I find, nevertheless, that the _charge des affaires_
believes in the discovery, which makes me hope it may be true.
A countryman of ours, a Mr. Ledyard of Connecticut, set out from hence
some time ago for St. Petersburg, to go thence to Kamtschatka, thence
to cross over to the western coast of America, and penetrate through
the continent, to the other side of it. He had got within a few days'
journey of Kamtschatka, when he was arrested by order of the Empress
of Russia, sent back, and turned adrift in Poland. He went to London;
engaged under the auspices of a private society, formed there for
pushing discoveries into Africa; passed by this place, which he left
a few days ago for Marseilles, where he will embark for Alexandria and
Grand Cairo; thence explore the Nile to its source; cross the head of
the Niger, and descend that to its mouth. He promises me, if he escapes
through his journey, he will go to Kentucky, and endeavor to penetrate
westwardly to the South Sea.
The death of M. de Buffon you have heard long ago. I do not know whether
we shall have anything posthumous of his.
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