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



tunities may occur. An assurance was also given that tlie journal 

 of the expedition shall be regularly communicated to this Society, 

 according as it shall be received at the Colonial Office. 



The departure of the expedition was somewhat delayed by the 

 sevare illness of Mr. Palliser, but he sailed with his companions on 

 the 9th of May, and information has been received of their arrival at 

 New York in good health and with their instruments in working 

 order. 



During the present season it is intended that they should proceed 

 fi-om Fort William on Lake Superior to Lake Winnipeg and Fort 

 Garry, examining en route some portion of the watershed between 

 Lake Superior and Eainy Lake. From Fort Garry the expedition 

 will proceed westward to the head waters of the Assiniboine Eiver, 

 and will explore some portion of the country between the southern 

 branch of the Saskatchewan and the boundary of the United States, 

 turning to the northward to winter at Carlton House Fort. 



The summer of 1858 is to be employed in traversing the country 

 of the Blackfeet and Blood Indians, between the two branches of the 

 Saskatchewan, tracing the southern branch to the foot of the Rocky 

 Mountains, and in endeavouring to settle the disputed question as to 

 the existence of a practicable pass in the chain, between the Kootaine 

 Pass south of the 49th parallel, and the Pass between Mount Brown 

 and Mount Hooker, more frequently used by the servants of the 

 Hudson Bay Company. 



Apart from the public interest which belongs to the exploration 

 of a large and important portion of British territory, it is impossible 

 not to anticipate valuable additions to natural science from the 

 united labours of the members of this expedition, and to feel propor- 

 tional satisfaction, that Government should have seen the propriety 

 of complying with our recommendation by fitting it out in an 

 efficient manner. 



Let me add, that the establishment of a direct line of intercourse 

 between our Canadian possessions and Vancouver Island, which 

 being 250 miles in length, contains good ports and valuable coal- 

 seams, is not the least important of the national interests connected 

 with this survey. 



United States. — The omission at our last anniversary of the pro- 

 gress made in the Coast Surveys of the United States, was owing to 

 the circumstance that the Reports of it had not been received. 

 Since that date, however, the Society has received from Professor 

 A. D. Bache, the Superintendent of the Coast Survey, the Report 



