4562. LEDYARD (John), Penetrating Africa.—
A countryman of ours, a Mr. Ledyard
of Connecticut, set out from Paris, some
time ago, for St. Petersburg, to go thence to
Kamschatka, thence to cross over to the western
coast of America, and penetrate through the
continent to the other side of it. He had got
within a few days' journey of Kamschatka,
when he was arrested by order of the Empress
of Russia, sent back, and turned adrift in
Poland. He went to London; engaged under
the auspices of a private society, formed there
for pushing discoveries into Africa; passed by
Paris * * * for Marseilles, where he will embark
for Alexandria and Grand Cairo; thence
explore the Nile to its source, cross the head of
the Niger, and descend that to its mouth. He
promises me, if he escapes through his journey,
he will go to Kentucky, and endeavor to penetrate
westerly to the South Sea.—
To Rev. James Madison. Washington ed. ii, 433.
(P.
1788)
