd that, provided we could have one night before-hand, I would anfwer for the poftefiion of the fort and garrifon ; after which I was convinced the town could not hold out, becaufe it ftood cxpofed in every part to the cannon of the fortrefs. This anfwer fitisfied Mr. Panow ; but it gave rife to a longer conference, wherein every one fpoke his thoughts, and the whole fociety unanimoufly repeated their profeflions of firiâ obedience at the critical moment. I left the company, and proceeded to pafs the evening at the governor's houfe, where I was received like one of the family; and, after pafting the evening very agreeablv, I returned home about midnight. On 29th I was bufied with Mr. Meder, in making three petards, to be ufed in cafe circumftances fhould require the gates of the fortrefs or the chancery to be forced open. During this work I reflected on the bufinefs of Mr. Cfurin, and digefted my plan ; for which reafon I fent to defire to fee him in the evening. Before dinner I vifited Mr. Stephanow, whofe fever had increafed the preceding day. I found him tolerably eafy. He made many apologies for his attempts againft my perfon, and appeared to repent finccrely of what he had done. I therefore endeavoured to raife his fpirits, by afluring him, him, that it would always be in his power to preferve my ' cfteem and friendfhip, as long as he avoided a repetition of his offences. His reply confifted of reiterated profcfiions of amendment in his future conduct, which confirmed the good opinion I had formed of him. After dinner I returned home, where I waited the arrival of Mr. Cfurin, who came at five o'clock. He began the conversation with promifes and affurances of his devotion to my fervice, and concluded, by requefting to know What 1 had fettled refpecting him ; to which I anfwered, 1. That I required him to retain the command of the packet, and to conform exactly to the arrangement he had made with Mr. Kuzneczow. 2. That at his departure I would let him know what he had to do, but that at prefent I fhould only inform him that Mr. Kuzneczow would mange matters fo, that the fécond day after his departure the Ship fhould fpring a leak, which would afford a fufficient reafon for comino; to an anchor, which he might do at Lopattka. In the *nean time I promifed to obtain the Governor's per-tiiiflion that he might be permitted to eftablifh himfelf among us. I obferved that this appeared to me to be the only honorable method of avoiding the voyage to Ochoczk; and further, with regard to his eftablifliment and future marriage with the young lady in queftion, I prcmifed him two thoufand roubles, and the place of captain of the military. My propofal pleafed him, and he bound himfelf, by oath, to conform ftriclly to every particular. He even offered to fign an cngagment to that effect, which he confirmed by cath. This affair being finifhed, I difmiffed him, and haftened haftencd to call a committee, to communicate the news of my fuccefs ; and as I thought it very neceflary not to lofe fight of Mr. Cfurin, I charged Mr. Kuzneczow to conned himfelf with him, and not to leave his company. CHAP. XXII. PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE. MISS APHANASIA DISCOVERS THE-INTENTION OF THE EXILES. ON the 30th Mr. Cruftiew and Mr. Panow, at the head of twenty-five of our aflbciates, were deputed to wait on the governor, with a requeft that he would pleafe to receive the title of Protector of the new colony. They were likewife charged to wait on the chancellor and the hettman, with a fimilar requeft, that they would accept other titles relative to the colony ; and, in the laft place, they were to prefent a memorial to the magiftrates of the town, to requeft their affiftance and fupport in favour of the new colony, which was to bear the name of Nilovaga, in honour of the governor. They performed their commiflion, and returned with the news, that they had met with an agreeable reception from all the gentlemen on whom they had been directed to wait. On the 31ft I received a mefiage from the magiftrates of the town, informing me, that they had favourably received my memorial, and that, in confequence of the utility utility and fervices which the capital expected from our induftry and attachment, they had fent us an aggregation to the rights of citizens of Bolfharezk for all the children which fhould be born in the new colony. After I had made the meifenger a prefent, 1 communicated our good fortune to the company, which was greatly amufed at this comedy of my compofing. April the 1 ft. As I knew that the veffels employed between Ochoczk and Kamchatka ufually took no larger ftock of water than ten or twelve butts, I ordered Mr. Solmanow to purchafe twenty or twenty-five butts, and carry them to Cfekawka, after getting them put in order, under pretence of applying them to the manufacture of fait from fea water. About ten o'clock this day I received a meflage from Mifs Nilow, that fhe would call on me in the afternoon, requefling at the lame time that I would be alone, becaufe fhe had affairs of importance to communicate. As I fuppofed the latter 1 part of this mefiage to be mere pleafantry, I was far from expecting any extraordinary information ; and my furprize at^ the event was much greater, as 1 had not the leafl reafon to fuppofe fhe had made any difcovery of my intentions. Mifs Nilow arrived at three in the afternoon ; her agitation on her firft appearance convinced me that fhe was excedingly ami&ed. At fight of me fhe paufed a moment, and foon after burft into tears, and threw herfelf into my arms, crying out, that fhe was unfortunate and forfaken. Her fighs and tears were fo extreme that it was more than a quarter of an hour before I could obtain a connected fentence. I was extremely affected at her fituation, and ufed every expedient to calm her mind, Vol. I. E e but but this was extremely difficult, becaufe I was entirely ignorant of the reafon of her affliction. As foon as fhe became a little compofed, fhe begged me to {hut the door, that no one might interrupt us. I came back, and on my knees entreated her to explain the caufe of her prefent fituation, which fhe did to the following effect : She informed me that her maid had difcovered to her, that a certain perfon, named Ivan Kudrin, one of my aflbciates, had propofed to her to fhare his fortune, and that this indifcreet perfon had aflured the girl, that he was about to quit Kamchatka with me, to make a voyage to Europe, where he hoped to place her in an agreeable fituation. The maid had firft related the circumflance to her miftrefs, but, as fhe could never believe me capable of fuch bafe and treacherous behaviour to her, fhe was defirous of hearing the account herfclf, and had, for that purpofe, perfuaded the fervant to appoint a meeting with Kudrin, in order to qneftion him mere amply, while fhe herfelf might hear the whole, by being concealed behind a curtain. In this manner, fhe faid, fhe became convinced of her unhappinefs and my treachery, and that fhe would have fpared me the confufion of hearing this, if, from a conviction that fhe could not live after fuch an affront, fhe had not been defirous of bidding me a laft farewell. On finifhing thefe words fhe fainted; and tho' I was exceedingly alarmed and diftreffed on the occafion, yet I did not fail to arrange a plan in my mind, during the interval of her infenfibility. When this amiable young lady recovered, fhe afked if fhe might give credit to what fhe had heard. I then threw myfelf at her feet, and intreatcd her to to hear me calmly, and judge whether I was to blame or not. She promifed flie would and I addrehed her in the following terms. " You may recoiled, my dear friend, the account I gave you of my birth, and the rank I held in Europe : I remember the tears you fhed on that occafion. The mif-fortune of being exiled to Kamchatka, would long fince have compelled me to deliver myfelf from tyranny, by death, if your acquaintance and attachment had not pre-ferved me. I have lived for you, and if you could read my heart, I am lure I mould have your Pity ; for the pofleflion of your perfon is become as neceflary to my exiftence as liberty itfelf. The liberty I fpeak of, is not that which your worthy father has given me, but implies the pofleflion of my eftate and rank. I have hoped for the pofleflion of your perfon, with a view of rendering you happy, in the participation of my fortune and dignity. Thefe views cannot be accomplifhed at Kamchatka. What rank can I beftow on my love but that of an exile ? The favours of your worthy father may be of the fhortcft duration. His fucceflbr may foon recall his ordinances, and plunge me again into that ftate of fuf-ferinp; and contempt, from which I was delivered for a fliort moment. Reprefent to yourfelf, my deareft friend, the affliction and defpair that would overwhelm my foul, when I beheld you a fharer in my pain and difgrace ; for you well know, that all the Ruffians efteem the exiles as difhonoured perfons. You have forced me to this declaration of my intentions, in which I have been guided by the attachment and fincerity of my heart. I deferred the communication to you, but I fwear that fuch was my refolution.—Why then, interrupted fhe, did you conceal E ~ 2 y o your intention from me, who am ready to follow you to the fartheft limits of the univerfe ?—This affurance encouraged me to proceed, and engage this charming young lady in my interefts. I told her, therefore, that I was prevented only by the fear left fhe fhould refufe my propofals, on account of her attachment to her parents ; but that, as 1 now had nothing to fear in that refpect, I could inform her, that my intention being to leave Kamchatka, 1 had determined to cany her off ; and in order to convince her, I was ready to call Mr. Cruftiew, who would confirm the truth. On this affurance fhe embraced me, and iritreated me to forgive her want of confidence, at the fame time that fhe declared her readinefs to accompany me. This degree of confidential intercourfe being eftablifhed, I perfuaded her to difmifs every fear from her mind. Many were the trials I made of her refolution, and the event convinced me, that fhe wTas perfectly determined to follow my fortunes. The fecret being thus fecure, by her promife to keep it inviolably, I had no other uneafmeis remaining but what arofe from the communication having been made to her fervant. I mentioned my fears to Mifs Nilow, who removed them, by afluring me that her fervant was too much attached to her to betray her fecret; and had, befides, an affection for Kudrin, fo that fhe could anfwer for her difcretion. Thus agreeably ended our converfarion, though the commencement was rather tragical ; and I received the vows of attachment and fidelity from an artlefs and innocent mind. Mifs Nilow did not depart till about fix o'clock. I immediately fent for Kudrin, whom I reproached for his niif- conduct conduct and indifcretion, by explaining the great danger to which he had expofed the whole fociety. I promifed at the fime time not to divulge his fault to the fociety; but infifted that he fhould in future avoid all farther explanation of the ftate of our affairs to the young woman. I likewife promifed, in order to calm his uneafineis, that I would contrive matters fo that he fhould take her with him. This poor wretch, on my firfl accufation, was feized with the moft terrifying apprehenftons, and fell to the ground at my feet, crying out for mercy, as he fuppofed I fhould deliver him up to the judgment of the fociety, from whom he had nothing to expect but death. But, on my conclufion, he arofe, kiffed my hand, and fwore eternal fidelity. For my part, I was very well fatisfied to have extricated myfelf out of fuch a difagreeable embar-raffment, by fettling affairs on fo good a footing. After the departure of Kudrin, I went to Mr. Cruftiew, who, being apprized in the morning, of Mifs Nilov/a intended vifit, and feeing me come out fo late, thought proper to rally me up upon the occafion. But his hilarity foon gave place to aftonifhment, when he heard what had paffed. He was perfuaded, he faid, that I muft have been born under a happy influence, and that nothing could fail us under fuch aufpices. I laughed at his enthufiafm, though I was truly fenfible of that good fortune which had removed fo many ur,deafant incidents. On the 2d Madame Nilow invited me to breakfaft, and took me apart to enquire what I had done to her daughter, who ufed to be exceedingly in fpirits at her return home, but had, fince yefterday evening, been continuais continually in tears. It was difficult to anfwer this home queftion; to which I could at firft make no better reply than by faying, that Mifs Nilow had imparted a fecret to me, that related to herfelf alone, and was communicated under the feal of confidence, which I could not infringe. Madame Nilow laughed at this excufe, and afterwards ordered her daughter to be called, whom irie required to releafe me from the injunction of fecrecy, that I might be at liberty to relate what had paffed between us yefterday; to which fhe anfwered, that fhe would intirely rely on my prudence, and that if I thought it neceffary I was at liberty to fpeak, though fhe would be prefent, to know whether I fpoke the truth. I then related that fome perfon, with a view to injure me in Mifs Aphanafia's opinion, had informed her that I was not of the Greek religion, and had perfuaded her to afk me me to become of that faith: that fhe had accordingly made the propofal to me two days ago, to which I anfwered, that though, in my opinion, all religions were alike, I could not confent to make any change in mine ; and upon her obferv-ing, that my determination might prevent our marriage, I replied, that then we fhould die without reproach, fhe was vexed, and our friendly intercourfes had fuffered a flight interruption, till a fécond opportunity for explanation offered itfelf. I added, that in our laft conversation I had expreffed my hope that Mifs Aphanafia would in future put lefs confidence in advifers. Madame Nilow, after having patiently heard my account, blamed her daughter for prefuming to meddle in affairs of religion; and faid, fhe hoped her prudence in future would prevent her going into any fuch extravagancies. She then retired, and left us at liberty. I embraced embraced the opportunity to confirm the young lady in her refoluticu; and fhe affured me that I might remain perfectly eafy with regard to her maid, who was as defirous as herfelf to fee us fafe in Europe. We finifhed our con-verfation on the happinefs we fhould enjoy when at perfect liberty. After which I retired, and ordered a general meeting to be held on the 5 th. I then vifited Mr. Stephanos, whom I found under the application of blifters, 1 riving been in a continual delirium for three days and mghts. CHAP. XXIII. VARIOUS PROCEEDINGS. THE CHANCELLOR RECEIVES INFORMATION OF THE ATTEMPTS OF THE EXILES. THE COUNT'S EXERTIONS TO PREVENT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS DISCOVERY. ON the 3d of April, Mr. Solmanow purchafed twenty-two butts and forwarded them to Tfekawka. Mr, Kuzneczow likewife advifed me, that he had purchafed a cafk of brandy for feven hundred and eighty roubles, which I immediately paid. Meffrs. Baturin and Wynbladth, who were commiffioned to fait fifh, alfo informed me, that they had prepared two cafks of fifh, and o^te cafk of whale oil ; but they could procure no more than four hundred and fifty pounds of flour. On the 4thMr. Kuzneczow informed me that Mr. Cfurin was going on board to fet the fhip to rights; and confe- quently quently thofe of our aflbciates who wete engaged in the vefiel muft be ready to depart on the 7th; and that in order to overlook the tranfactions of Mr. Cfurin, he had determined likewife to go on board himfelf. I agreed to his propofal, earncftly advifing him to exert every attention to promote the buiinefs intrufted to him; but at the fame time to hold himfelf in readinefs to return at the firft call. And, in order that our corefpon-dence might be rendered more certain, I commifîioned him to ftation a trufty native of Kamchatka at Mikutka, to carry my advices and orders to him. I was informed in the evening that the governor was indifpofed. On the 5th I put off the meeting 'till the evening, on account of the neceflity of vifiting the governor. On my arrival at the fort I found the whole famiily greatly afflicted, and the governor very ill with a violent colic. I gave him a little extract of aloes with brandy, and had the pleafure to fee him able to walk about by noon. He thanked me for my affiftance, and begged I would give him a provifion of the medicine which had done him fo much fervice. I refufed ftaying to dinner, and returned home ; after which the general meeting was held, where I gave the fociety an account of the meafures I had taken to fecure the veffel St. Peter and St. Paul ; but I thought it likewife neceffary to exprefs to the meeting my fears of fome unfortunate accident. For this reafon I required that no one in future would go into the town without a companion, and that they would not haunt public houfes, where feveral difputes had arifen between the foldiers of the garrifon or coffacks, and my people. I obferved that the moment of the execution of our project was nearly nearly approaching, for which reafon it was of the utmoft confequence to avoid every mifunderftanding, and to be upon our guard. I therefore exhorted them to remain peaceably in their houfes, and always near the chiefs which I had nominated, in order that they might come together in cafe of any unforefeen accident, and be in readinefs to obey my orders. The whole company unanimoufly replied, that they would ftrictly obey my orders, and that I might depend on their fidelity. Their readinefs gave me much fatioraction : I thanked them for their confidence in me, and regaled them with a large quantity of punch, the difpofal of which employed the company till four in the morning. On the 6th I remained at home the whole day, at reft, except in the evening, when I made a vifit to the governor. On the 7th, Mr. Kuzneczow took his leave with ten of our companions. This day Mr. Baturin informed me, that Ifmailow, Bofcarew and Zablikow had propofed a number of queftions to him concerning the new colony ; and that he overheard Ifmailow whifper Bofcarew, f* we fhall get nothing out of him, for he is Sa-u muelovicz's friend, let us go to the others," from which he fufpected that thefe three men had received fome information of our project. From this account I recollected, that Mr. Stephanow had been connected with thefe perfons, and might have informed them of fome of the particulars : 1 therefore went immediately to him, but he was not in a fituation to anfwer any queftions. Nothing therefore remained to be done, but to apply to Mr. Panow, whom I ordered to enquire for one of the Vol. I. F f three three, and found his intentions, that I might take my meafures in time. Mr. Cruftiew, when informed of this bufinefs, appeared very uneafy, which was a circumflance un-ufual in him, as he was a man of courage, and poffeffed great firmnefs of mind. After reflecting a fhort time, he told me, that he thought he fhould be able to fift the bufinefs to the bottom ; but that there was reafon to fear a difcovery on the part of government which we could not avoid, fuppoflng his ideas to be true ; for he told me that Ifmailow was related to the chancellor, and poffeffed his confidence. The ftrong marks of apprehenfioa which I faw in Mr. Cruftiew, obliged me to requeft hU thoughts concerning the information of Baturin. He replied, that he was fearful of an intrigue among women ; and faid he was aflured that it was Mr. Kuzneczow's intention to carry with him the After of ferjeant Kuzmin ; and that probably he had divulged the fecret to that woman. On the other hand, he was convinced that Mr. Ifmailow likewife kept company with the fame perfon, whence he inferred, that Ifmailow had got fome hints of our project, which led him to endeavour at a more perfect difcovery. Mr. Cruftiew promifed that he would ufe every exertion in his power to come at the truth by means of the woman, and advifed me, in the mean time, to wait on the chancellor, and obferve his behaviour, from which I might eafily know whether his nephew had already fpoken-to him concerning his difcovery. Thefe fteps appearing reafonable, I determined immediately to wait on the chancellor, while Mr. Cruftiew was -was employed in making his enquiries. On my arrival the chancellor received me with more politenefs, but lefs cordiality than ufual. He ordered tea, and, during the time it was preparing, our difcourfe turned firft on the government, in which the chancellor repeated all the advantages I had received from the chiefs, in forwarding my projects ; and twice faid that he hoped my zeal and conduct, would juftify their opinions and proceedings. In anfwer to his difcourfe, I replied, that I was greatly affected with the marks of goodnefs I had received, and fhould neglect no favourable occafion of fhe wing my gratitude. After a fhort paufe, the chancellor afked me how far I was connected with Kuzneczow. I anfwered, that Mr. Kuzneczow having rendered me effential fervices at my firft arrival at Kamchatka, when I was in the loweft ftate of indigence, I thought it proper to acknowledge his good offices, at a time when I was at my eafe. He replied, that he hoped my motives were fuch as I expreffed, but that he could not help taking notice that various reflections were made in the town concerning our intimacy ; more particularly fince Mr. Kuzneczow had been feen openly aflifting the exiles, with a mufket in his hand, at the time of their difpute with the foldiers and coffacks, refpecting Mr. Stephanow. This overture fufficiently fhewed, that Mr. Ifmailow had related his fufpicions or perhaps difcoveries to his uncle, for which reafon I determined to clear the way by one effectual ftroke. I therefore replied, that I faw clearly from whence this prejudice againft Mr. Kuzneczow arofe. I informed the chancellor, that Kuzneczow and his nephew, kept company with the fame woman, F f 2 whom whom I named, being the filter of Serjeant Kuzmin; and obferved, that jcaloully had dictated this expedient to his nephew, with a view to prejudice I113 rival. 1 affured him that, with regard to myfelf, I was happy in the prefent opportunity of fpeaking my fentiments to him, as my benefactor. I admitted, that it might be very convenient, and not unbecoming Mr. Kuzneczow, to frequent the company of a common woman, though fuch a proceeding would very ill become his nephew, who enjoyed a diftinguifhed rank. But what more particularly mortified my feelings in this bufinefs was, that I underftood it to be the intention of his nephew to marry the girl ; for which reafon I had difpofed Mr. Kuzneczow to perfuade her to make a voyage with him toOchoczk, where they were to be married. I ended my fpeech by obferving, that I fhould have concealed this proof of my perfonal attachment to him, if there had not been reafon to fear that filence, at this moment, might impair his friendfhip for me. The chancellor liftened very attentively, paufed a moment, and then embraced me, faying, that if I had not come he might have taken a very dangerous ftep. He then informed me, that his nephew had conftantly repeated to him for fome days paft, that he was certain Kuzneczow and myfelf intended to leave Kamchatka, and take fome women with us ; adding, that he was fure of our plot, but would come at the bottom of it by new inquiries. The Chancellor proceeded to fay, that, from the reiterated ob-obfervations of his nephew, he had determined to fend fot Mr. Stephanow, and examine him; but that he now confi-dcred my arrival as a happy cireuiiiftance, fince it had fpared him him the confufion of intimating his fufpicions of me. My account, he faid, had opened his eyes, and (hewn him the neceifity of regulating the conduct of his nephew. Affairs being in this favourable train, I begged him to enquire of Captain Cfurin whether it were not true that Kuzneczow intended to fail with him to Ochoczk, and whether he had not contracted for the paffage of a lady. The chancellor immediately fent lor Cfurin, and after receiving the confirmation of what I had faid from him, he promifed me a complete fatisfaction on the part of his nephew. C H A P. XXIV. THE SUBJECT OF THE PRECEDING CHAPTER CONTINUED. T Was exceedingly happy in having i remedied an affair * of fuch a defperate nature, and haftened home, where I found Mr. Cruftiew in the utmoft uneafinefs. He could not contain his anger at feeing me laugh ; but began by informing me, that he was certain that the chancellor had received information concerning us, and was now buried in difclofing our projects to the government: for the fitter of Kuzmin had informed him, that Mr. Ifmailow had liftened to her difcourfe with Kuzneczow, under her window; in which he had promifed to marry her, if fhe would content to go with him to Europe; obferving, that the voyage would be long, but thai-he would make her amends by his love and fidelity. Upon. Upon which propofal fhe had demanded, how he fuppofed it would be in his power to fail to Europe; and Kuzneczow replied, that there was no reafon to be uneafy about the fuccefs of any undertaking when directed by fuch chiefs as myfelf. She protefted that Mr. Kuzneczow had faid nothing more; but that, after his departure Ifmailow entered, and infulted her, and directly afterwards went out, threatening to fend Kuzneczow to the mines. She likewife told Mr. Cruftiew that fhe had avoided fpeaking to Mr. Kuzneczow on the bufinefs, for fear of a quarrel. Upon this intelligence I defired my friend to go immediately to the girl, and direct her to fay, if fhe fhould be fent for by the chancellor, that Mr. Kuzneczow had propofed and agreed with her to go to Ochoczk, where they were to be married, and that I had promifed her a marriage portion of a thoufand roubles, provided fhe would depart and avoid the vifits of Mr. Ifmailow. Mr. Cruftiew was perfectly aftonifhed at this meffagc, and afked if I thought him out of his fenfes. I faw that he did not comprehend my intentions, and therefore gave him an account of my converfation with the chancellor, upon which he perfectly underftood the whole bufinefs, and haftened to execute my commiflion. For my part, as Mr. Kuzneczow was not yet gone, I fent for him, and gave him inftruaions likewife, in cafe he fhould be quef-tioned by the chancellor. Thefe meafures being taken, I found my mind more at cafe, and went to reft late at night, for I had found it impoftible to take any repofe during the continuance of my apprehenfions. On On the 8th, I learned that the chancellor had examined Kuzneczow and the fitter of Kuzmin feparately, and at day break had fent his nephew to Verchney Oftrogg, with orders not to return to Bolfaretz without his confent. In the evening the chancellor himfelf came to me, made a thoufand excufes for his fufpicions, and begged me to accept the portion I had promifed the girl, which, however, I refufed, at the fame time intreating him to ex-cufe my taking it, as a proof of his confidence in my good intentions. On the 9th, Mr. Kuzneczow informed me of his departure, and aflured me that I might entirely depend on Mr. Cfurin. This news was fome confolation to me ; for though the chancellor was apparently reconciled, I could no longer depend on his confidence. I knew that inquifitive difpofition would not permit him to banifh the adventure of his nephew from his mind ; and as the flight-eft appearances might revive his fufpicions, I thought it proper to keep my people conftantly aflembled. With a view likewife to fecure myfelf againft any furprize, 1 engaged Mifs Nilow to pay a ftricl attention to every thing that paflfed at the governor's houfe, efpecially when the chancellor was prefent* The fame day 1 aflembled the company, to whom I gave an account of all that had paffed between me and-the chancellor, and declared, that though all our meafures were perfectly well eftablifhed, I was morally fure that they would be ineffectual, becaufe 1 had every reafon to think that we fhould be difcovered before the time of the departure of the veffel. In confequence of this difcouraging profpect, I faid that I fhould proceed; to; p ro > propofe to the company another regulation. The meeting unanimoufly affiired mc, that they would agree to every ftep which I fhould think proper to be taken, fo that I needed only to give my orders, which would be immediately complied with. On this declaration, which was fo full of confidence, I reprefented to them that it would be impomblc for us to refifl the force which government might employ againft us, if we remained near the town, and, therefore, that on the firft intimation of a difcovery, I mould propofe to the company to retire to the fea-fide, where we might defend ourfelves in the intrench-ment of the light-houfe, which was provided with four large pieces of cannon, which would be fufficient to keep the affailants at a diftance ; and, in the mean time, as I could depend on Mr. Cfurin, I would direct, him to bring the veffel out of the Bay, by towing her through the ice, and that I did not defpair of carrying this project into execution in the courfe of eight days. The company replied, that this ftep was falutary, and neceffary to be carried into execution. I therefore drew up inftructions for Mr. Kuzneczow, which I forwarded to him by the hands of Sibeaw, at the fame time that I directed Mr. Panow to diftribute money to feveral of our aflbciates, to purchafe gunpowder in all the fhops, and, if poftible, at the great magazine. For I had been informed that the cannon of the redoubt of the light-houfe was well provided with bullets and grape mot, though the quantity of powder was infufficient to fire fix fhot. I paffed the reft of the day with Mr. Cruftiew, in conference on the means neceflary to be adopted in the prefent exigence of our circumftances. C H A P. CHAP XXV. VARIOUS proceedings relative to the projected escape OF the exiles, and the DISCOVERIES made by GOVERN- N the i oth, Mr. Baturin informed me, that Bofca- V-f rew and Zablikow had written a letter to Mr. Stephanow, which was to be put into his hands by a Kara-chadal woman. I immediately fent notice to Mr. Panow» who undertook to watch his relation, to whom he went without delay, and returned with the letter, which he faid had been delivered the inftant before by the woman., and that after reading it, Stephanow had faid, 3 " betraying your abominable chief ; befides which, we ** were unwilling to be the authors of the deftruction of " fo many brave men as have entered into the affociation. " If your life be in fafety, fend us fome intimation, " and inform us at what hour of the night we can " enter your prifon without 'being difcovered ; but if " you think it proper for our interefts, that we Ihould 4t deliver you from the tyrant, let us know your with, C II A P. XXVIL THE GOVERNMENT SENDS A MILITARY FORCE TO TAKE THE COUNT PRISONER. THE EXILES OPPOSE THEM, AND BY THEIR SUPERIOR br ^ VERY AND MILITARY SKILL, ASSISTED BY A FORTUNATE CONCURRENCE OF EVENTS, THEY GAIN POSSESSION OF THE FORT. THE GOVERNOR IS SLAIN IN THE ATTACK, AT five in the evening, I obferved a corporal with four grenadiers, who came and flopped at my door, where they called out to me to open it by order of the Emprefs. I jocularly anfwered that he lied, for that the Emprefs being at Peterfburgh, would not honour fuch a rafcal as him with her orders ; but told him that if lie thought proper to behave with civility, we might perhaps tranfacf, our affairs in an amicable manner. Upon this he faid, that the governor had informed him that it was agreed I mould follow him, and confequcntly that he was ready to comply with my wifhes in every refpect, J then propofed that he fhould enter alone to drink a glafs with me, and afterwards take charge of fome papers that were neceffary to be prefented to the governor. He confented, and I accordingly admitted him, {hutting 4he door after him, at which inftant he beheld four piftols prefented to his breaft, and was threatened with inftant death if he fhould dare to utter a fingle word. After conducting him into my chamber, I queftioncd him concerning every particular I was defirous of knowing, and. when his depofition was finifhed, I ordered him to call the foldiers one by one, each by name, to come in and Vol. I. I i drink drink a glafs, which he was forced to comply with. In, this manner I became mafter of the detachment, which I caufed to be bound, and depofited fafely in the cellar. At nine in the evening I received notice that a detachment had been obferved on their way towards the ravine. I therefore took the detachment of Mr, Wynbladth with me, and called out to them not to attempt to pafs. They anfwered by feveral nvuiket fhot y in return for which I ordered my party to fire on thofe who were foremoft, and after three had fallen the detachment remained motionlefs, and lay clofe with their laces to the ground. I could eafily obferve however that the officer had difpatched a man towards the fortrefs, no doubt with the intention of requefting affiftance. For this reafon I fent out a perfon upon difcovery, but nothing was perceived 'till about eleven o'clock, when I received information that a body of troops were advancing towards our rear, and that from the noife there was reafon to believe they had cannon with them. I gave orders to Mr. Wynbladth to obferve the detachment at the ravine, and after caufing the divirion of the center to join me, I myfelf advanced towards the enemy's troops. Before we met, I faw Mr. Stephanow, who, tho' fcarcely able to walk, came armed, and had only time to tell me that he came to conquer or die with me. This refolution fecurcd him my efteem ; for though the poor man could fcarcely fupport himfelf, he nevertheless did every thing in his power to encourage the aflbciates. When we came within the diftance of fifty paces, the commanding officer of the detachment called out to us to furrenclcr ourfelves prifoners, otherwife he would not fpare fpare us, I replied that it was neceflary we fhould know the conditions, and he in return afked what conditions I wiihed to propofe. Our conference led us within fifteen paces of them, at which diftance we began our fire, and our adverfaries were fo difheartened at our firft difcharge, that they left their cannon and fled haftily towards the wood. The officer was highly to blame in this refpect, for if he had retired towards the fortrefs, we could never have forced it. His mifconduct. infpired me with hope. No more than a fhort quarter of an hour was required to collect, my people. I availed myfelf of their artillery to fire on the detachment placed behind the ravine; and my fire, though in the air, prevented any of them from venturing to rife; fo that I had perfect, liberty to approach the fort. The centinel feeing us come with cannon, took us for the detachment, and, after challenging us, afked if we had brought the prifoners, to which I caufed one of my people to anfwer in the affirmative. The man then worked like a fury to lower the drawbridge; which done, we entered with fpirit, and finding only twelve men of the guard, they were quickly difpatched. While a party of my aflbciates mounted to clear the cafemates, I caufed the drawbridge to be raifed, and placed a guard. Thefe precautions being taken, as I heard a firing in the court, and faw that my comrades were fattening the petard to force the inner gates, I ventured to pafs through a window which I found open. Madame Nilow and her children, at fight of me, implored my protection to fave their father and hufband. I immediately haftcned to his apartment, and begged him to go to his childrens room to preferve his life; but he anfwered that he would firft take mine, and inftantly fired a piftol, I i 2 winch which wounded me: I was defirous, neverthelefs, of preferving him, and continued to reprefent that all refift-ance would be ufelefs, for which reafon I intreated him to retire. His wife and children threw themfelves on their knees, but nothing would avail : he flew upon me, feized me by the throat, and left me no other alternative than either to give up my own life, or run my fword through his body. At this inftant the petard exploded and burft the outer gate. The fécond was open, and I faw Mr. Panow enter at the head of a party. He entreated the governor to let me go, but not being able to prevail on him, he fet me at liberty by fplitting his fkull. April 27th. No words can defcribe the unhappy fcene this event produced : Madame Nilow fell at my feet, her daughters fainted, and the firmnefs of my mind was fcarcely equal to. the Ihock. I was ready to fink to the ground, when Mr. Panow feeing me in this fituation obliged me to quit the apartment, and aflured me that he would take care of Madame Nilow and her family. He begged I would haften to a party of my aflbciates, who were ftill fighting with the foldiers. I went out into the court, where I faw a new fpe£tacle ; it was covered with dead and wounded, fome of whom informed me that our companions were bufied in forcing a fubterraneous place, in which feveral loldiers had taken refuge. I made hafte to fave the lives of thefe unfortunate men, and having met with Mr. Wynbladth and Cruftiew, with four other aflbciates, quickened my fteps towards the baftion under which the cafemate was,, when all at once we heard a mufket ihot, and the cry of enemies. Thefe Ihot were followed by regular difcharges, which convinced us that they could. not not proceed from the fire of our people, who were dif--perfed in various places. We therefore returned to. our ceminel, who kept conftantly calling out, the enemy! When we came to him, and mounted the banquet of the palifade, we faw a large party of Coffacks making preparations for an attack. In confequence of this, I detached Mr. Wynbladth to collect, all the aflbciates, leaving only a guard of four men to watch over the foldiers in the cafemate ; and in the mean time 1 was forced to fuftain a brifk attack. It was a fortunate circumflance, however, that the ladders which the Coffacks had brought were too fhort, and the obfcurity of the night did not permit our enemies to obferve the weakeft places of the fort. Their continual fire ainflcd us to dired: our murdering pieces at them, which flew fourteen men in ten minutes, while no one on our fide had received a wound. On the arrival of Mr. Wynbladth with twenty-two aflbciates, we mounted two three pounders on the platform : two rounds from thefe were fufficient to dif-perfe our military opponents. After their retreat, as we had reafon to fear a fécond attempt, we bufied ourfelves in mounting and charging all the cannon of the place, and afterwards cleared the court-yard and cafemates of the dead. The aflbciates obeyed my orders with the greateft zeal and activity; fo that at three in the morning every thing was in. perfect: order. *- C H A P. CHAP. XXVIII, THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNT AND HIS PARTY OF EXILES. FROM THE TIME OF GAINING POSSESSION OF THE FORT, TO THE TIME OF THE SURRENDER OF THE MILITARY FORCE OF THE GOVERNMENT, WHO GAVE HOSTAGES TO THE COUNT. THE centinel of the baftion having heard a fécond noife on the city fide, I went up myfelf and faw feveral lighted torches in motion, which determined me to fend out fome perfons to make difcoveries. Mr. Cruf-ftiew undertook this commiflion, with two of the aflbciates. After their departure I fent to requeft permiflion to fee Madame Nilow, which being granted, I waited upon her and found her on her bed. I threw myfelf at her feet to beg her pardon for having been the involuntary caufe of the death of her hufband, and intreated her to confider my behaviour towards him, when 1 was defirous of preferving his life at the rifk of my own. Her grief, extreme as it was, did not urge her to make any reproaches : fhe only afked for her children, and begged that the guard Mr. Panow had fet over herfelf and them might be withdrawn. But when I informed her that the guard was designed merely for her prefervation, fhe confented that it might remain. With refpect to her children I was ignorant where they had been fecured ; but a fervant informed us that Mr. Panow had conducted them into the hall, and had taken care to have them bled by Mr. Lapin. This fuggeftion reminded me of the propriety of Madame Nilow's Nilov/s undergoing the lame operation, to which fhe confented: I therefore haftened to fend Mr. Lapin with directions for that purpofe; and as I did not think it decent to intrude myfelf upon a family fo overwhelmed with misfortune, I recommended to this gentleman to ufe every care and attention in his power to mitigate the dif-treffes of their fituation. When I went out to vint the poffs, I received advice that Mr. Cruftiew had returned, and I therefore went to em-quire what he had difcovered. He informed me that the town was entirely abandoned by the men ; that the hettman, delivered from his imprisonment by a party of men, had armed all the Coffacks-, and had retired to the heights at half a league diftant from the fort, where he declared he would ffarve us out ; and that his troops did not amount to lefs than fevcn or eight hundred men. On this information I aflembled my companions, and reprefented to thern that we were certainly out of the danger of an attack in the fort, but that if we mould defer the taking a fpeedy refolution to acf without lofing; a Angle moment, we fhould, perhaps, find ourfelve3> if* the courfe of twenty-four hours, fo well inverted, that we fhould not be able to get out, and by that means fhould be reduced to furrender at difcretion from mere hunger. I informed the company of the report of Mr. Cruftiew^ and requefted every one to give his advice refpecting the-proper fieps to be taken in the prefent ftate of embar-raflment. But as no plan was agreed on, I difclbfed mine,, which I had already formed before hand, the moment I was informed of the refolution of Mr, Hettman. It was' as follows*, I declared I declared my refolution to fend a detachment of twenty-two or twenty-four aflbciates into the town to drive all the women and children into the church ; that as foon as they fhould be there fecured, all the furniture of wood and other combuflible matters which could be found, fhould be piled round the church ; and when every thing fhould be thus difpofed, which was very poflible to be done before day-break, notice mould be given to the women to prepare themfelves for death, at the fame time. that they fhould be informed that the determination of their hufbands to oppofe us by force hadleft us no other expedient than to facrifice their families. And laftly, that after this declaration it fhould be propofed to the women to fend three of their number, with twelve young girls, to their parents, to require them to lay down their arms. The company agreed to this propofal, and Mr. Panow undertook to carry it into execution. But he obferved that it was neceflary in his opinion to convey the body of the governor into the fame church, with the intention of more effectually intimidating the women. After his departure I gave the neceflary orders, and the body of this unfortunate chief, whofe life had been ever dear to me, was inftantly carried to the place of deftination. The continual hurry of action had made me forget my wound ; but I was defirous of taking advantage of this moment of tranquility, and accordingly fent for Mr. La-pin, who declared that the confequences might be dangerous, becaufe I had fuffered the blood to coagulate. In fact the froft had congealed a large quantity, and, in order to thaw it, I was obliged to approach the fire,which gave gave me the moft excruciating pain. I could not ftand up nor walk until Mr. Lapin had extracted the ball, in which operation I found him very Ikilfull. After my wound had been drefled, as I was not capable of ufing my leg, he caufed me to be conveyed into the chamber where the reft of the wounded men were, and where I had the mortification to fee nine dead, and feven dangerouily wounded of my party, with more than fifty foldiers of the garrifon wounded; the dead having been thrown into one of the baftions. When I had given orders that the neceflary affiftance might be adminiftered to all who were in want of it, I retired into the hall of the chancery to reft ; but my uneafinefs refpecting the fuccefs of my project, did not permit me to take any repofe until the return of Mr. Panow, who related that he had fhut up more than a thoufand women, girls and infants, who had all unani-mou fly requefted leave to fend fome one of their number to their huibands, whom they promifed to bring back to our feet. The day beginning to appear, I thought proper to haften this expedition, and determined to fend one of my aflbciates with the woman, beating a drum as the fign of a parley, at the fame time that he fhould carry a proper fummons to the following effect : " We are informed of the refolution you have taken " to block us up in the fort, and reduce us to the u neceffity either to perifti by hunger, or have recourfe1 c< to your mercy by furrendering at difcretion. This c< refolution fhews very little judgment on your part ; " for in truth it is impoflible for you to perfuade us that M your determinations are directed to this end, while you Vol, I. K k " have 4t have left in our power the moft precious dépolit whicm " nature has given you, your wives, your daughters, ££ and your children ; who muft fecure us from your " fenfclefs rage, unlefs you are monfters abhorred by " nature. You will be the real executioners of your " families, arid their blood will cry out for vengeance " againft you. It remains in the mean time for you to li adopt one of the two propofitions we here make." " i. We demand that, one hour after the reception cc of this melTage, you fhall fet at liberty the four affo-V ciates you made prifoners at the time the hettman was