And Alexander I began the reign with good hopes and plans.
Generally, the future was solar.
How difficult was a circle of the questions connected with the organization of the first round-the-world expedition it is possible to draw a conclusion, for example, from the following fragments.
"Alexander I created "the Committee of formation of the fleet". And the President of this Committee was appointed not Mordvinov, but - in defiance of him, - decrepit count Alexander Vorontsov, the brother of Ambassador in England.
The tsar has instructed committee - "to define any excess, to transform everything into possible brevity and clearness".
What did Vorontsov think up, who had not served even for a one day in the Navy?
"For many reasons, physical and local, Russia cannot be among the leading maritime states. Yes, in fact neither necessary nor good is not expected. The mighty and the our strength should be in the land forces... "
(...)
Winter London met seafarer with cold. Vorontsov was already aware of the purpose of Lisyansky arrival and has treated him coldly.
'Is it not too early to compete with the enlightened mariners, sir?' - skeptically said Vorontsov. - 'British sailors, as James Cook, are highly experienced and have great knowledge. Russia has no decent ships"'[2].
But the project of the first global cruise has been approved by the emperor Alexander I, and subordinate officials couldn't cancel this project. Haven't cancelled it and objective circumstances (as it has taken place at Catherine II).
Will make a few remarks, concerning the relation of the emperor Alexander I to the round-the-world expedition which has taken place during 1803-1806.
Alexander I in connection with the direction and return of the expedition behaved like a man of wide views and very worthy.
Firstly, he approved the project and facilitated the direction of the expedition.
Secondly, he agreed with the appointment the seafarers (Kruzenshtern and Lisyansky) the managers of ships; - the seafarers, who were able to cope with the task at hand - to go around the world.
Thirdly, equipping one of the ships he took on his own account.
In the fourth, has personally arrived to ships, to moment of starting of the expedition.
We will mention also the period after completion of an expedition.
Fifth, he personally arrived on "Neva", after returning the ship from the expedition. Respectfully tried the fleet food. "Having tasted corned beef, crackers, the tsar drank water, taken in tropics, and smacked his lips approvingly" [2]. At heart, probably, it was good; success was historical, world-level.
In the sixth, commanders of the ships of an expedition have received honorary and weighty rewards (awards, pensions, lump-sum premiums, assignments of the next ranks, appointments to worthy positions). Other participants of an expedition also have been awarded.
One expedition, two circumnavigations
Expedition - as the project and as an organizational action - there was one. But round-the-world floatings was two.
Initially the "Hope" and "Neva" ships have been loaded counting upon two rather independent ocean marches.
"Hope" under the leadership of Kruzenstern should reach coast of Japan and Kamchatka, but her visit wasn't planned for Alaska.
"Neva" under Lisyansky's guideline has been given a task to visit Alaska. As for Japan, swimming of "Neva" to coast of this country wasn't planned.
However after the solution the "Hope" the problems on Kamchatka and at coasts of Japan, and the tasks of "Neva" - on Alaska, they (both ships) had to meet in China, in the Canton.
After the solution of commercial tasks to continue a joint way to the European Russia, to St. Petersburg, to Kronstadt.
"The plan and a route of an expedition have been already finally defined. The government instruction assigned the following tasks to it:
To supply in the Russian colonies in America various goods, resources;
to transport from America to the Canton furs for trade operations with the Chinese merchants;
to deliver to Japan the Russian Embassy" [3].
"In floating "Neva" was three full years, without two days. Ship have passed more than forty five thousand miles for this time. Two thirds of this way our sloop-of-war floated independently, without our co-seafarer "Hope"" [2].
"One more important circumstance the writer historian V. Nevsky in the book "First circumnavigation of the Russians" has allocated half a century back:
"References about the first Russian round-the-world travel had included a wrong tendency: to write about Yu.F. Lisyansky only as about I.F. Kruzenstern's companion.
However the provided data show that Lisyansky has fulfilled the most part of the floating independently.
Within 532 days of pure sea-floating the ships have passed more than 45 000 miles, and only 41,5% on time and 42,8% on number of miles fall on the part of a travel made by "Neva" together with "Hope", and independent floatings have taken significantly longer periods and distances: in percentage expression - according to 58,5% and 57,2%.
From 1095 days during which the historical journey continued the ships were in joint swimming only 375 days, "Neva" was in independent swimming 720 days that respectively makes 34,3% and 65,7%".
Thus, the commander of "Neva" actually made a voyage without Kruzenstern's guardianship and has made discovers and novations independently" [2].
So, an expedition as the project and as a certain organizational action, - one. And - two circumnavigations.
Plus embassy and scientific researches
The project wasn't limited to two round-the-world voyages. He also included the direction of embassy in Japan and carrying out during swimmings of scientific research.
"Also the Active State Councillor Nikolay Petrovich Rezanov has played also known role the organizations of a parcel of an expedition to the Russian North American colonies. Grigory Ivanovich Shelekhov was Rezanov's father-in-law and therefore Rezanov has been closely connected with the interests of the Russian colonies in North America. Rezanov was author of the petition for the highest name, filed in 1795, on the establishment of the Russian American Company. Rezanov was the representative of the Company in St. Petersburg for a number of years.
June 10, 1803 Rezanov was awarded the Order of St. Anne I degree, was granted the title of Chamberlain and was appointed envoy to Japan. At the same time, he received a rescript from Alexander I with detailed instructions on the exercise of his diplomatic powers in Japan. The purpose of the embassy was to obtain permission from the Japanese Emperor to trade Russian ships in the Japanese port of Nagasaki or to organize barter trade on the Island of Matsumae.
In the rescript addressed to Rezanov Alexander I wrote: "in Electing you to the feat, which promise the benefit to the Fatherland, both as the result of Future Japanese trade, and so in the discourse of formation American region, in which to you is entrusted the fates of the local inhabitants, I instructed the Chancellor to hand you a letter from me to the Japanese Emperor. I appointed Minister of Commerce to provide you with the proper instructions that are already approved me, in both subjects."