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of the Arctic coast, the navigation of the East Siberian
coast, and the discovery of Japan and America. This
writer adds that no other geographical enterprise, not
even the charting of China by the Jesuits, Mackenzie’s
travels, or Franklin’s expeditions, can in greatness or
sacrifice be compared with the gigantic undertakings that
were loaded upon Bering, and carried out by him.[1]
It would no doubt be wrong to ascribe the
overburdening of Bering’s plans to any one man, and for a
foreign author, who but imperfectly understands the
Russian literature of that period, to do so, would be more
than foolish. Kiriloff, the secretary of the Senate, had
great zeal for geographical explorations, and did all in
his power to further the plans of Czar Peter. It has been
proved that Bering’s proposition was presented after a
conference with Kiriloff, and that as long as he lived, he
assisted Bering by word and deed. Furthermore, it
seems probable that, in order to promote the exploration
of Siberia, he prevented the Admiralty from sending
Bering’s expedition by sea south of Africa. However, it
is undoubtedly a fact that Bering’s plan reached its final
proportions as a result of the discussions between Count
Ostermann, the influential courtier and statesman, (who
evidently landed in Russia in company with Bering in
1704), Soimonoff, an officer of the Senate, Kiriloff, and
Golovin, chief of the Admiralty, and these men would
hardly have consulted the opinions of Bering, who often
and most emphatically disapproved of the additions that
had been made to his plans. Moreover, as a result of the
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