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when my captain offered me the second dignity in the vessel and entreated me to remain with the greatest earnestness, so valuable did he consider my services.  And now, dear Margaret, do I not deserve to accomplish some great purpose?  My life might have been passed in ease and luxury, but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path.  Oh, that some encouraging voice would answer in the affirmative!  My courage and my resolution is firm; but my hopes fluctuate, and my spirits are often depressed.  I am about to proceed on a long and difficult voyage, the emergencies of which will demand all my fortitude:  I am required not only to raise the spirits of others, but sometimes to sustain my own, when theirs are failing.

This is the most favourable period for travelling in Russia.  They fly quickly over the snow in their sledges; the motion is pleasant, and, in my opinion, far more agreeable than that of an English stagecoach.  The cold is not excessive, if you are wrapped in furs—­a dress which I have already adopted, for there is a great difference between walking the deck and remaining seated motionless for hours, when no exercise prevents the blood from actually freezing in your veins.  I have no ambition to lose my life on the post-road between St. Petersburgh and Archangel.  I shall depart for the latter town in a fortnight or three weeks; and my intention is to hire a ship there, which can easily be done by paying the insurance for the owner, and to engage as many sailors as I think necessary among those who are accustomed to the whale-fishing.  I do not intend to sail until the month of June; and when shall I return?  Ah, dear sister, how can I answer this question?  If I succeed, many, many months, perhaps years, will pass before you and I may meet.  If I fail, you will see me again soon, or never.  Farewell, my dear, excellent Margaret.  Heaven shower down blessings on you, and save me, that I may again and again testify my gratitude for all your love and kindness.

Your affectionate brother,
R. Walton

Letter 2

To Mrs. Saville, England

Archangel, 28th March, 17—­

How slowly the time passes here, encompassed as I am by frost and snow!  Yet a second step is taken towards my enterprise.  I have hired a vessel and am occupied in collecting my sailors; those whom I have already engaged appear to be men on whom I can depend and are certainly possessed of dauntless courage.

But I have one want which I have never yet been able to satisfy, and the absence of the object of which I now feel as a most severe evil, I have no friend, Margaret:  when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection.  I shall commit my thoughts to paper, it is true; but that is a poor