The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-08-03
SCIENCE.
AN EXTENDED TOUR OF THE COUNTRY BY ENG
LISH SCIENTIFIC MEN TO BE NIADE-GREAT
BENEFITS EXPECTED THEREFRoM.

LIsH SCIENTIFIC MEN TO BE MADE-GREAT
| BENEFITS EXPECTED THEREFRoM.
DR.. J. D. Hooker, president of the
Royal Society of London, director of
the Kew Botanical Gardens, etc., and
Lieutenant-General Strachey, of the
Royal Bengal Engineers, and member
of the Council of India, have made ar
rangements, through friends in Wash
ington and elsewhere, for tour of sci
entific research this summer in Colo
rado, Utah, and California, in company
with Asa Gray, of Cambridge, the dis
tinguished botanist, and Professor
Leidy, of Philadelphia, the eminent
comparative anatomist, the result of
which will be communicated to our
government in the form of govern
mental reports.
DR.. Hooker's position as president of
the Royal Society has for number of
years made him the chief adviser of the
crown in all scientific matters pertain
ing to the government, and on the
! Queens last birthday he was knighted,
in consideration of his eminent scien-
tific services. He is also correspond
ing member of the Institute of France.
General Strachey has been for many
years a prominent member of the Royal
Geographical Society, and is now presi-
dent of the geographical section of the
British association for the advancement
of science. He is the author of several
books of travel, and has a worldwide
reputation as geographer.
Mrs. Hooker and Mrs. Strachey will
accompany their husbands. The former
was the widow of Sir William Jardin,
the eminent naturalist, and Mrs.
! Strachey is the daughter of Sir J. r.
Grant, formerly governor of Bengal,
and at a later period governor of Jamaica.
The party were to leave England
about the 2Sth ultimo, with the expecta-
tion of proceeding directly to Boston.
The results of the extended scientific
tour which has been thus arranged will,
it is believed, be of great interest and
value, and they will be attained en-
tirely at the private expense of the dis
tinguished gentlemen who compose the
expedition.
These distinguished European sci
entists will attach themselves to Profes-
sor Hayden's geological survey, in or
der to avail themselves of the knowl-
edge of those portions of the far West
over which the army has worked, and
over which they intend to travel. The
publication of this survey, with which
these scientists are familiar, has spread
a knowledge of our public domain
throughout the European countries, and
no doubt the information derived from
these reports has done much to induce
this visit by these renowned saUanS.
Reports on the Alpine flora, climatic
conditions and other subjects will be
prepared and submitted to our govern.
ment through the geological survey
and DR.. Hayden, who is, through nj:
works, we'll known abroad, and who
has been the recipient of the highest
encomiums from the most prominent
men and institutions in Europe.
1t is needless to refer to the high posi-
tion of Professor Asa Gray, an Ameri
can botanist, as every school in th'
land is taught the science of botany
through books on that subject derived
from Investigations made by him.
Professor Joseph Leidy, of Philadel
phia, is scientist of no less distinction
and is also widely known, both at hom
and abroad, as one of the most profoun,
comparative anatomists of the age. w
will look with more than ordinary in
terest for the reports to be made by tn
members of this party, as we are sur
they will give to the public information
of the rarest character.