Vitus Bering: The Discoverer of Bering Strait / 210 (1889) Author: Peter Lauridsen Table of Contents / Innehåll | << Previous | Next >>
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The Admiralty to Captain Bering, Jan. 23, 1738.

From Captain Chirikoff there has been received by the Admiralty
a report from Okhotsk with an accompanying copy of a proposition
laid before you by Chirikoff, suggesting measures for a more speedy
completion of the Kamchatka expedition under your charge. As no
steps had been taken by you in this direction as late as May 8 of the
same year, the Admiralty has concluded to demand an answer from
you, if any plans have been made on the basis of Chirikoff’s
proposition, and if, contrary to our expectations, nothing has been done,
we desire to know why,—since, according to the orders issued to you
Feb. 21, 1737, you were instructed to show zeal and solicitude for
the activity of the expedition, and that any neglect on your part
would make you liable to the same punishment as that suffered by
Lieutenants Muravjeff and Pauloff for negligence in conducting
expeditions entrusted to them.[1]

(These officers were reduced to the rank of ordinary sailors.)

According to Bering’s reports there were engaged in the Great
Northern Expedition, excluding the Academists and the crew on the
White Sea expedition, the following number of men:

In the year	1737	1738	1739
From the Admiralty	259	254	256
From Siberia	324	320	320
	———	———	———
Total	583	574	576

45. To an inquiry directed to the Russian Admiralty asking the
reason for Bering’s long stay in Yakutsk, Admiral Th. Wessalgo
has given me the following information :

“In Yakutsk, which was the base of operations for the whole
expedition, Bering was to secure wood, iron, and other materials for
the building of the necessary ships, and, what is most important, he
was to secure provisions, of which a yearly supply of 16,000 poods
was necessary. Although the furnishing of provisions had been
assigned to the Siberian authorities, they did nothing, in spite of
urgent and repeated demands; hence Bering had to undertake this
work himself. Moreover, the immense amount of materials and
provisions collected here was to be sent to Okhotsk, a task which
presented insurmountable obstacles: the country was a wild and

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