PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTI'lU'lR. 79 



world the two most important works on the natural history of northern Canada, 

 the Fauna Boreali- Americana of Dr. John Richardson, Franklin's co-explorer and 

 others, published 1829-1837, and the Flora Boreali-Americana of Sir William 

 Hooker, 1833-1840. 



In 1857, Captain John Palliser was commissioned by the Secretary of State to 

 "conduct an expedition for exploring that portion of British North America which 

 lies between the northern branch of the River Saskatchewan and the frontier of the 

 United States, and between the Red River and the Rocky ^Mountains," with per- 

 mission to go through the mountains to the Pacific. He had as associates in the 

 expedition Dr. Hector as geologist, Lieutenant Blakiston as astronomer, and ]Mons. 

 Bourgeau as botanist, who, acting under instructions from Sir Roderick Murchison 

 and Sir William Hooker, were to be the scientific members of the party. Palliser 

 had in 1847 and succeeding years, hunted among the Indians of our North-West and 

 knew the country, so that during 1857, 1858 and 1859, the various routes travelled 

 by Palliser, Blakiston and Hector, together and separately, pretty well covered the 

 country south of the Saskatchewan from Lake Superior to the Rocky INIouutains 

 and also through many of the passes and valleys beyond. In the various blue- 

 books* which resulted, much valuable information is put on record, and of Dr. 

 Hector's work, Dr. G. M. Dawson, in his Boundary Commission report hereafter 

 referred to, says : "To him the first really trustwoi-thy general geological maj) of 

 the interior portion of British North America is due ; and he has besides accumu- 

 lated a great mass of geological observations, the significance of many of which 

 appears as the country is more thoroughly explored." 



Captain Palliser thought it worth while to explore this country and to report 

 elaborately upon the future prospects of civilization, but while his recommendations 

 as to necessary steps are generally sound he certainly did not overestimate its 

 possibilities. On the subject of confederation he writes in the report of 1800 : 

 " Much has been talked about, but perhaps less really thought of, the union of the 

 British North American Provinces, a scheme which, although in the present age 

 might be thought somewhat speculative, may yet not only be projected but accom- 

 plished. But it must be a work of time, and such time as many may become 

 impatient even in contemplating." Regarding telegraphic comnuinication he 

 writes : "It would be ridiculous to expect for many years to come a continuous 

 railway communication throughout this immense distance, but from the fact of over 

 one-fourth of the distance being now complete, and considering the inc-alcidable 

 benefit the United Kingdom and her distant colonies would derive from connection 

 by telegraph, I am encouraged to advocate warmly the carrying out of this enter- 

 prise. ' ' 



In the same year, 1857, when Captain Palliser received instructions fi-om the 

 British Government, the Canadian Government commissioned George Gladman, 

 Director, Henry Youle Hind, Geologist, W. H. E. Napier. Engineer, and S. J. 

 Dawson, Surveyor, to "make a thorough examination of the tract of country 

 between Lake Superior and Red River." This was done in 1857. In 1858 the 

 Government commissioned Messrs. Hind and Dawson to extend their explorations 

 to the country "west of Lake Winnipeg and Red River, and embraced (or nearly 



repoi'ts appes 



published in an extended and attractive form the results of his labours in two 

 handsome volumes. + Professor Hind, like Captain Palliser and Sir Alexander 



' " Papers Relative to Exploration by C.-iptain Palliser of that portion of British North .Vmerica." etc. 

 British Blue Book, 1859. 



" Further Papers," etc., in continuation of abox'e, i860. 



"Journal," etc., in continuation of above, 1863. 



" Index and Maps," etc., in continuation of above, 1865. 



t "Report on the Exploration of the Country between Lake Superior and the Red River Settlement." 

 Canadian Blue Book, 1857. British Blue Book. 1859. 



"Report of the .\ssinniboine and Saskatchewan Expedition." Can.idian Blue Book. 1859. British Blue 

 Book, i860. 



: "Narrative of the Canadian Red River Exploring Expedition of 1857 and of the Assinniboiiie and Sas- 

 katchewan Exploring Expedition of 1858." H. V. Hind. 2 vols., Longmans, London, i860. 



