II. II
JOHN LEDYARD'S FRUSTRATED EXPEDITION, 1786
[From Jefferson's Autobiography, in Ford's Writings of Jefferson (N. Y., 1892–99), i, pp. 94–96.]
In 1786 while at Paris I became acquainted with John Ledyard of
Connecticut, a man of genius, of some science, and of fearless courage,
& enterprise. He had accompanied Capt Cook in his voyage to the
Pacific, had distinguished himself on several occasions by an unrivalled
intrepidity, and published an account of that voyage with details unfavorable
to Cook's deportment towards the savages, and lessening our
regrets at his fate. Ledyard had come to Paris in the hope of forming
a company to engage in the fur trade of the Western coast of America.
He was disappointed in this, and being out of business, and of a roaming,
restless character, I suggested to him the enterprise of exploring
the Western part of our continent, by passing thro St. Petersburg to
Kamschatka, and procuring a passage thence in some of the Russian
vessels to Nootka Sound, whence he might make his way across the
continent to America; and I undertook to have the permission of the
Empress of Russia solicited. He eagerly embraced the proposition, and
M. de Sémoulin, the Russian Ambassador, and more particularly Baron
Grimm the special correspondent of the Empress, solicited her permission
for him to pass thro' her dominions to the Western coast of America.
And here I must correct a material error which I have committed
in another place to the prejudice of the Empress. In writing some
Notes of the life of Capt Lewis, prefixed to his expedition to the
Pacific, I stated that the Empress gave the permission asked, & afterwards
retracted it. This idea, after a lapse of 26 years, had so insinuated
itself into my mind, that I committed it to paper without the least
suspicion of error. Yet I find, on recurring to my letters of that date
that the Empress refused permission at once, considering the enterprise
as entirely chimerical. But Ledyard would not relinquish it, persuading
himself that by proceeding to St. Petersburg he could satisfy the Empress
of it's practicability and obtain her permission, He went accordingly,
but she was absent on a visit to some distant part of her dominions, and
he pursued his course to within 200 miles of Kamschatka, where he
was overtaken by an arrest from the Empress, brought back to Poland,
and there dismissed. I must therefore in justice acquit the Empress of
ever having for a moment countenanced, even by the indulgence of an
innocent passage thro' her territories this interesting enterprise.
[Extract from letter of Jefferson to Ezra Stiles,[1]
dated Paris, Sept. 1, 1786.—Ford, iv, pp. 298,
299.]
A countryman of yours, a Mr. Lediard, who was with Capt. Cook
on his last voiage, proposes either to go to Kamschatka, cross from
thence to the Western side of America, and penetrate through the Continent
to our side of it, or to go to Kentucke, & thence penetrate Westwardly
to the South sea, the vent [he went] from hence lately to
London, where if he finds a passage to Kamschatka or the Western
coast of America, he would avail himself of it: otherwise he proposes to
return to our side of America to attempt that route. I think him well
educated for such an enterprise, & wish he may undertake it.
[Extract from letter of Jefferson to Charles Thomson,[2]
dated Paris, Sept. 20, 1787.—Ford, iv,
pp. 447, 448.]
There is an American of the name of Ledyard, he who was with
Captain Cook on his last voyage & wrote an account of that voyage,
who is go to St. Petersburg, from thence he was to go to Kamschatka,
to cross over thence to the northwest coast of America, & to penetrate
through the main continent to our side of it. He is a person of ingenuity
& information. Unfortunately he has too much imagination.
However, if he escapes safely, he will give us new, curious, & useful
information. I had a letter from him dated last March, when he was
about to leave St. Petersburg on his way to Kamschatka.
[Extract from letter of Jefferson to William Carmichael,[3]
dated Paris, March 4, 1789.—
Ford, v, p. 75.]
My last accounts from Lediard (another bold countryman of ours)[4]
were from Grand Cairo. He was just then plunging into the unknown
regions of Africa, probably never to emerge again. If he returns, he
has promised me to go to America and penetrate from Kentucke to the
Western side of the Continent. I do not know whether you are
informed that in the years 1787–1788, he went from here bound for
Kamschatka, to cross over thence to the Western coast of our continent
& pass through to the Eastern one. He was arrested par ordre superieure
within two or three days journeys of Kamschatka, conveyed back
to the confines of Poland, & there turned adrift. He arrived here last
June, & immediately set out for Africa.
