322 SIR RODERICK T. MURCHISON'S ADDRESS— AMERICA. [Mat 23, 1859. 



cently attached the name of British ColTimbia, geographers have as 

 yet but a scant and very imperfect account. Its first great explorer 

 was my honoured countryman Mackenzie, who, traversing the Eocky 

 Mountains, and reaching the sea after incredible labour, left us an 

 excellent record of his exploits. Since that time agents of the 

 Hudson Bay Company, including its Governor, Sir G. Simpson, 

 have passed through this region ; Mr. D. Thompson having partially 

 surveyed it. 



In our own volumes we find first, a slight sketch of the Columbia 

 Eiver, or notes made by Dr. Gardner at Vancouver Island and Fort 

 William in the year 1835 ; then a few observations by Dr. Scouler 

 on the indigenous tribes of the country, distinguishing the fish- eat- 

 ing and well-fed race of the coast from the hunters of the interior. 

 In later years Mr. Douglas, one of the able men brought up by 

 the Hudson Bay Company, and who has recently been appointed 

 Governor of British Columbia, gave us the first sketch of the east 

 side of the island discovered by Vancouver, and also of the Straits of 

 Juan de Fuca ; and Colonel Grant described that island much more 

 in detail, giving also an account of its natural history and geological 

 structure.* Then, again, the bold exploring botanist, the late 

 D. Douglas, who fell a victim to his zeal, visited parts of the Eocky 

 Mountains, collecting many fine plants, including the noble Douglasia 

 pine, and assigning, as before said, the names of his eminent friends 

 Brown and Hooker to the highest parts of that chain. 



With the exception, however, of the description of Mackenzie, t we 

 still remained very ignorant of the greater part of the region now 

 known as British Columbia, and probably would have so remained 

 many years longer, but for the accidental discovery of gold in the 

 bed and on the banks of the Frazer Eiver. So many diggers and 

 speculators soon rushed to the tract, that it became necessary to raise 

 the whole country into the rank of a colony, by separating it altogether 

 from the influence of the Hudson Bay Company. 



The printed papers communicated to Parliament in the last year, 

 being accompanied by a map of the gold region, give us a fresh 

 insight into the progress which has already been made in establish- 

 ing this new colony. In these documents we are pleased to find, 



♦ Whilst this Address is going through the press, a geological description of a part of 

 Vancouver Island by Mr. Bauermann has been transmitted to me. It now appears 

 that the coal before spoken of, like that of New Zealand, is of tertiary age. 



t Avoch, the property and birthplace of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, who was knighted 

 for his grand explorations in North America, like my own birthplace, Taradale, is in the 

 Black Isle of Ross-shire. 



