Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-05-19


man, and yet for daring enterprise, fol
perseverance in his undertakings, tol
the power of Supporting fatigue anC
suffering, for intense zeal in the pur.
suit OF knowledge tempered by calm de-
liberation, for high sense of honor and
a magnanimous contempt Of danger, he
has never been excelled by any travel
Ter OF ancient or modern times. The
following account o. him we have pre-
pared principally from Aliens Amcri-
can Biography.
Ledyard was born at Groton in Con-
necticut, and received his early educa-
ton at the grammar school in Hartford.
At the age of eighteen he entered
Dartmouth College, with view to the
ministry, but before bis education was
completed, bis poverty compelled him
to leave the College. Not having a
shilling in his pocket to defIay the ex-
pense of "A journey TO Hartford, he built
a canoe, with his own hands, so feet
long and three broad, and being gen.
erously supplied with provisions, he en-
barked alone upon the Connecticut, and
arrived safely at Hartford, after encoun-
tering diflicnll and dangerous nayiga-
ton of 140 miles. In i771 he sailed
for London as common sailor, and ac-
companied Capt. Coca to the Pacific
Ocean, in his third voyage of discovery.
In 1871 he returned TO this country and
offered his services to- several of our
merchants, to conduct trading expe-
dltion to the north west coast, but meet
ing with no encouragement, he went
back TO England in 1882, with the in
tention Of sailing TO Nootka Sound, and
thence traversing the American Cont
nent from west 10 east Finding no YES
sci in which he could obtain direct
passage, he determined 10 travel over
land through Russia and Siberia.to KAN
schatka, whence the passage is short to
the north west coast OF America. He
accordingly went TO Stockholm, and at
tempted to cross the gulf Of Buthnia on
the ice, tnat nc c night reach Kamschat-
ka by the shortest way, bur nruiing
that the water was not frozen in the
middle of the gulf,h returned TO Stock
holm, and then travelled northward into
the arctic circle and passing round The
head Of the gulf, through Lapland, de-
scended ON The eastern side to Peters
burgb, where he arrived without shoes
or stockings, and too poor TO provide
himself with either. The Portuguese
Ambassador, however, supplied him
with twenty guineas on the credit of
Sir Joseph Banks, and he soon after set
out in company with a small detachment
of troops for YakutslE, in Siberia, six
thousand miles east Of PETERSBURG h.
From this place he proceeded to Och
DISK on the sea of Kamschatka, but as
the navigation was completely obstruct-
ed by the ice, he returned TO Yakutsk.
intending TO wait for the conclusion of
winter. Here, in consequence of some
unaccountable suspicion, he was seized
in the name of the Empress by two
Russian soldiers, who conveyed him in
The depth Of winter, through the north
of Tartary to the frontier of Poland,
and then left him to beg his way to
Koningsburg, whence he took passage
for England. Immediately on his arri-
val in London, he waited on Sir Joseph
Banks, who informed him that an as
sncialion had been just formed for pro-
noting discoveries in the interior OF
Africa, and offered TO recommend him
TO the committee as proper person
to be employed in the enterprise. Led
yard engaged in the plan with his whole
soul, and received from Sir Joseph a
letter of introduction 10 one Of the mem
bers of the committee. The descrip-
ton which that gentleman has given OF
his first interview, strongly marks the
character of this hardy traveller. Be-
fore had learned" says he, "the name
and business of my visitor, was struck
with the manliness of his person, the
breadth of his chest, the openness oil
his countenance, and the inquietude Of
his eye. ! spread the map of Africa
before him, and tracing line from Cal.
70 to SEMINAR, and thence westward ia
the latitude and supposed direction Of
the Niger, | told him that was the route
by which ] was anxious that Africa
might, if possible be explored. He
said, he should think himself siDgularIy
fortunate TO be entrusted with the adj
venture. asked him when he wonlc
set out Tomorrow morning, was hi,
answer"
He sailed from London, June 80
1888, and in thirty six days arrived a
Alexandra and having there assumed
the dress ofan Egyptian traveller, pro
ceeded TO Cairo, which place he reach
ed on the 18th of August. Here, Will,
waiting for caravan TO SEMINAR, ht
was attacked with bilious complaint
which terminated his earthly existence