INTRODUCTION.                       lxxxiii
that we mall hear no more of the delay; and only he grate-
ful to that munificent Patron of Science, who not only di-
re&ed the hiftory of the voyage to be publifhed; but to be
publilhed with fuch a fplendid train of ornaments, at the
public expence, as will ftill add to the merit of having or-
dered the voyage itfelf to be undertaken.
And here it feems to be incumbent upon us to add, as
another inftance of munificent attention, that care has been
taken to mark, in the moft fignificant manner, the juft fenfe
entertained of the humane and liberal relief afforded to our
mips in Kamtfchatka. Colonel Behm, the commandant of
that province, has not been rewarded merely by the plea-
fure which a benevolent mind feels in reflecting upon the
bleflings it confers; but has been thanked in a manner
equally confiftent with the dignity of his own fovereign
and of ours, to whofe fubjects he extended protection. A
magnificent piece of plate was prefented to him, with an
infcription, worthy of a place in the fame book where the
hiftory of his humanity to our countrymen is recorded, and
which, while it does honour to our national gratitude, de-
ferves alfo to be preferved as a monument of our national
tafte for elegant compofition.   It is as follows :
Viro egregio magno de Behm ; qui, Imperatricis Auguf-
tijfimce Catharina aufpiciis, fummdque animi benignitate, Java, quibus
praerat, Kamtfcbatkte littora, navibus nautifqu} Britanmch, ho/pita
prcebuit; eofque, in terminis,Ji qui ejfent Imperio RuJ)ico,fruftra explo-
randis, mala mult a perpejhs, iteratd vice excepit, refeeit, recreavit, et
commeatu omnicumulateautJos dmijit-, Rei navalis Britannic^
Septemviri in aliquant benevolentia tarn infignis memoriam, amicif~
Jimo, gratiffimoque animo, fuo, patriceque nomine, D. D. D.
MDCCLXXXI.
1 2                                 This