214 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



of the First Secretary of State for the Colonies, of sending a scientific 

 party, under the command of J. Palliser, Esq., into those almost un- 

 known regions of the southern portion of the British possessions of 

 North America, in part occupied by the Eocky Mountains, north of the 

 49th degree of latitude. The arrival of the officers at New York has 

 been announced ; but, though so late as May 29th, the Lakes Superior 

 and Winipeg, which they would cross on their journey westward, were 

 recently so obstructed by ice, that the steamboat had not been able to 

 ply on the latter waters ; so that in reality no available time had been 

 lost by the delay occasioned by the illness of Mr. Palliser at the in- 

 tended time of his departure from England. On the present occasion 

 we are desirous of laying before our readers a copy of the instructions 

 supplied to the Botanical Collector, M. Bourgeau. They have been 

 drawn up with much care, and may, with certain modifications, accord- 

 ing to circumstances, perhaps serve as a model for similar Instructions 

 on future occasions. They are as follows ; 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR M. BOURGEAU. 



M. Bourgeau having been engaged by the Colonial Department of the 

 British Government in the capacity of Botanical Collector, to accom- 

 pany an Expedition for scientific research into the interior of British 

 North America, under the command of John Palliser, Esq., for a period 

 of two years or thereabouts— he is to consider himself to be at all 

 times under the authority of that officer, to be obedient to his instruc- 

 tions in every particular, and is required to make over all the col- 

 lections to Mr. Palliser, as the commanding officer on behalf of the 

 British Government. 



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preserving plants on an extensive scale, it is not deemed necessary 

 to proffer any particular directions on that point. He is to lose no 

 opportunity of making as perfect a collection of the plants of the regions 

 he passes through as possible, whether in the United States (especially 

 in the less frequented districts, such as the upper branches of the 

 Missouri) or in British America, neglecting no species of plant, and 

 preserving specimens of every kind, more especially such as seem to . 

 be confined to certain localities. The arborescent plants— trees of 

 every description, are to be sought for and collected in flower and in 

 fruit: the cones and larger acorns, and other kinds, too lawe for the 



