The Authors Efifile Dedicatoryt     ''
tages do's the Univcrfe afford that are not to be found
here ? What Treafures and Minerals, fiichj^s iGold,
Silver, Copper, Iron, Saltpeter, Sulphur, Salt; what
rich plenty of thefe and the like do's the Earth har-
bour in her bofom, which hitherto were not brought to
light 5 but now thro' your Czarifh Majefty's Fatherly
bounty and wife Government, groan for their free-
dom and relaxation.
The Palus Mceotis is fubject to your Imperial Ma*
jefty's Soveraigntyj and the Cafpian Sea, which to the
amazement of all Naturalifts, has no vifible communi-
cation with the Ocean, waits only for the honour of
being covered and adorned with your Majefty's Naval
Force, in order to give an In-let and Out-let, to immenfe
Treafures in the courfe of a regulated Trade to the Baft.
The Tanais again prefents us with a Wonder:   your
C2ari(h Majefty's Men of War and Pompous Galleys
have ftruckfuch a terror into its Mouth, which had been
fhut up for fome Years before, that now it opens of its
felf and dares not to ftay for its Barriers; by whichmeans
the black Sea is become acceflible, and entertains a
Communication Southward and Weftwsrd,   with the
Mediteranean Sea and with the great Ocean.   Nor is
the Duina crown'd with lefs glory,  as finding it felf
united with the white Sea, by which means it hands the
Commerce to the Ocean,  and in after times will dif*
appoint thofe who mean to ingrofs the command of that
wild Element,    The Rivers Vela and Tungia in Sibiria
feem to prepare for the fame end, to difembogue in
the Amoerjhian or Eaftern Sea :   And in a word every
thing provides to welcome the Sons of Neptune, fitted
out by your Czarifh Majefty's unwearied care, as being
rare and uncommon Guefts.
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