1850.] 55 



Correspondence of the N. American and U. S. Gazette. 



Mountain House, Alta California, { 

 March 25th, 1850. J 



Messrs. Editors, I trust you will pardon the liberty 1 take in offering to the 

 citizens of Philadelphia, through your valuable paper, a tribute to the memory of 

 an eminent and worthy Philadelphian, who has fallen in this wild and far-off" 

 country. I refer to the death of Dr. William Gambel, former Secretary of the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences of your city, who left for California in the spring 

 of 1S49, takiuii the overland route, to collect specimens illustrating the natural 

 history of the Far West, and to explore, to some extent, the prominent geological 

 features of the country between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Sierra 

 Nevada. He went from Independence to the upper crossing of the Kansas with 

 a small company of gentlemen from Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. After which 

 his company joined Indiana Company, No. 1, of which I had command, and with 

 us he continued until we reached Fort Kearney, on the Great Platte. There he 

 separated from us and joined a company commanded by Capt. Boon, of Kentucky, 

 which followed the trail opened by Capt. Hudspeth's company, crossing the 

 Sierra near the head of Sacramento valley. The trials of this rugged route across 

 fearful mountains and great deserts proved too much for the Doctor's constitution, 

 and on reaching his destination in California, he was seized with typhoid fever, of 

 which he died. He had collected during his journey a large number of rare and 

 interesting specimens, by which he had added largely to the rich store of know- 

 ledge he had previously gained. His loss is as sad as it is premature, and he 

 sleeps in peace beneath the towering pines which cluster on a sunny hill side 

 stretching up from the bright waters of the Rio del Plumus. He has departed 

 early, but not unhonored, and though the afflicting dispensation will fall heavily 

 on those to whom he was endeared by ties of relationship or friendship, yet their 

 consolation will be strong in the knowledge that he fell in the midst of his hon- 

 orable pursuit of knowledge, and the earnest and zealous unfolding of his natural 

 and acquired gifts. Philadelphia owes to his memory a lasting tribute of respect 

 for his science, virtue, worth, talent, and energy. 



Very respectfully yours, 



D. B. Woods. 



Mr. Vaux then offered on the part of Dr. Morton, the following re- 

 solutions, which were unanimouslj' adopted, and the Recording Secre- 

 tary' was directed to send a copy of the same to the family of the 

 deceased. 



Resolved, That this Society has learned with deep regret, of the de- 

 cease of their esteemed associate, Dr. William Gambel, in California on 

 the 13th December last. 



Resolved^ That we cherish for Dr. Gambel the highest sentiments of 

 respect and regard, not only for his extensive and accurate attainments 

 in Botany and Ornithology, but also for the excellence of his heart, 

 his amiable manners, and his many virtues. 



Resolved, That we regard his untimely death in a distant land as a 

 painful bereavement to private friendship, and a misfortune to the inter- 

 ests of science. 



