124 DISCOVERY BY PALLISER AND HECTOR [Feb. 14, 1859. 



expedition, and particularly to Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton for his kindness 

 in communicating this despatch to us, we ought to be proud of this im- 

 portant communication, for I venture to say that without the stimulus of the 

 Eoyal Geographical Society the expedition never would have been under- 

 taken. The object we geographers had at heart was to ascertain whether 

 practicable passes through the Eocky Mountains could be found within the 

 British territory. On the other hand, Her Majesty's Government very wisely 

 determined, as a prelude to such explorations, that Captain Palliser should 

 occupy a large portion of his time in determining the possibility of a com- 

 mercial route being established between Canada and the important possessions 

 of the Hudson Bay Company, and through the last to our now important 

 colony of British Columbia, and so on to Vancouver Island. The result of 

 the observations of our travellers as to the nature of the easternmost of their 

 explorations, and the relative altitudes of the ground, and the difficulties of 

 the portages, has been already laid before you. As your President, I would 

 rather wish to restrict the discussion to the nature of that great region to the 

 west of Lake Winnipeg, the region, in short, of the affluents of the North and 

 South Saskatchewan rivers, which, we are told, is capable of becoming a 

 great and important colony. Captain Palliser describes this region as being 

 fertile, capable of producing anything, and good crops of grain. 



The chief geographical feature to which I would call your attention is 

 the remarkable fact that where the Eocky Mountains rise to their highest 

 altitude, there are to be found the lowest depressions or passes ; so that while 

 the Americans in travelling to the central parts of California have to encounter 

 passes at 7000 feet above the sea, Englishmen may on their own ground 

 travel through gorges only 5000 feet above the sea. 



Gentlemen, there are several persons present who can give you much 

 information on this subject. For example, I see Mr. Ball, the Under Secre- 

 tary for the Colonies, who in the late Government was a most active organiser 

 of this expedition. Then we have a gentleman (Mr. Edward Ellice), a dis- 

 tinguished member of the Legislature, who has a large stake in the Hudson 

 Bay Company, which has for so many years governed the region with great 

 benefit to the poor Indians ; then we have also Lord Bury, who has recently 

 returned from America, and has earnestly studied this subject, and who is 

 emulating his noble father in his zeal for geographical science. Sir George Back 

 is also present, who is familiar with the eastern waterparting of the Eocky 

 Mountains ; whilst I hope that from the discussion which may ensue, the 

 Bishop designate of British Columbia, who has honoured us by his attendance, 

 may gain some useful knowledge preparatory to the important mission on 

 which, thanks to the liberality of one of the noblest and kindest of our country- 

 women, he is about to proceed. 



Mr. John Ball. — I feel that I can say but very little. It happened to be 

 my duty to assist in sending out this expedition, an expedition not due to the 

 Government, but to this Society. I must say that I feel great satisfaction 

 in the intelligence which we have recently received from them. For the first 

 time since nearly forty years they have traversed a district which has borne 

 a very ill name among white men, I mean the country of the Black Foot and 

 Blood Indians. That they have done so in safety is due in some degree to 

 favourable circumstances, but also to the great tact and skill of Mr. Palliser 

 in conciliating their affections. Arrived at the foot of the Eocky Mountains, 

 their expectations have been far more than realised. Not one pass, as they 

 supposed, but three practicable passes have been discovered. Two of them 

 seem to merit, in an especial degree, the attention of the public in this country; 

 because, since that expedition was sent out, great national interests have 

 become involved in the communication with the west coast of America, in 

 consequence of the gold discoveries in that far distant region. The new 



