- cumstances, it was thought advisable to negotiate a
peace; but as the Turks made no proposals, and as in time of war no subject of Russia, or Germany, the ally of Russia, was admitted into the dominions of the sultan, Bell, who appears to have been greatly respected both for his character and abilities, was prevailed upon, "at the earnest desires of Count Osterman, the chancellor of Russia, and of Mr. Rondeau, his Britannic majesty's minister at the court of Russia," to undertake the journey. He departed from Petersburg on the 6th of December, 1737, and arrived at Constantinople on the 29th of the next month. With respect to his commission, he merely observes that he punctually conformed to the terms of his instructions. His negotiations did not detain him long. He left Constantinople on the 8th of April, and on the 17th of May arrived at Petersburg. Here he concludes his account of himself and his travels. In the decline of his life he returned to Scotland, where he resided at Antermony, his native place; and it was there that, surrounded apparently by affluence, and enjoying the most ample leisure, he wrote his excellent and interesting account of his travels, the first edition of which appeared in 1762. His death took place in 1780.
JOHN LEDYARD.
Born 1751.—Died 1780.
This traveller, who for enterprise and courage has
seldom been surpassed, was born in the year 1751,
at Groton, a small village on the river Thames, in
Connecticut, in the United States. He had, at a very
early age, the misfortune to be deprived of his father;
and although his mother, a woman of remarkable
