P. 11. I. 7. for and r. an. 32. par. 3. 1. 8. for Guiccardin, r. Guicciardini. 48. par. 5. 1. 2. for and the Appendix, r. and in the Appendix. 67. the note, for Mrs, r. Mr. 145. 1. 10. for Mr. Francis Garden, r. Lord Gardenfton. THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For JULY, 1780. ART. I. Account of the Ruffian Discoveries between Afia and America to which are added, the Conquest of Siberia, and the History of the Tranfactions and Commerce between Ruffia and China.. By William Coxe, A. M. Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, &c. 4to, 18s. Boards. Cadell. 1780... HE Author of this performance*, during his refidence at Petersburg, particularly directed his inquiries to the difcoveries that have lately been made by the Ruffians in the fea that feparates Afia from America. For this purpose, he endeavoured to collect the refpective journals of the different voyages fubfequent to the expedition of Beering and Tfchirikoff in 1741, with which the celebrated Muller concludes his account of the first Ruffian navigations in these parts. Having been informed, in the course of his researches, that a treatise in the German language, published at Hamburg and Leipfic, in 1776, contained a full and exact narrative of the Ruffian voyages from 1745 to 1770; and having been affured that this publication, though anonymous, had been actually compiled from the original journals; he could not avoid confidering it as a work of the highest credit, and well worthy of being more generally known and perufed. Its exactness as well as authenticity were fufficiently afcertained, in a letter written to Mr. Coxe by Mr. Muller; who, by order of the Empress, had arranged the journals from which the anonymous author of the German treatife is faid to have drawn his materials. A tranflation of this treatise, moulded however into a fomewhat different and more convenient form, and illuftrated by occafional notes and references, conftitutes the first part of the prefent performance. It commences with fome preliminary ob * Mr. Coxe is likewife Author of "Sketches of the natural, civil, and political State of Swifferland." See Rev. for May 1779, P. 342. .. VOL. LXIII. fervations, B fervations relative to the difcovery and conqueft of Kamtchatka, its present state, population, commerce, &c.; and is followed by an account of the various difcoveries made in the fea of Kamtchatka, from the time of Beering in 1741, down to the year 1770; particularly that of the Altian Ilands, firft difcovered in 1745; and that of the ftill more diftant groupe of ifles, fuppofed to extend very near.to the coaft of America, and which have been denominated the Fox Islands. It is to be obferved, that almoft all the expeditions related in this treatise were undertaken by private adventurers, for commercial purposes. In an Appendix, Mr. Coxe has collected all the additional intelligence that he was able to procure at Petersburg refpecting thefe fubjects; partic larly three journals never before given to the public. The moft material of thefe is an extract from the journal of a voyage made by Captain Krenitzin, and Lieutenant Levafheff, to the Fox Inlands, by order of the Empress, in the years 1768 and 1769. This journal, together with the chart of the voyage which accompanies it, were fent by order of the Emprefs to Dr. Robertfon, and were by him communicated to the Author. Further to illuftrate this treatise, Mr. Coxe has collected the best charts relative to the fubject of it, that could be procured at Petersburg; and from all thefe circumftances he expreffes his hopes, that the curious and inquifitive Reader will not only find in it the moft authentic and circumftantial account of the progrefs and extent of the Ruffian discoveries, which has hitherto appeared in any language; but be enabled hereafter to compare them with those more lately made by that great and much to be regretted navigator, Captain Cook, when his journal shall be communicated to the Public.' The difcovery of Beering's Ifle, where its difcoverer was wrecked in 1741, and which is fituated due eaft from Kamtchatkoi Nofs (or Cape) in the 185th degree of caft longitude *, was foon followed by that of Copper Ifland; which indeed lies in fight of it, and acquired its name from the large maffes of native copper that are found upon the beach. The scarcity of land and fea animals, and of furs, the numbers of which inthefe two islands had been greatly diminished by the Ruffian hunters, gave occafion to numerous expeditions from Kamtchatka, undertaken by private merchants. Several of the veffels having been driven by ftormy weather to the fouth-eaft, the Aleutian Ifles were thus accidentally difcovered, fituated about ten degrees fomewhat to the fouthward of the east from the cape above-mentioned, or in longitude 195, and latitude 54. In 1761 a groupe of new iflands was difcovered, lying to the • Here and elsewhere in this Article the longitude is always reckoned from Faro. north |