A New Collection of Voyages, Discoveries and Travels (Volume 6); Containing Whatever Is Worthy of Notice, in Europe, Asia, Africa and America (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1767. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... A, '. JOURNEY HOM St. PETERSBURG, T O P E K I N; With an Embassy from his Imperial Majesty Peter the First, toKAMHi Emperor of China: By J O H N B E L L, Efq; MR. Bell informs us, that a curiosity to visit several parts of Asia, particularly those which border on the dominions of Russia, induced him to get a recommendation to Dr. Areskine, chief physician and privy counsellor to the czar Peter I Through this gentleman's recommendation, and his own knowlege in physic and surgery, Mr. Bell says he was appointed to attend an embassy to the sophy of Persia; and afterward that to the court of China the particulars of which last we propose to enrich our collection with. Beside the ambassador, Leoss Vaffilovich Ismayloss who was a gentleman of family, and a captain of the Ruffian guards, his secretary, six gentlemen, and a priest, Mr. Bell informs us that they were attended with interpreters, clerks, a band of music, valets, footmen, footmen, &c. in all to the number of about 60 per sons; beside a troop of 2 5 dragoons, as an escort from Tobolsky to Pekin, and back. We shall proceed with our author's own detail. The presents for the emperor of China being got ready, as well as the ambassador's dispatches, I set out from St. Petersburg the 14th of July, 1719, in company with Messieurs Lange and Grave, attended by a few servants; the sirst was a native of Sweden, and the other of Courland. We travelled to the city of Mosco in small parties, the more easily to procure post horses. September 9th, having shipped our baggage, and prepared every thing for our departure, we went ourselves on board; and after siring nine guns, rowed down the river Mosco. There is a shorter way from Mosco to Siberia through Yaroflave; bur, as we were incumbered with heavy baggage, consisti...