Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-19

sovereign, under the dlrectlonS OF the
Academy of Sciences at Petersburg,
for the purpose Of visiting different por-
tons of Russia, particularly Siberia,
and of obtaining intelligence of every
kind. Coxe's excellent publication,
Russian Discoveries, was Of great use
in disseminating the results fthe ex-
petitions alluded to, and was ultimate
ly the cause of new company being
sent out under the command of Com.
Billings, in search of the often talked of
North West passage. His operations
have been detailed by our countryman
Sauer, who blames the commander, and
apparently with justice, for his want OF
perseverance, and attributes his failure
to deficiency of talent.
In the reign of Alexander, similar
researches have been prosecuted with
great ardor, and with considerable sue
cess. Expeditions have been fitted out
by government and by the Chancellor
ofRussia, Count Romanzoff, Ruman-
stof] under the able commanders Kru-
zenstern, Kotzebue, and Vrangel.-
With the operations of the two former
gentlemen, the world is already famili-
ar The London Literary Gazette con-
tains review of work entitled "Tra-
vels through Russia, Siberia, Poland,
Austria, Saxony, Prussia, Hanover, sc.
sc. undertaken during the years 1922,
% and "a, while suffering from total
blindness, by JAMES HOLMAN, r. NJ
The objects which Mr.. Holman had for
undertaking his arduous journey, are
developed by him in these words:
Con the 10Th of July, 1922, embark
ed in the Saunders-Hill schooner, COM
manded by Capt Courtney then lying
in the London Docks, and bound for ST
Petersburg, with the ostensible motive
ofvisiting the Russian empire; but the
real one, should circumstances prove
propitious, of making the circuit OF the
whole world: an intention, however,
which, as will be seen In The a>a~~s, was
frustrated by causes over which / had
no control. My motive for concealing
so important part of these views, it
will not be difficult 10 explain they are
attributable to the opposition my kind
friends have always been inclined to
make against what, under my peculi-
ar deprivation, they are disposed to re-
gard as Quixotic feelings; feeling on
their parts which l am DESTROYS to
suppress since, on various occasions, |
have to charge it with the disappoint-
ment Of my most anxious wishes. A
las! how little are they able to appre-
ciate my true sentiments and powers,
as developing themselves in an intense
desire to occupy the mind, to acquire
solid information, and triumph over
those difficulties which others might
deem insurmountable! That my views
are not chimerical may be inferred
from the success which, as far as my
innate powers are concerned, has hith-
erto attended my exertions. Where
the mind is properly constituted, the
diminution of one faculty naturally
calls others into more extensive &C
ton. In my case, the deprivation OF
sight has been succeeded by an increas
ed desire for locomotion; nor, little as
the world may imagine me adapted
for its indulgence, am / conscious OF
having ever overrated my abilities in
that particular; in short, there are few
obstacle which mans perseverance
may not enable him to overcome, ii he
will but lightly exercise those faculties
with which the bene6cence OF his Crea-
tor has endowed him."
The only remarks worthy being quo
ted in the authors account of his voy-
age to St.Petersburg, respects a "hu-
man monster" as he may we'll be cal
led, and the meanness eff custom-house-
officers. Having alluded to the Light
House, on the Island Of Dago (not Dag
no, which lies at the entrance OF the
Gulph of Riga, MIR. Holman says:
"There is passage on each side for
shipping, but the western one is the
deepest and largest. oome years oaCk
the proprietor of this island, Baron
-, built house on an elevated STU
alton, GROWING it with an octagonal
tower, in which large mirrors OF plate
glass were disposed 10 reflect the light,
so as to resemble the lighthouse; this
room he occasionally caused to be lllu-
minated, while the proper lighthouse
was kept in darkness; deluded by the
artifce, many vessels were wrecked on
the coast, with the loss ofmany OF their
crew; the cargoes were then seized by
this monster, and appropriated to the
qualification of his Infamous cupidity.
AT length the captain OF a vessel,
who had been sufferer, in consequence
ventured to wait upon the Baron, In
tending to upbraid him with his treach-
cry: it happened that person who had
oficiated in the family as tutor, had
experienced a fit, and was supposed to
have died, so that his corpse had been