A name next occurs, but little known in this country, but in some degree
implicated with the character of an Englishman, who appears to have
obtained a celebrity, of which he was not altogether deserving. The first
person is Martin Sauer, the latter, Joseph Billings.
Sauer accompanied Billings, as secretary, in an expedition, undertaken
by the command of the Empress of Russia, to ascertain the latitude and
longitude of the mouth of the river Kovima, the coast of the Tshutski,
and of the islands in the Eastern ocean, stretching to the American
coast. He came to this country, partly from commercial views, and partly
to publish himself, his own account of this long and perilous voyage.
It was recommended to him, to obtain an introduction to our Sexagenarian,
as being a person likely to facilitate his views, with respect to his
meditated publication. He followed the advice, and an acquaintance
took place, the result of which, gave rise to many curious notes and
observations, which have place in our manuscript.
Sauer’s narrative was published a great many years since, and is very
curious and interesting. When he arrived with Billings at the Bay of
St. Lawrence, in the country of the Tshutski, they separated. Billings
proceeded over land with much difficulty, and after escaping many
dangers, till he arrived at the Kovima, and Sauer returned by sea to
Kamtschatka.
It appears both from Sauer’s published narrative, and from many private
documents and communications, that Billings was far from deserving
the reputation he obtained, and that he was by no means qualified to
undertake the superintendance of such an expedition. He was remarkably
ignorant, and inflexibly obstinate. His ignorance, more than once in the
voyage, induced him to mistake one place for another, and his obstinacy
was the occasion of his losing two new vessels, constructed for his
immediate use. A combination of both these qualities prevented his
accomplishing the great object of his mission, which was to ascertain
the existence of a north-west passage. In this he failed altogether.
Billings, however, was a bold and hardy navigator, and though he did
not accomplish that which was expected of him, is entitled to some share
of respect. No notice has, however, hitherto been taken of him in any
English book of biography.
Magnas dolebat aliquis amissas opes
Naufragio: Oceanum postulat de injuria;
At ille. Numquid dissimulavi qui forem?
Numquid voraces esse gurgites meos
Nescire debuisti?