| Reference number | MS/257/2/22 |
| Alternative reference number | Sa.404 |
| Previous numbers | ES2/8/404 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from David Douglas, River Columbia to [Edward Sabine] |
| Date | 26 September 1832 |
| Description | Douglas thanks Sabine for his kindness. Douglas left England three years ago and since has not heard from anyone, but on his arrival to River Columbia from the [Hawaiian Islands, colonial name Sandwich Islands], Douglas received a number of letters from his old friend Dr [William Jackson Hooker] through Sabine. Describes and compliments the new ‘Flora’ as being ‘no less creditable to the government under whose immediate patronage it is given to the world’.
Updates Sabine regarding his travels, spending the last two years in upper California and describes the nature of the country. Douglas describes the ‘mighty’ streams of Columbia, its beauty, the sky, the weather, reference to its nature. Remarks on certain fruit thriving in the land. Douglas refers to the ‘Padras’ as an ‘excellent class of men’. Douglas describes the vast collection of different species of plants, refers to birds and quadrupeds. Reference to collecting different specimens, to be used by ‘Worker’ with material for two more volumes of the Flora, as well as 10 new Columbia plants for him.
Douglas informs Sabine a large number of sea otters are caught on the coast of California, in 1831 there were approximately 5,000. Beavers are rare and the fur ‘poor’, and they ‘sell it by weight’. Comments on the trade in California. |
| Extent | 4p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| Physical description | Ink on paper |
| Access status | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA8279 | Sabine; Sir; Edward (1788 - 1883) | 1788 - 1883 |