The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-02-28
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES
Hedasaay, Fsbraayyls.
TJc fahosvixs nse0Sge scas reeeived. from tie Pre-
..s is tg fluent Of tie u. States.
TO tie S.nese and Hoyls ofReprsentatiprs eftbe
,.a sy.d t..a u. Slater. 31;
IN purfuancc Of a meafnre propofed to Con.
srets by a. mrGage of January Ia. sos, aud
ianetioned by their appropriation for carrying
i into execution, Capt. Meriwether Lewis Of
the itt regiment of infantry was appointed,
viii party of men, to explore the river Milf
Iouri, from its mouth to its fource, and croft
ing the highlands by the fliorteft portage, to
Actk the belt water communication thence to
the Pacific ocean; and Lieut.. Clark was ap-
printed fecopd in command. They were to
enter into conference with the Indian nations
o., their route, with view tn the Establishment
OF commerce with them. They entered the
Miuouri May Ia, 1904, and on the IT of No
sember, took up their winter quarters near the
Mandan towns, 1909 miles above the mouth
OF the river, in lat. ~ deg 2l min. AZ fec. north,
& long. % deg. "a. m. IS fec. wet from Green.
wich. On the 9th of April, 1905, they pro-
ceeded up the river in purfuance of the objects
prefcr'bed to them. A letter of the preceding
DAY April z, from capt. Lewis, is herewith COM
municated. During his fay among the Man.
dams, he had been able to lay down the MitIou-
n, according to courfes and diftances taken on
his paifage up It, corrected by frequent OFFER
vations OF longitude and latitude and to add
to the actual furvey Of this portion of the river,
a general map of the country, between the
tliihiiippi and Pacific, from the saith TO the saith
degrees OF latitude. Thefe additions are from
information collected from Indians with whom
ne had opportunities of communicating, during
his journey and reidence with them. Copies
vt tins map are now preiented TO both houfes OF
Congrefs. With theie ] communicate alto a
HaHitical view, procured and forwarded bv
him. OF the Indian nations inhahiting the ter
rtosy OF Louiiiana, and the countries adjacent
10 ITS northern and wefern borders, of their
commerce, and of other interefiing crcumfan-
crs refpetling them.
u In order to render the fatement, as complete
as may be, OF the Indians nbabiting the coun-
try wet of the MifiiI1ppi,f add Dr. Sibley's ac-
connt of thofe refiding in and adjacent to the
territory of Orleans.
communicate alto from the fame perfoa,
an account OF the Red river, according to the
bea Information he had been able to collect.
Having been disappointed, after comfortable
preparation, in the purpofe of Tending an ex-
Ploring party up that river in the fummer of
1904, it was thought bet to employ the aurumn
of that year in procuring knowledge of an
fhita. This was undertaken under the direc.
ton OF Mr.. Dunbar of Nstchez, citizen of
dlltinguiihed fcieDce, who had aided, and CONT
nues TO aid US, with his dnterelfed and yalu-
able iervices in the profecution Of thefe enter
prizes. He attended the river to the remarka-
bic Hot-fPrings near If, in lat. 81, 3l-4. l6,
long. 90, so, As, wet from, Greenwich, taking
its couries and alliances, and correcting them
bY frequent celeifial obfervatons. Extracts
frOF oh faro fs< 4
the river, from its mouth to the Hot-fprings,
make part of the prefent communications.
The examination of the Red river itfelf is but
now commencing. LIS
Til: JEFFERSON
Feb. 10, Iso6.
Ordered, That ! 900 copies of the mefTage,
together with the accompanying commsnica-
tons be printed for the ufe of the members.
Mr.. j. Clay made report on the petition of
VIM. Lewis and Hugh Maxwell, recommend.
ing the purchafng from them certain number
of copies of the J journals of the old Congress
within limited price.
Referred to committee THE whole.
The bill TO incorporate the truaees of a
Prtibyterian Church in George town was read
the third time.
Mr.. Elmer fupported, and Mef1rs. Jackfon,
Sloan, Holland and Rhea oppofcd the bill.
The qneition was taken by yeas and nays,
anu tne OH paned-feas T2--Nays 40.
The Hpufe took into confederation the a.
mended bill for laying duty Of 10 dollars on
every ilaee imported into the u. S.
various amendments were made, when the
bill was ordered to a third reading on Mon.
day.
AZ the bill now tands, /, provides, in cafe of
fnuggling laves into the United States that
the yefTel in which they are brought fl1all be
forfeited. 1t is ilent with regard to the forfeiture
or liberation Of the flaves.
TbwJiay, Fs5. 30.
MIR. John G. Smith from the committee 10
whom was referred a refolution of the Houfe
Directing them to enquire for what claims A.
gaiuf the United States, barred by ftaiutes oil
liHitation il is exprdient 10 make proviion, re-
ported a bill making further provifon for ex-
tinsuiflling debts due by the United States
which was read twice and referred to com
mittee Of the whole Houfe on Monday next.
nr. Johs c. Smith, from the comuitte of
claims 70 whom was referred the petition of
Willis WTifon, reported a refolution. that the