ΤΟ JOHN RAE, ESQ. M.D. F.R.G.S. CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, ETC ETC. MY DEAR DR. RAE, I would ask you, in glancing over the following pages, which I do myself the honour of Dedicating to you, to bear in mind, that, as the circumstances of the Colonies to which they relate will necessarily vary with every fresh discovery and political change from year to year, and even from month to month, a studied composition would have been but labour lost. From abundant material I have endeavoured to select facts sufficient to support the opinions expressed, the whole being so roughly put together as to constitute a mere temporary literary structure, which I hope at leisure hours in the Colonies to rebuild and reproduce in a more complete and perfect form. I take the liberty of associating your name with the volume, not simply on account of private friendship or personal admiration, nor because you are familiar with and take a deep interest in the subject of it; but influenced in doing so by this additional motive: Arctic enterprise, in which you have taken so distinguished a part, may be said to be practically at an end; the idea revives painful recollections only,-of cold unendurable, ships abandoned, famine, and the tomb; and I had hopes of enlisting those energies, deprived of their object, but still unimpaired notwithstanding the hardships you have undergone, in an enterprise of great national importance,—that of connecting England, via the Canadas, Red River Colony, Sascatchewan, British Columbia, and Vancouver Island, with Australia, by one unbroken chain of commercial and postal communication. That the undertaking, large as it may sound, is far from being impracticable, will, I am persuaded, be inferred from the evidence adduced. But it is to individual exertion and private enterprise that we must look for the realisation of the project, towards the accomplishment of which it seems certain that the interests of various classes of the community and the assistance of Governments will not be invoked in vain. I remain, my dear Dr. Rae, Very sincerely yours, J. DESPARD PEMBERTON. PARSONAGE HOUSE, KENSALL GREEN, LONDON: August 20, 1860. CONTENTS. General Appearance of the Country.- Salt Water and Fresh Water Navigation. Land: Proportion of Open Land and Waste.- Flora.- Fertility.- Profits of Cultivation. - Stock. Timber.- Minerals and Rocks.- Gold in British Columbia, Vancouver Island, and Queen Charlotte's Island.- Coal on the Pacific, Iron, Copper, Institution of the Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Colum- bia Their Progress traced, and compared with that of the adjoining American States Their Commerce. England and America respectively, with regard to their Posses- Proposed British Emigrant and Postal Route to the Pacific, from Canada, south of the Lakes, through Red River and British Columbia to Vancouver Island.- Climate of the proposed Route. Journal of a Tour across Vancouver Island, from Nimkish River to vice 143 Report of an Excursion from Cowichan Harbour to Nitinat, by Extract from Journal of Captain Vancouver on the Country in the Neighbourhood of Point Breakers. Report of Major William Downie of a Tour from Port Essington to The Months most favourable for doubling Cape Horn from either Professor James Tennant on the Rocks of Vancouver Island, Page 160 Naval Station of the Pacific Squadron (Times' Correspondent, June 26, 1860.). I. Map of British Columbia and Queen Charlotte's Island to face title-page. II. Map of Vancouver Island, and Diagram of Esquimalt and Vic- Page 56 |