282 Dr, HooJcer on American Botany. 



the hands of Mr Lambert, contains plants gathered by the 

 Russians in the Aleutian isles ; and De Candolle has published, 

 in his Prodromus, some interesting individuals, communicated 

 by Dr. Fischer from the same neighbourhood. 



More ample materials may confidently be looked for from 

 the following sources : — The great attention already bestowed 

 during former voyages by Captain Parry and his officers, to 

 the vegetable productions of the Arctic regions, would alone 

 warrant us in expecting that the same desire will be felt dur- 

 ing the present expedition, to contribute all in their power to 

 the natural history of the countries which they explore. But 

 we have further the assurance of the distinguished commander 

 of the expedition himself, in the last letter which we received 

 from him, dated Whale Fish Islands, July 1, that no exertion 

 should be wanting on his part to secure every species of plant 

 that may be met with in the course of the voyage. 



The Horticultural Society of London have despatched one 

 of their most able collectors to the mouth of the Columbia, 

 David Douglas, who was formerly one of the head gardeners 

 at the Glasgow botanical garden. He had, immediately pre- 

 vious to his being sent on the present expedition, done him- 

 self great credit, and given his employers the highest satis- 

 faction, during his mission to the United States, for the pur- 

 pose of procuring plants and fruits for the society. His un- 

 dertaking is now a far more arduous one, and one in which 

 we know that no exertions on his part will be wanted to bring 

 it to a successful issue. After spending the ensuing season 

 in collecting on the north-west coast, through nearly ten de- 

 grees of latitude, he will cross the Rocky Mountains in lat. 

 55°, and fall in with Captain Franklin's line of route at Isle 

 de la Crosse, and return overland with that enterprising offi- 

 cer to Hudson's Bay. 



The Hudson's Bay Company, with a liberality that reflects 

 the highest credit upon them, made application and provision 

 for a surgeon to one of their ships, who, to his medical know- 

 ledge should have added the acquirement of natural history, 

 particularly of botany. It was our good fortune to have in 

 view, at the period when the application was made to us, a 

 young man every way qualified for such a situation, Mr. 

 Scouler, unquestionably one of our ablest botanical students. 

 He embarked for the north-west coast of America in the 

 month of July of this year (1S24,) and will be absent alto- 

 gether two vears. 



