The Life of John Ledyard, the American Traveller; Comprising Selections from His Journals and Correspondence

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1828 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. Meets with Mr Jefferson at Paris.--Project of a voyage to the Northwest Coast with Paul Jones, for the purpose of establishing a trading factory there.-- Proposes travelling across the continent from Nootka Sound to the United States.--Thinks of going to Africa with Mr Lamb.--Remarks on Paris, and various objects that came under his notice.--The King at Versailles.--Mr Jefferson and Lafayette.--The Queen at St Cloud.--Application through Baron Grimm to the Empress of Russia, to obtain permission for him to travel across her dominions to Bering's Strait.--Colonel Humphreys.--Contemplates going to Petersburg, before the Empress' answer is received.--Curious anecdote of Sir James Hall.--Visit to the hospitals in Paris.--Tour in Normandy.--Proceeds to London, where he engages a passage on board a vessel just ready to sail for the Northwest Coast.--Colonel Smith's letter to Mr Jay.--The voyage defeated.--Resolves anew to go to Russia.--Sir Joseph Banks and other gentlemen contribute funds to aid him in his travels. At this time Mr Jefferson was minister from the United States at the court of France. That patriot, equally ardent in the love of science, and friendly to every enterprise, which had for its object the improvement of his country, received Ledyard with great kindness, and approved most highly his design of an expedition to the Northwest Coast of America. He perceived at once the advantages, that would flow from such a voyage, not merely in its immediate mercantile results, but in its bearing on the future commerce and political interests of the LJnited States. No part of that wide region had then been explored, nor any formal possession taken of it, except the few points at which Cook's vessels had touched, and others...