| RefNo | MS/257/4/9 |
| AltRefNo | Sa.1138 |
| Previous numbers | ES4/1/1138 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | 'Observations taken on the western coast of North America by the late Mr David Douglas, with a report on his papers by Major Edward Sabine [Royal Artillery]' |
| Date | [1837] |
| Description | Remarks on Douglas’s work and livelihood until 1823, his recommendation by Sir William Jackson Hooker to Joseph Sabine, Honorary Secretary of the London Horticultural Society to select and bring to England ‘a collection of plants from the United States of America’. Sabine describes his initial communication with Douglas in regard to his explorative work in America and remarks on Douglas’s success. Refers to Douglas’s subsequent work with the Society and the Hudson’s Bay Company. Sabine refers to the hundreds of species of plants ‘suited’ to Britain’s climate ‘the growth of seeds’ sent by Douglas to the Society, introducing these plants to Europe for the first time. Refers to the Society’s popularity due to Douglas’s success.
Sabine describes Douglas’s subsequent work with the Society to find the ‘highest latitude’ ‘safe to attain on the western side of the Rocky Mountains’. Sabine recalls Douglas expressing regret at his limited education which prevented him from to ‘render those services to the geographical and physical sciences’ and his ‘inability to fix geographical positions’. Sabine suggested Douglas could attain the knowledge he wanted in the three months prior to his departure and offered to ‘devote’ his time to this. Description of Douglas’s knowledge and Sabine’s instructions to him. Sabine comments on his ability to carry out his duties and research in Columbia.
Sabine remarks Douglas’s journey in October 1829 ‘in one of the Hudson Bay Company’s ships, bound to the Columbia River round Cape Horn’. Sabine includes extracts of a letter he received from Douglas dated October 1830 on his arrival to Columbia, regarding Douglas’s voyage, instructions, and observations.
Describes Douglas’s habits of entering observations on lithographed forms and his intentions for geographical observations. Includes extracts of a letter from Douglas describing losing his botanical collection, journal and works in June 1833.
Comments on Douglas’s journey to the Sandwich Islands ‘at the close of 1833’ ‘on his way to Europe’. Reference to Douglas’s ‘classification of the plants of that remarkable Island in zones according their elevation above the sea’. Douglas measured the altitude and peaks of ‘Mouna Roa’, ‘Mowna Kash and the volcano of Kiraueah [Kīlauea]’. Sabine describes the contents of the last letter he received from Douglas. Refers to Sir William Jackson Hooker’s account of Douglas’s death and his ‘effects’ sent by the British Consul at the Sandwich Islands. |
| Extent | 17p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA8279 | Sabine; Sir; Edward (1788 - 1883) | 1788 - 1883 |