In the meantime Mr. Lally, one of the first assistants, was directed to proceed to Bangor, in Maine, for the purpose of procuring boats and men to manage them.  These were obtained and brought down the Penobscot to Castine, where they were on the 8th June embarked in the vessel which carried the rest of the party, and which had orders to call at that port for the purpose.  The experience of the previous year had manifested the great superiority of the bateaux of the Penobscot over all other vessels in the navigation of shallow and rapid rivers.  The physical energy and enterprise of the boatmen of that river had also been known.  It was believed that it was not only essential that a considerable proportion of the laboring force should be American citizens, but that much good would result from emulation between the boatmen of the Penobscot and the Canadian voyageurs.  This expectation was in a great degree confirmed by the result, for although it must be stated with regret that it became necessary at an early period to discharge some of the Americans, the remainder were models of intelligence, sobriety, industry, and perseverance, and entered into the work, not with the feelings of hired laborers, but with those of men who felt that the interest of their country was at stake.

3.  The commissioner did not leave New York until 30th of June, being delayed in expectation of more instruments.  A part of these only had arrived, but further delay might have been injurious.  Proper instructions had been given for setting the party in motion in case it could be organized before he joined it, but these were rendered nugatory by the length of the vessel’s passage.  This did not reach Metis till 7th July, so that the commissioner, arriving on the 9th, was in time to direct the first operations in person.  The stores, boats, and instruments had been landed and partially carried to a camp on the river above the falls.  A heavy rain on the 10th July rendered the roads almost impassable, and it was not till the morning of the 12th that the first detachment could be embarked.  This was comprised of Dr. O. Goodrich, the assistant commissary, two surveyors, and an assistant engineer.  The first was in charge of stores sufficient for six weeks’ consumption.  The surveyors had orders to survey the river for the purpose of connecting it with the line of exploration, and the latter was directed to make barometric observations.  The commissioner and the remaining engineers were detained at Metis by the necessary astronomic observations.  These being completed, the instruments, camp equipage, and a portion of the stores were embarked, and the main body proceeded up the river about noon on the 15th July.