1893. | NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 155 
Notwithstanding Dr. Newberry’s flattering success as a physi- 
cian his inclination toward scientific work was unconquerable, 
and it is evident from the following extract that his heart was 
not in his medical practice: ‘‘ A conversation with him in his 
Cleveland office abont two years after he opened it indicates his 
modesty and his high standard of attainment. He was asked, 
by me whether he intended to make the practice of medicine 
the work of his life. His answer was, ‘no, I am prosecuting 
my studies with the hope that some day I may be able to fill a 
place like Professor St. John’s.’ ’’* 
In 1855 he left his practice and accepted the position of 
geologist and botanist on the government expedition to northern 
California and Oregon, under Lieut. Williamson. The party 
left New York May 5, 1855, reached San Francisco May 380, and 
began field work, having reference to a route for the Pacific 
Railroad, near Benicia July 10th. Passing northward through 
the Sacramento Valley, and by the Klamath lakes, they reached 
the Columbia River October 9th, but detached parties were in 
the field until the middle of November. The party returned 
to Washington, D. C., late in January, 1856. Dr. Newberry 
made large collections in geology, botany and zoology and 
spent the following year in Washington preparing his report, 
which is contained in the sixth volume of the Pacific Railroad 
Reports. 
In 1856-7 he was Professor of Chemistry and Natural History 
in the Columbian College, Washington, D, C.f 
Dr. Newberry had scarcely completed hisreport of the Wil- 
liamson expedition before he became the physician and natur- 
alist of the Colorado Exploring Expedition under Lieut. Jos. C. 
Ives. In charge of one detachment he left San Francisco 
October 28, 1857, by coast steamer for San Diego and crossed 
the desert to Fort Yuma, where he awaited the main body of 
the party, which sailed from San Francisco four days later, and 
after much delay by adverse winds in the Gulf of California 
reached the mouth of the Colorado November 29, and there 
putting together a small iron steamboat, carried in sections 
from Philadelphia, arrived at Fort Yuma January 9, 1858. 
During this delay Dr. Newberry had employed his time in 
exploring the surrounding region and in making valuable scien- 
tific collections, The expedition steamed up the Colorado river 
as far as the mouth of the Black Canon, which was reached 
* Extract from a letter.to the writer by Hoff. M. C. Read, of Hudson, Ohio. 
t In some publications it is incorrectly stated that he held this position until 
1866. He beld it only one year as here stated. 
