John Ledyard's Journey through Russia and Siberia, 1787–1788: The Journal and Selected Letters

Letters and Other Documents Written after the Order for Ledyard's Arrest Was Issued: December 18/29, 1787–1821

LETTERS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS WRITTEN AFTER THE ORDER FOR LEDYARD'S ARREST WAS ISSUED DECEMBER 18/29, 1787-1821 34. From the Diary of A. V. Khrapovitskii [Dekabria] 18. [1787] TRANSLATION: [December] 18. [1787] Amerikantsa Dzhona Lediarda, probiraiushchagosia iz Okhotska v Ameriku , prikazano ottuda vyslat'; on byl v gardemarinakh pri slavnom Kuke. It is ordered to send back the American John Ledyard, making his way from Okhotsk to America, from that place;l he was a naval cadet with the famous Cook.2 "Dnevnik Khrapovitskago" (Khrapovitskii's Diary), RA (1901), Bk. 2, supp!., p. 34. A. V. Khrapovitskii was Catherine's personal secretary (stats sekretar') from 1783 to 1796. 1. This suggests that Catherine presumed Ledyard had already proceeded as far as Okhotsk, not realizing that he had been stalled in Yakutsk and later in Irkutsk. 2. Catherine may have learned of Ledyard's accompanying Cook on his third voyage from such sources as Jefferson's letter of Feb. g, 1786, to Lafayette (# 2) and Ledyard's petition (if we accept as Ledyard's the memoir mentioned by Golder), both forwarded to St. Petersburg by Grimm. 2SS 2M LETTERS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS 35. Martin Sauer's Account of Ledyard's Arrest At Yakutsk we found, to our great surprise, Mr. Ledyard, an old companion of Captain Billings, in Cook's voyage round the world; he then served in the capacity of a corporal, but now called himself an American colonel, and wished to cross over to the American Continent with our Expedition, for the purpose of exploring it on foot. . . . The guns, medicines, sailors' clothing, &c. weighing upwards of 100 tons, still remained at Irkutsk, where they had lain ever since last winter. Captain Billings resolved to go himself to Irkutsk to see these articles forwarded down the Lena so soon as the river should open in the spring. Accordingly, on the 29th December, he set out with carriages on sledges, which we had made on purpose. Mr. Ledyard, Robeck, Leman, his first mate, and I, accompanied him; the Russian secretary and several necessary hands were ordered to follow with all possible speed. We arrived the 16th January 1788, and I took up my abode with my friend Brigadier Troepolski. The Captain began making preparation for transporting the guns, &c. and sent to build vessels on the Lena at Katshuga, where they were deposited. In the evening of the 24th February, while I was playing at cards with the Brigadier and some company of his, a secretary belonging to one of the courts of justice came in, and told us, with great concern, that the Governor-General had received positive orders from the Empress, immediately to send one of the Expedition, an Englishman, under guard to the private inquisition at Mosco; but that he did not know the name of the person, and that Captain Billings was with a private party at the Governor -General's. Now, as Ledyard and I were the only Englishmen here, I could not help smiling at the news, when two hussars came into the room, and told me that the Commandant wished to December 18/29, 1787-1821 235 see me immediately. The consternation into which the visitors were thrown is not to be described. I assured them that it must be a mistake, and went with the guards to the Commandant. Here I found Mr. Ledyard under arrest. He told me, that he had sent for Captain Billings, but he would not come to him. He then began to explain his situation, and said that he was taken up as a French spy, whereas Captain Billings could prove the contrary; but he supposed that hel knew nothing of the matter, and requested that I would inform him. I did so; but the Captain assured me that it was an absolute order from the Empress, and he could not help him. He, however, sent him a few rubles, and gave him a pelisse;2 and I procured him his linen quite wet from the wash-tub. Ledyard took a friendly leave of me, desired his remembrance to his friends, and with astonishing composure leaped into the kibitka, and drove off, with two guards, one on each side. I wished to travel with him a little way, but was not permitted. I therefore returned to my company, and explained the matter to them; but, though this eased their minds with regard to my fate, it did...