BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 123 



influenced by the North Pacific Ocean, to which its western shores are 

 entirely exposed, the vegetation will probably be found to be affected 

 thereby, and we may expect some novelties. 



3. An Exploring Journey into, what we may fairly call a hitherto un- 

 known portion of, British North America, conducted by J. Palliser, Esq. 

 •The boundarv-line between the western United States territories and 

 the British possessions to the north being fixed in the 49th degree of 

 latitude, and Vancouver's Island having begun now to be colonized, it 

 has become a matter of great importance to form a more ready com- 

 munication than we yet possess between our Canadian possessions on 

 the east, and Nootka Sound and Vancouver's Island on the west, of 

 this vast continent. The only available route across the Eocky Moun- 

 tains, and that a very difficult one, we believe, is that by Jasper House 

 fort. Mr. Palliser, well known for his enterprising, and especially his 

 sporting excursions in the upper valley of the Missouri, and even 

 thence into the British possessions at White Earth river, has volun- 

 teered to the Geographical Society to make researches, and conduct 

 an expedition with the object above-mentioned in view. His ser- 

 vices have been accepted by the First Secretary for the Colonies ; the 

 Treasury have issued the needful funds ; and Mr. Palliser, accompanied 

 by his staff, will sail for New Tork on the 4th of April, and proceed 

 thence, by way of the upper branches of the Missouri, to the plains of 

 Saskatchawan. The plan, if possible, is to cross the Kocky Mountains, 

 so as to pass the winter on the west side, where that season is so much 

 milder and of shorter duration than on the east, in the same latitude. 

 But what most concerns us is, that the Colonial Office readily granted 

 permission to send a botanical collector on this expedition ; and the 

 choice has fallen on, and the appointment been accepted by, Mr. Bour- 

 geau, one of the most experienced and best of the many collectors of 

 the present day, as the herbaria of almost every botanist in Europe can 

 testify. For eight or ten years past Mr. Bourgeau has been wholly 

 occupied in collecting and preserving, in the most beautfful manner, 

 the vegetable riches of Spain, and other countries of the south of Eu- 

 rope, llgeria, the Canaries, etc. etc. ; and we anticipate collections rom 

 the region in question scarcely less valuable than those of Sir John 

 Richardson and the late Mr. Drummond, and which wdl go far towards 

 completing our knowledge of British North America. 



