RK-922

Steamer Geo S. Wright Ft St Michals. Norton Sound Russian America Sept 9th/65

My Dear Mother

Thank God we are here at last. Col Bulkley has given me my final orders (quite satisfactory ones) they direct me to do what I can!) and tomorrow morning I'll be landed at the Fort here with three of my men - The rest of my party (which now consists of 12 besides Bannister & the Store keeper left here) will be here on the Barque Golden Gate in a few days. - I then - and not till then - will organize my plans. Our line of operations will extend from Bherings straits to the head of the Frazers River though we will only explore this winter.

I shall go through safely and do my work well. - I have here at Ft St Michals a comfortable place with plenty of provisions, upon which I can always fall back easily -

Despite[strikethrough] The man[strikethrough] Russian about whom Jones wrote me as having visited Ft Youkon the year after I was there, is now here - He went from one of the posts on the Kvikpak up the River to Ft Youkon and returned - Thus proving[strikethrough] removing every shadow of a doubt as to the identity of the two rivers Kvikpak & Youkon - Tho I've never doubted the matter myself, Col Bulkley has always been dubious as to the correctness of my views on this as other subjects.

I think his opinion of me is improving recently. I think if my views had been followed with regard to the outfit it would have been better but I have enough for my own and my party's comfort tho not all I need for the company's interest. - That is with better outfit I could do better work. -

My feelings & spirits have gone up beyond all comparison over my state of mind in San Francisco and on the way up - I can now do[underlined] something[underlined], without being stopped by some d-d

D-d jealousy or red tape humbug. - I cannot say whether I will go through to San Francisco or not - I think it quite probable that I will do so, however, though I may go only to Lake Babine and turn back from there, where my letters will be sent to meet me. - In case I should not reach Babine (head of Frazer River) by March my letters will be sent back to Victoria by[strikethrough] Col[strikethrough] and brought to me here in July by Col Bulkley - If I do not go out to Frisco this winter I will spend next May & June on Norton Sound. - Though very possibly I may even reach Frisco in time to turn back and he[strikethrough] walk to here again by June 1st.

But all this is to be decided hereafter -

Ft Youkon is only about 700 miles from here by land - that is an easy walk for me if I cannot make it in the steamer. - I now scarce dare hope to get

get beyond Nulato by open water - Nulato a Russian fort at the big sharp bend of the Youkon where it turns to flow south is only about 200 miles or less from here across land though it is 500 around by the Kvikpak Nulato we estimate at 500 miles below Ft Youkon. -

I beg that you will never let any newspaper men get hold of any of my letters - Col Bulkley is very[underlined] particular about keeping all our movements and observations "mum". Indeed it is only fair to the stockholders that they have the benefit of the first knowledge of our discoveries - My opinions about the success of the line remain the same as they were a year since - except that it[strikethrough] as we[strikethrough] have lost[underlined] this[underlined] summer[underlined]! it will now take till the fall of 1867 to finish the line - well they can peg along in their own fashion!

Tell Bruno and Flint they must[underlined] study the higher mathamatics before they go into life - Bruno especially - I find myself no little bothered by my want of mathamatical knowledge. - I've had very hard work to learn to use a sextant etc -

I'm well & Jolly and getting Jollier fast!

Love to you all & lots of it.

Bob.

[page turned] Ill of course write again by the Golden Gate - Please send this to Prof Baird if you get it before you do my letters by the Golden Gate. but dont let news paper folk see it.