Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-03-26

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crossing the Stony mountains. and decc,d;nc
the nearest river to the Pacific. Captain
Lewis being then stationed at Charlottesville.
Oh 'he recruiting service, warmly solicited
me TO obtain Tor him the execution of that
OBJECT. told him it was proposed that the
person engaged should be attended by a sins
gie companion only. to avoid exciting alarm
among the Indians. This did not deter him
but Mr.. Andrew Michaux. prof. ssed hot.
Fist, author of the Flora Boreali- Americana
and OF the Historic des Chesues d. Ameri
que, Offering ms services. they we're accep.
TED: he received his Instructions, and when
ne had reached Kentucky in the prosecution
OF ms Journey, he was overtaken by an or
DER from the minister of France, then at
rhiiadeiphia. to relinguish the expedition,
ana 20 pursue elsewhere the botanical inqni>
ries on which he was employed by thar gc-
vernment and thus failed the second at.
tempt for exploring that region.
= In 1908, the act for establishing trafl;ny
houses with the Indian tribes being about 60
expire, some notifications of it were recsm. .
mended to congress by Confidential mess
sage OF January 18th, and an extension of its
views to the Indians on the Missouri. In or-
dertoprepare the way, the me ssaee proposed
the sending an exploring party to trace the
missouri to its source, to cross the Highlands.
and follow the best water communication
which offered itself from thence to the Pa
enc ocean. Congress approved the propo-
sition, and voted sun of money for carry
ing it into execution. Captain Lewis, who
nad then been near two years with me as
private secretary, Immediately renewed hi !.
solicitations to have the direction of the par
~: had now had opportunities of knows
ing him intimately. Of courage undaun.
ted possessing 6rmness and perseverance,
OF purpose which nothing but impossibilities
could divert from its direction careful as a
father ct those committed to his charge, yet
steady IN the maintenance of order and dis
cipline intimate with the Indian character.
customs, and principles habituated to the
hunting life; guarded, by exact observation.
OF the vegetables and animals of his own
country, against losing time in the descrip
ton of objects already possessed honest, dis
inter sted. liberal, of sound understanding,
and fidelity TO truth SO scrupulous, thai
whatever he should report would be as Ger
tain as if seen by ourselves with all these
qualifications as if selected and implanted
by nature in one body for this express pur-
pose, could have no hesitaticn in confdiny
the enterprise 10 him. TO fill up the mea.
sure desired. he wanted nothing but erea.
ter familiarity with the technical language
OF the natural sciences, and readiness in the
astronomical observations necessary for the
geography of his route. To acquire these
he repaired immediately to Philadelphia,
End placed himself under the tutorage of
the distinguished professors os that place,
who with zeal and emulation, enkindlcd
by an ardent devotion to science, comml,i
Gated to him freely the information requisite
for the purpose of the journey. While at.
tending too, at Lancaster, the fabrication of
the arms with which he chose that his men
should be provided, he had the benefit of
daily communication with Mr. Andrew Ell.
licot. whose experience in astronomical OBJ
servation. and patience of it in the woods,
enabled him to apprize captain Lewis of the
wants and difficulties he would encounter,
and ofthe substitutes and resources offered
by woodland and unnhabited country.
Deemiag 1t necessary he should have
some person with him OF known competence
to the direction of the enterprise, III the e.
vent Of accident to himself, he proposed Viii
liam Clark, brother of general George Ro-
gers Clarke, who was approved. and, with
that view, received commission of Cap
tain.
In April, 1905, draught of his instruc-
tons was sent 20 captain Lewis and on the
twentieth Of June they were signed in the
following form
- "eii"S'hcr LEWIS, esquire, captain
OF the hrst regiment of infantry of the u. S.
of America
Your situation as secretary of the pres
ident of the United States, has made you
acquainted with the objects of my confiden>
tiai message of January 10, 1903, to the le-
gislature ; you have seen the act they pas
sed, which, though expressed in general
terms. was meant to sanction those objects,
and you are appointed to carry them into
execution.
g instruments for acsertanng, by celestial
observations, the geography of the country
through which you willpass, have been al.
ready provided. Light articles for barter
and presents among the Indians, arms for
your attendants, say for from ten to twelve
men, boats. tents, and other travelling APP.
pnratus, with ammunition, medicine, surgical
Instruments, and provisions, you will have
prepared, with such aids as the secretary of
war can yield in his department and from
him also you will receive authority to engage
among our troops, by voluntary agreement,
T. number Of attendants aforementioned !;
o't. whom YOU, as their commanding officer,
are invested with all the powers the laws
give in such case.
f" AS your movements, while within the IL
mlts OF the United States, will be better di-
rectedb by occasional communications, adapt
ed to circumstances as they arise, they will
not be noticed here What follows will re-
spect your proceedings after your depart-
ment from the United States
"Your mission has been communicated to
the ministers here from France, Spain, and
Great Britain, and through them TO their go
vernments; and such assuI ances given them
as to its objects, as wetrust will satisfy them
The country of Louisiana having been ce>
ded by Spain to France. the passport you
have from the minister of France. the repre-