Jan. 2G, 1857.] THROUGH NORTH AMERICA. 2G7 



determine the position of the passes adjacent to the frontier. There were two 

 passes close to one another, and the question was whether they were not lx)th 

 within the American frontier, or whether one might not be within the English 

 territory. It was a very nice point to determine. As to what had been said 

 about the natives of Vancouver Island, he thought the people of the western 

 coast were very different from those on the eastern side, and resembling more 

 the Polynesian race. 



The President said they had to thank Mr. Banister for having brought the 

 subject forward. It had given rise to an excellent discussion, that had thrown 

 much light upon a subject of the greatest importance to every Englishman. 

 The practicability of railroads was a subject incidental and collateral. Their 

 first great point was to determine the physical geography of the region — therefore 

 the projected exploration would be of considerable value, as it would set at rest 

 whether there was a practicable route across the Rocky Mountains or not. He 

 was glad to see Mr. Palliser, who from his acquaintance with the country, 

 his skill as a sportsman and the good use he made of his opportunities, was 

 capable of exploring these difficult regions — he was delighted to see him sitting 

 next to the great explorer of Africa, Dr. Livingston. These were the gentle- 

 men who found out the paths, by which civilization could be advanced in these 

 distant and difficult regions. Railroads, however, must fall in afterwards. In 

 the first instance they had to determine the geography of the Rocky Mountains, 

 with which the world had made little or no progress since the days of 

 Mackenzie. 



Sixth Meeting^ Jan, 26, 1857. 



Sir EODEEICK MUECHISON, President, in the Chair. 



Presentations. — Robert Benson, William Benson, C. L. Gruneisen, 

 John Costerton, and /. L. Statham, Esqrs., were officially introduced upon 

 their election. 



Elections. — Capt. Hartstene, of the United States Navy, recently in 

 command of H. M. S. * Resolute^ was elected an Honorary Member ; and 

 Dr. Alexander Armstrong, r.n. ; Capt. John Baillie, Bengal JV.I. ; 

 Capt. Thomas Blakiston, R.A. ,• the Marquis of Blandford, m.p. ; Dr. 

 W. F. Gumming ; Dr. A. T. Chalmers; Capt. L. R. Elliot; Lieut.- 

 Col. P. Faddy, R.A. ; Hon. G. Fitzclarence, r.n. ; Thomson Hanhey, 

 Esq., M.P. ; Capt. W. A. Pope; the Hon. Stephen E. Spring Rice; Sir 

 Macdonald Stephenson, c.e. ; Capt. B. J. Sulivan, r.n., c.b. ; Col. 

 J. Temple West ; the Right Hon. J. Stuart Worthy, m.p. ; Capt. Henry 

 J. P. Woodhead ; and C. T. Arbuthnot ; Richard Blanshard ; John 

 Utlay Ellis ; F. L. Evans ; T. H. Farrer ; Z. D. Hunt ; George Lee ; 

 Edward Sullivan, and Richard H. S. Vyvyan, Esqrs., were elected 

 Fellows. 



Donations. — Among the principal donations received since the 

 former Meeting were, several Russian maps, and the Sardinian Staff 

 maps of the Crimea, presented by Felix Wakefield, Esq. ; the Ord- 



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