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be highly desirable if arrangements could be entered into, by which he might be taken to some one of the Northern stations where our vessels touch, by the annual Expedition or tour of the governor from Sitka.  I mention this as I understand that none of the company's vessels will touch at Sitka.  Mr. Bannister was brought from New Westminster by the Milton Badger, having been transferred from Major Popes command.  He was left as assistant storekeeper to Mr. Bean at St. Michaels; and was supplied with instruments to make meteorological observations; which his previous experience at the Smithsonian Institution will render very valuable.  Mr. Kennicott with his party were left on the eve of departure for the Russian post of Nulato on the great bend below the rapids on the Youkon River.  It is very doubtful if the exigencies of the service have allowed them to do any Natural History work so far.  On the completion of the voyage by our arrival at San Francisco, some fifteen large boxes were forwarded to the Smithsonian Institution.  They contained some ten thousand specimens of all descriptions, many of them unique or nearly so and of great value to naturalists.  At my own expense, with the permission of Col. Bulkley, I made a visit to Monterey Cal. for the purpose of collecting and succeeded beyond expectations, surpassing all previous collections in the number and variety of specimens obtained.  They have been forwarded to the Smithsonian Institution.  Through the far sighted liberality of Col. Bulkley an excellent but not extravagant outfit, for the future has been obtained.  The liberal and enlightened policy of the