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

rard with impotence for the Information It
would furnish. Their anxieties too for the
aiety OF the corps had been kept in state
IF excitement, by lusubrious rumors. eircu.
lated from time to time on certain an,hori- |
ties, and uncontradicted by letters, or other |
direct information, from the time they had |
lett the Mandan towns, OH their ascent up
the river in April Of the preceding year,
1875, until their actua; return to ST. Louis.
1t was the middle of February, 1907, be.
lore captain Lewis, with his coMpanion cap
tain Clark, reached the city Of Washing
ton, where Congress was then in session.
mat body granted to the two chiefs and their
followers the donation of lands whic, they
had been encouraged to expect in reward of
their toll and dangers. Captain Lewis was
5000 alter appointed governor of louisiana,
and captain Clark general Of its militia,
and agent of the United States for Indian af
fairs in that department.
considerable time interviewed ,efore.the
governors arrival at St. Louis. He found
The territory distracted by feutls and conteh
tio.s among the officers of the government,
and the people themselves divided by these
INTO factions and parties. He determined at
once to take no side with either; but to use
them. The even handed justice he admin
tered to all soon esta blished respect for his
person and authority; and perseverance &
time wore down animosites, and re united
the citizens again into one family
Sovernor Lewis had, from early life, been
subject to hYpochondriac affections. 1t was
constitutional disposition in all the nearer
branches OF the family of his name, and was
more Immediately innc. tied by him from his
father. They had not. however, been so
strong as to give uneasness to his family,
While he lived with Inc in Washington, i oh
served at times sensible depressions Of mind:
hut knowing their constitutional source, es-
timated their course by what had seen in
the family. During his western expedition,
the constant exertion which that required of
all the faculties of body aad mind sus-
pended these distressing affections but after
his establishment at st. Louis in sctientary
occupations, they returned upon him with
redoabled vigour, and began seriously to a.
larm ms friends. He was in a paroxysm OF
one OF these. when his affairs rendered it me-
cessary for him to goto Washington. He
proceeded to the Chickasaw Bluffs, where he
arrived on the sixtecnthof September, 1909,
With a view of continuing his journey
thence BY water. Mr.. Nicely, agent of the
United States with the Chickasaw Indians,
arriving there two days after, found him
extremely indisposed, and betraying at times
some symptoms OF a arrangement of mind.
The rumors of a war with England, and ap
prehensions that he might lose the papers
he was bringing on, among. which were the
vouchers of his public accounts. & the Jour.
nails and papers of his western expedition,
induced him here to change his mind, and to
take his course by land through the Chcka
saw Country. Although he appeared some =
what relieved. Mr.. Nicely kindly determine
ed to accompany and watch over him. Un>
tortur ateiy, at their enCampment, after has
wing passed the Tennessee one days Jour
ney, they lost two horses, which oblipipp
Mr.. Nicely to halt for their recovery, the 90.
rernor proceeded, under promise to wait
Tor him at the house of the first white inha,
bitant on the road. He stopped at the house
OF Mr. Grinder. who not being at home,
MS wife, alarmed at the symptoms of de-
rangement she discovered, gave up the house
and retired to rest herself in an out house,
the governors and Ncely's servants lodging
in another About three o'clock in the night
he did the deed which plunged his friends
INTO afhctiop, and deprived his country of
one OF her most valued citizens, whose va,
lour and intelligence would have been now
employed IN avenging the wrongs Of his
country, and in cmulating by landthe splen
did deeds which have IGNORED her arms on
the ocean. 1t lost too to the nation tho bene
mt OF receiving from his own hand the mar
rative now offered them of his suferings and
successes, in endeavoring to extend for them
boundariesof science, and to present to their
knowledge that vast and fertile country, :
which their sons are destined to fill with
arts, with science, with freedom and happi>
ness.
TO this melancholy close of the life of one,
whom posterity will declare not To have liv>
ed in vain, have only TO add, that all the
facts have stated are either known to nv
sell, or communicated by his family or others,
for whose truth Ihave no hesitation to make
myself responsible; and conclude with ten
dering you the assurances Of my respect and
consideration.
TIL: JEFFERSON.
MI. PAUL ALLEN, Philadelphia.