Note 101 — Chapter XIX · THE HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY. HEARNE AND MACKENZIE, COOK AND PHIPPS

Ledyard was one of those remarkable men that Arctic service so often produces. He had been befriended by Sir Joseph Banks, who encouraged him in his enthusiasm for travel. Having been to Kamschatka by sea, Ledyard resolved to find his way there by land. He crossed to Ostend with no more than ten guineas in his pocket, made his way to Stockholm, and walked thence, round the Gulf of Bothnia, to St Petersburg. There he obtained permission to accompany a party with stores to Yakutsk and thence to Okhotsk. But, for some unknown reason, he was arrested, hurried back across Siberia, and put across the frontier near Königsberg. Quite destitute, he ventured to draw a small cheque on Sir Joseph Banks which enabled him to reach England. The African Association had just been formed, and Sir Joseph selected this resolute and fearless traveller as the best man to execute the instructions of the Association. Ledyard was to make his way from Senaar to the Niger. He set out in June 1788, but his career was brought to a premature close by fever at Cairo.