Fortunately, a Scotch physician, of the name of Brown, was proceeding in the service of the empress as far as the province of Kolyvan, who offered him a seat in his kabitka, and thus assisted him on his journey for more than three thousand miles.  Having reached Irkutsk, he remained there about ten days, and left it in company with lieutenant Laxman, a Swedish officer, to embark on the Lena, at a point one hundred and fifty miles distant from Irkutsk, with the intention of floating down its current to Yakutsk.  On his arrival at this place, he waited on the commandant, told him he wished to press forward, with all expedition, to Okotsk before the winter should shut in, that he might secure an early passage in the spring to the American continent.  The commandant assured him that such a journey was already impossible; that the governor-general, from whom he had brought letters, ordered him to show all possible kindness and service, “and the first and best service,” said he, “is to beseech you not to attempt to reach Okotsk this winter.”  Ledyard still persisting to proceed, a trader was brought in, who, in like manner, declared the journey utterly impracticable.

While thus detained for the winter at Yakutsk, he drew up some very just observations on the Tartars, which were afterwards published.

He had not remained long at Yakutsk, when Captain Billings returned from the Kolyma.  This officer had attended the astronomer Bayley, as his assistant, on the last voyage of Cook, and was, of course, well known to Ledyard.  Being on his journey to Irkutsk, he invited Ledyard to accompany him thither.  They travelled in sledges up the Lena, and reached Irkutsk in seventeen days, being a distance of fifteen hundred miles.  Scarcely, however, had he arrived at this place when he was put under arrest, by an order from the empress.  He now experienced no more of that concern for his welfare on the part of the commandant, and even Billings kept away from him.  All he could learn was, that he was considered as a French spy, which Billings could at once have contradicted.  His state of suspense was very short, as, on the same day, he was sent off in a kabitka, with two guards, one on each side.

In this manner was our traveller conveyed to the frontiers of Poland, a distance of six thousand versts, in six weeks.  “Thank heaven,” says he, as he approached Poland, “petticoats appear, and the glimmerings of other features.  Women are the sure harbingers of an alteration in manners, in approaching a country where their influence is felt.”  He has bestowed, indeed, a beautiful and touching tribute to the excellence of the female character, not more beautiful than just, which cannot be too often recorded in print.