* 
154 
write to the Rev. Narcisse Duran, the Pre- 
fect of the Order in California, an amiable 
and learned man, who will receive him 
kindly, and do him the most signal service. 
I shall write likewise to Mr. Hartnel, an 
English gentleman, in whose house I lived 
at Montérey, who will also aid him. I may 
have an opportunity of addressing some of 
. the Principals of the American Fur Com- 
pany, to several of whom I am personally i 
known; they are generally intelligent and 
kind-hearted men, much disposed to be 
useful. This I can easily do; for I am re- 
garded by them as halfan American, having 
spent so many years in the New World. 
Mr. Garry is exceedingly kind to me: 
I have also received a long letter from 
Capt. Sabine, dated Charlemont Fort, Ire- 
land, full of kindness. Nothing can be 
more gratifying to me than to be remem- 
bered by old friends after the lapse of so 
many months, and when so far apart. Capt. 
Sabine goes so far as to say, that he can 
suggest to me no improvement in the man- 
ner of taking my astronomical or other ob- 
servations, or in the way of recording them. 
He has shown them to the excellent Capt. 
Beaufort, who also expressed his approba- 
tion of them, and has (I fear, too partially) 
done the same officially to Mr. Hay at the 
Colonial Office. Capt. Sabine feels, I am 
sensible, too true a regard for my welfare 
not to point out my faults, and as this let- 
ter adverts to none, I may take it for grant- 
ed, I trust, that he is well pleased with me. 
I have received a copy of Capt. Beechey's 
book. I entertain a great respect for that 
gentleman, but I think he has been too se- 
vere on the Catholic Missionaries in Cali- 
fornia. Any man who can make himself 
well understood by them, either in Castilian 
or Latin, will discover very shortly that they 
are people who know something more than 
their mass-book, and who practise many be- 
nevolent acts, which are not a little to their 
credit, and ought to soften the judgment of 
the stranger, who has probably had more 
- count has already been given in the first volume of 
this Journal. It was at one time thon i 
: ght he might 
reach the Pacifie from the Mississippi, by way of = 
lifornia. But it was otherwise ordained. 
er 1 
* 
MR. DOUGLAS' SECOND VISIT TO THE COLUMBIA. 
opportunity of seeing men and t| 
the poor priests of California. Tl 
are the errors of their profession, 
of their hearts, and I thus make 
say so, having had reason to know 
individuals in question are honoura 
ceptions to priests in general . I 
friend to Catholicism, still I should 
to maintain my own opinion witho: 
nand Deppe,! of Berlin, whom I ] 
pleasure to meet in California, Fi 
M. Deppe devoted his time wholly 
tural History, Zoology in particul 
now he is partly engaged in me 
pursuits. In Mr. Klotzsch's favour 
out of Europe, and I fear little can 
fected until he, or some one af equal 
express purpose—-at least, we can 
look for a collection from such a soure 
What a blank we have in the dep 
of sea-weeds! You must still look to 
Menzies as the main stay, though y 
find some fine species in my collection 
the coast of California. Fearing I 
have it in my power to visit the 
groupes of islands, so particularl 
this class of vegetables on the N 
parts of the continent, I have ¥ : 
all friends, American as well Los y 
residing there, and requested them 
lect every thing in the shape of ‘ 
and that I may put them to as little 
as possible, I have told them — 
They 
dryness of its climate, our SU 
cease. Perhaps no where else in 
is such drought felt, if we exce 
serts of Arabia, Egypt, and the P 
Ispahan ; and what we know of these 
work also contains some interesting 
excursions. 
