Account of the Russian Discoveries between Asia and America. William Coxe
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of their names. I have only farther to apprize the reader, that, besides the intelligence extracted from these publications, he will find some additional circumstances relative to the Russian commerce with China, which I collected during my continuance in Russia.
I cannot close this address to the reader without embracing with peculiar satisfaction the just occasion, which the ensuing treatises upon the Russian discoveries and commerce afford me, of joining with every friend of science in the warmest admiration of that enlarged and liberal spirit, which so strikingly marks the character of the present Empress of Russia. Since her accession to the throne, the investigation and discovery of useful knowledge has been the constant object of her generous encouragement. The authentic records of the Russian History have, by her express orders, been properly arranged; and permission is readily granted of inspecting them. The most distant parts of her vast dominions have, at her expence, been explored and described by persons of great abilities and extensive learning; by which means new and important lights have been thrown upon the geography and natural history of those remote regions. In a word, this truly great princess has contributed more, in the compass of only a few years, towards civilizing and informing the minds of her subjects, than had been effected by all the sovereigns her predecessors since the glorious æra of Peter the Great.
CATALOGUE OF BOOKS QUOTED IN THIS WORK
In order to prevent the frequent mention of the full title of the books referred to in the course of this performance, the following catalogue is subjoined, with the abbreviations.
Müller's Samlung Russischer Geschichte, IX volumes, 8vo. printed at St. Petersburg in 1732, and the following years; it is referred to in the following manner: S. R. G. with the volume and page annexed.
From this excellent collection I have made use of the following treatises:
vol. II. p. 293, &c. Geschichte der Gegenden an dem Flusse Amur.
There is a French translation of this treatise, called Histoire du Fleuve Amur, 12mo, Amsterdam, 1766.
vol. III. p. 1, &c. Nachrichten von See Reisen, &c.
There is an English and a French translation of this work; the former is called "Voyages from Asia to America for completing the Discoveries of the North West Coast of America," &c. 4to, London, 1764. The title of the latter is Voyages et Decouvertes faites par les Russes, &c. 12mo, Amsterdam, 1766. p. 413. Nachrichten Von der Hanlung in Sibirien.
Vol. VI. p. 109, Sibirische Geshichte.
Vol. VIII. p. 504, Nachricht Von der Russischen Handlung nach China.
Pallas Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs, in Three Parts, 4to, St. Petersburg, 1771, 1773, and 1776, thus cited, Pallas Reise.
Georgi Bemerkungen einer Reise im Russischen Reich in Jahre, 1772, III volumes, 4to, St. Petersburg, 1775, cited Georgi Reise.
Fischer Sibirische Geschichte, 2 volumes, 8vo, St. Petersburg, cited Fis. Sib. Ges.
Gmelin Reise durch Sibirien, Tome IV. 8vo. Gottingen, 1752, cited Gmelin Reise.
There is a French translation of this work, called Voyage en Siberie, &c. par M. Gmelin. Paris, 1767.
Neueste Nachrichten von Kamtchatka aufgesetst im Junius des 1773ten Yahren von dem dasigen Befehls-haber Herrn Kapitain Smalew.
Aus dem abhandlungen der freyen Russischen Gesellschaft Moskau.
In the journal of St. Petersburg, April, 1776.—cited Journal of St. Pet.
Explanation of some Russian words made use of in the following work.
Baidar, a small boat. Guba, a bay. Kamen, a rock. Kotche, a vessel. Krepost, a regular fortress. Noss, a cape. Ostrog, a fortress surrounded with palisadoes. Ostroff, an island. Ostrova, islands. Quass, a sort of fermented liquor. Reka, a river.
The Russians, in their proper names of persons, make use of patronymics; these patronymics are formed in some cases by adding Vitch to the christian name of the father; in others Off or Eff: the former termination is applied only to persons of condition; the latter to those of an inferior rank. As, for instance,
| Among persons | of condition | Ivan Ivanovitch, | } Ivan the son of Ivan. |
| of inferior rank, | Ivan Ivanoff | ||
| Michael Alexievitch, | } Michael the son of Alexèy. | ||
| Michael Alexeeff, | |||
| Sometimes a surname is added, Ivan Ivanovitch Romanoff. | |||
Table of Russian Weights, Measures of Length, and Value of Money.
WEIGHT.
A pood weighs 40 Russian pounds = 36 English.
MEASURES OF LENGTH.
16 vershocks = an arsheen.
An arsheen = 28 inches.
Three arsheens, or seven feet = a fathom[3], or sazshen.
500 sazshens = a verst.
A degree of longitude comprises 104–½ versts = 69–½ English miles. A mile is therefore 1,515 parts of a verst; two miles may then be estimated equal to three versts, omitting a small fraction.
VALUE OF RUSSIAN MONEY.
A rouble = 100 copecs.
Its value varies according to the exchange from 3s. 8d. to 4s. 2d. Upon an average, however, the value of a rouble is reckoned at four shillings.
ERRATA.
| P. | 23, | Reference, for Appendix I. No I. read No II. |
| 24, | for Appendix I. No II. read No III. | |
| 30, | for Rogii read Kogii. | |
| 46, | for Riksa read Kiska. | |
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