With the Ambassador it was decided to send rich gifts to the Japanese Emperor and his chief dignitaries and also to direct a row of goods to start trade operations.
At the insistence of count Rumyantsev, Alexander I allowed to send the Russian Ambassador to Japan on the same ships that were supposed to deliver the goods in the Russian North-American colonies. With the Embassy, it was decided to send a scientific expedition to explore the coasts of the Pacific ocean" [2].
"Chamberlain Rezanov, one of the active figures of the Russian-American Company, was appointed as envoy to Japan. The first Russian round-the-world expedition turned into an important political enterprise. However, its main task, as can be seen from the "Instruction given to the real Chamberlain Rezanov", remained "the trade of the Russian-American Company ". By using financial funds of Company were purchased and supplied the ships for the expedition - "Hope" and "Neva". (In connection with the dispatch of the diplomatic mission on board of the "Hope", this ship has been accepted into the state account, including also biennial keeping of his crew.)
Were not forgotten and scientific plans. In the first government documents, in which was considered the main object of the expedition, were formulated the tasks of the scientific study of the Russian possessions in America. and other places, and countries, are required to visit the ships. To do this, was planned to include in the expedition scientist, naturalist, botanist, and several students mineralogists.
From scientists, whose circle was actually much wider, were expected: detailed descriptions of the visited lands and collecting collections of geological breeds, metals, soils, minerals, plants, seeds, animals, fishes, corals, sinks, insects, etc.
Each "thing" has to be described and numbered. Very the importance was attached to ethnographic researches, including studying of a way of life, customs, religions, crafts, art, dwellings, weapon, clothes, etc. Painters of an expedition were recommended to deliver sketches of panoramas of the Russian settlements in America and of inhabitant's suits.
The next task was allocated to production of exact meteorological observations - behind the polar lights (auroras) and others "noteworthy" natural phenomenas.
Doctors were supposed not only to study the diseases and their treatments, but also to do their utmost "to providing suffering mankind". In addition, in the case of favourable circumstances, was supposed to study North West coast of America" [2].
(...)
4. "Whether not early to be the Cook, the young man?" "We don't accord with Cook ...". In a rank of Ferdinand Magellan, Juan Sebastian del Cano, Francis Drake and other circumnavigators.
"After discovery of America (Columbus, 1492) and a sea way to India (Vasco da Gama, 1498), the most important geographical event of an era of great opening is the first global cruise made by Fernand Magellan. (...) The global cruise, the second after Magellan, has been made by the English privateer Francis Drake (1577-80). (...) During the second half of 18 century there are 8 round-the-world floatings: the English expedition of John Byron (1764-66) - the first global cruise undertaken for the scientific purposes; Wallis and Carteret's English expedition (1766-69); considerable French geographical expedition of Bougainville (1766-69); three round-the-world swimmings of James Cook; tragically terminated Laperouse's swimming; expedition of Vancouver (1790-92). In the first half of the 19th century 6 Russians of round-the-world expeditions are equipped: Kruzenstern (1803-06) ..." [12].
"We don't accord with Cook ..." [8].
"The round-the-world expedition made a lot of noise at first," - Chichagov wrote the envoy in London to S.R. Vorontsov. - All the expeditions, ever made in the world till this moment, are presented in this one, without excluding also the Egyptian expedition of Bonaparte, which in comparison with this one is just children's game. Because that had with himself scientists, philosophers, and here one authorized Lisyansky and several pupils of one of our special schools replace with themselves all". S.R. Vorontsov answered in tone to the correspondent that visited him recently Lisyansky - no more as frivolous and excessively self-confident person. His name (certainly, as well as a name of Kruzenstern) won't be entered in one list with a name of Cook ..." [1].
"Not my fault if to me there are such wonders ... It is because I like to travel and eternally I look for adventures, and you stay at home and you see nothing, except four walls of the room" (Rudolf Erich Raspe The Adventures of Baron Munchausen).
5.Non-stop Seafarer Yu. F. Lisyansky. Between Drake and Blyth
Among the complex ocean voyages are both as circumnavigations (round-the-world voyages), and so sufficiently long-distance non-stop (without calling at ports) voyages.
Non-stop long-distance navigation is an excellent test of marine art.
Of course, the selection of non-stop floats as a separate kind (or class) is relatively arbitrary. Any swimming is in some sense non-stop. The basis for the application of such a term arises when a special goal is set: to pass a maximum, unusually long distance without calling at the port (without berthing).
To the non-stop navigators, probably, can be attributed and Francis Drake, and Yu. F. Lisyansky, and (no doubt) Chay Blyth.
Chay Blyth in 1970-1971 carried out simultaneously and round-the-world, and non-stop solo voyage on the yacht "British steel".
"The commander of "Neva" spends five days after separation from "Hope" in meditation. He remembers the story of seafaring since the time of Magellan, all round-the-world voyages of Spaniards, British, rather recent float of the Frenchman of Bougainville.
No, any of them hasn't made continuous swimming from east part of the Indian Ocean to coast of Europe. James Cook glorified Britain with two round-the-world voyages, Vancouver - a voyage across the Great Ocean, the French have made one voyage around the world. And in general, he does not remember that any of the sailors decided to float from Canton to England without stopping.
'Than worse we, Russians? - the Captain Lieutenant Lisyansky is set a question to himself. "Really we will miss the chance? And when it will falls out?"Besides, how many times did Lisyansky face court nobles and naval officers, who are treated with disdain and skepticism towards the skill and training of Russian sailors. Such as the brothers Counts Vorontsov , their friend Admiral Pavel Chichagov, which is obliged to care for the fleet. It is necessary to prove by an example to them what Russian sailors are capable of. The main thing is that Lisyansky considers it his first duty "to deliver honor and glory to the Russian flag" [2].
"Over 140 days the Neva passed without calling at any port and without anchor parking of 13923 miles. Usually, for such long voyages, seafarers prepare in advance and for more than one a month, carefully equip the ships, storing up provisions and water, and select the crew. When swimming "Neva" such training was not. The more important is the success and merit of the commander and his subordinates.
The long unprecedented transition of Russian sailors speaks of the excellent naval training of the commander and the entire crew. The voyage showed the knowledge, skill and responsibility of Lisyansky for the task entrusted. After leaving Canton, he did not anticipate such a test, but, as always, scrupulously prepared "Neva" to go to sea; "Neva" has already overcome 30,000 miles of navigation in stormy conditions and bad weather. Three and a half months the crew was in isolation from the coast - and no any complaint from the administrative board of the ship, no any discontent and complaints of subordinates.