136 
BOTANICAL EXPEDITION TO NORTH AMERICA. 
" To James Keith, Esq., and the Gentlemen in charge of the District Posts in the 
Hudson s Bay Company's service. 
Gentlemen, — Mr. Banks and Mr. Wallace proceed to Canada, and from thence by 
the Company's craft to Fort Vancouver, for the purpose of collecting seeds and plants. 
The Governor and Committee feel much interested in the object of their mission, which 
is patronised by several persons of high distinction in this country. I have therefore to 
request that every assistance and facility that may be required by Mr. Wallace and 
Mr. Banks, towards the accomplishment of the object in view, be afforded them. From 
La Chine they are to proceed with the Brigade to Norway House, and to be provided 
with tent, bedding, &c. &c, and to mess, on the voyage and at the establishments, at the 
officers' tables on the route. And wherever they may be they are to have any supplies 
they may require, and assistance in men, craft, and horses, in any excursion they may 
wish to make, within the range of the Company's districts or hunting grounds. Any seeds 
they may wish to send over-land, are to be conveyed to York Factory ; and should they 
wish to separate at Vancouver, the one to proceed coastwise, and the other to accompany 
any of our trapping expeditions to the southward, the necessary accommodation is to be 
afforded them. All necessaries and supplies that may be furnished them are to be 
charged to the account of Mr. Joseph Paxton, at the usual sale prices, as per the 
Company's Servants' Tariff. Horses are to be furnished them at the same charge, and the 
wages of any servants they may require. In short, there is to be an account opened for 
them in the name of Joseph Paxton, at any establishment where they may require 
supplies, to which will be charged whatsoever may be furnished them, except for their 
maintenance while at the establishments, for which no charge is to be made. And I 
have to beg that they may be treated with every kind attention and hospitality, and that 
every assistance and facility be afforded them. With esteem, I remain, &c, 
H. Simpson. 
Hudson's Bay House, 
London, Vlth March, 1838." 
Upon the arrival of Messrs. Wallace and Banks in New York, they proceeded 
by various modes of conveyance, to Montreal ; and from thence reached La Chine, 
a short distance from the last named town, on the 27th of April, 1838. Here 
they were detained by the ice till the 2nd of the following May, of which oppor- 
tunity they availed themselves to write home, detailing their journeyings and 
notifying their safe arrival thus far, testifying to the kindly reception and attentions 
they experienced, and stating their enjoyment, after recovery from sea-sickness, of 
"the best of health." On the above day they commenced their route to the 
Columbia River, and the last letters received from them were dated Norway 
House (a station of the Hudson's Bay Company referred to by Governor Simpson), 
July 20th ; by which epistles they appear to have been absorbed in the necessary 
arrangements, and indulging a sanguine anticipation of reaping " a most glorious 
harvest." 
They left this post a few days afterwards, and had descended a considerable 
distance down the Columbia River, when on the 22nd of October the distressing 
