460 SIR RODERICK I. MURCHISON'S ADDRESS. [May 25, 1857. 



North Australian expedition, now happily completed under the di- 

 rection of Her Majesty's Government, was a child of the Eoyal 

 Geographical Society. 



North America. 



British Possessions. — The gradual advance of civilized man to- 

 wards the remoter regions of North-western America, has long 

 drawn the attention of geographers to those extensive tracts, still 

 distant from the settled country, which afford an almost undisturbed 

 asylum to the aboriginal population of the continent. It would 

 scarcely be credited, that within the limits of British America, a 

 region including at least 112,000 square miles, extending from the 

 head waters of the Assiniboine Eiver to the foot of the Eocky 

 Mountains, and from the northern branch of the Saskatchewan to the 

 49th parallel of latitude, our boundary with the United States, has 

 remained almost completely unexplored. 



The comparative scarcity of fur-bearing animals in this portion of 

 the territory of the Hudson Bay Company, the warlike character 

 of the Indians, and other causes, have alike contributed to prolong 

 our ignorance of lands which may, at no distant time, become the 

 home of thousands of our countrymen. 



Mr. Palliser, a traveller, who had already spent a considerable 

 time in the neighbouring districts of the Upper Missouri, and whose 

 adventures as a sportsman form the subject of a popular work, 

 conceived the project of employing two years in the exploration of 

 the tract to which I have referred, along with the adjoining portion 

 of the Eocky Mountains. 



Mr. Palliser's original intention was, as I have understood, to 

 undertake this journey at his own expense and with no other com- 

 panions than those whom he might engage as voyageurs and hunters 

 to join him in traversing the Indian territory. Having, however, 

 addressed himself to our Secretary, his proposal was at once brought 

 before the notice of the Council, by the direction of which it was 

 referred to our Expedition Committee and fully discussed. In con- 

 sequence of this a letter was directed by myself on the 6th of 

 January to the Eight Hon. Henry Labouchere, the Secretary of the 

 Colonies, in which the Council strongly advocated the exploration 

 of that portion of British North America between the parallels of 

 49° and 53° N. latitude and 100° to 115° W. longitude. The chief 

 objects of the exploration were then stated to be — 



]st. To survey the water-parting between the basins of the 



