Departure of the Expedition

The British Columbian, June 15, 1864

The gunboat Forward arrived on Monday evening and left yesterday morning, taking the party of 40 volunteers for the Bentinck expedition. Mr. Brew, who has been appointed to command the expedition, went down last week to make certain preparations at Victoria and will join the party at Esquimalt, where they will embark on board H.M. ship Sutlej. His Excellency Governor Seymour accompanies this expedition and intends passing through the Chilicooten country and proceeding as far as Cariboo. It may appear to some a daring adventure for His Excellency to undertake this journey at the present moment, passing, as he does, through the Chilicooten territory, but we are disposed to look upon it as a most wise course, and we have no doubt that the presence of His Excellency will exert a most salutary influence upon the Indians, and greatly facilitate any negotiations with the tribe for the rendition of the murderers. And, besides, it will enable the culprits, should they be secured, to be strung up on the first tree - as a certain venerable Victoria D. D. would say - a lesson which would be most effectual if done in the presence of the tribe to which they belong.