Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-03-26
married sister Of general WasAinpton.-

ohc vi Lac carry pdtriotS WHO ,Steppeu tOr-
ward in the coinnlfpcement If the, revoluti~
on, and commanded one of the regiments
first raised in Virginia, and placed on con-
sincntai establishment. Happily situated at
heaie, with a vile and young family. and
fortune placing him at ease. be left all to
aid in the liberation OF his Country from to-
reign usurpations. then frst uRHasking their
ultiuare end and aim. His good sense, IN.
tegrity. bravery, enterprise, amp remarkable
bodily powers, marked him as an officer of
great promise but he unfortunately died
early in the revolution. Nichols Lewis, the
sec nd Of his fathers brothers Commanded
a regiment of militia N the successful expe.
dition of 1916. against the Cherokee Indls
ans who seduced by the agents of the Bri.
fish government to take up the hatchet a
gainst us. had committed great havoc on our
southern fr utler, by numbering and scalp-
ing helpless women and children, according
to their cruel and cowardly PRINCIPLES of
warfare. The chastisement they then receiv-
ed closed the history or their wars, and pre-
pared them for receiving the elements OF ci>
vilization. which. zealously inculcated by the
present government of the United States,
have rendered them an industrious, peacea-
bic. and happy people. This member of the
family of Lewises, whose bravery was so
usefuily proved on this occasion, was en-
deared to all who knew him by his inhexi.
BILE probity, Courteous disposition, benevo-
lent heart, and engaging modesty and man
ners. he was the umpire CT all the private
dinerences OF his county selected always
by both parties. He was also the guardian
| of Merlyether Lewis, of whom we are now
to speak. and who had lost his father at an
early age. lie continued some years under
the fostering Care of a tender mother, of the
| respectable family of Meriwethers, of the
90 o.~<l -
| infancy for enterprise, boldness and discre>
ton. When only eight years of age he ha
bitualiy went out, in the dead of night, "a
ltne with his dogs, INTO the forest 10 hunt the
racpon and opossum, which, seeking their
TODD IN the night, can then only be taken.-
In this exercis e, no season OF circumstance
could obstruct his purpose-plunging thro
the winters SHOWS and frozen Streams in
pursuit OF his obj,c At thirteen he was
put to the latin school, and continued at that
until Ighteen, when he returned u his mo-
Their, and entered on the cares of his farm;
having, as well as a younger brother, been
LEFT his father with a competency for ali
the correct and comfortable purposes of a
temperate life. His talent for observation,
winch had led him to an accurate know
ledge OF the plants and animals of his own
Country, wEu,dshave distinguished him as a
iarmer ; but IT the age of twenty, yielding
tn the ardour OF youth, and passion for
more dazziing pursuits, he enga sed as vo-
| lunteer in the body of militia which were
Called out by general Washington, on occa>
sion OF the discontents produced by the ex
Csc tax IN the western parts Of the Uni
i led States and from that situation he was
/ removed to tbs regular service as licuten-
ant in the line. At twenty three he was
! promoted to a captaihcy; and, always az.
tracing the hrst attention where punctuali.
| ty and hdelity were requisite, he was APP
\ pointed paymaster TO his regiment. About
| tins time circumstance occurred which,
leading to the transaction which is the SUBJ
| jsct OF this book, will justify recurrence to
its original idea. While resided in Paris,
John Ledyard, of Connec,icus, arrived there,
| well knowi, in the United States for energy
| OF body and mind. He had accompanied
| captain Cook Oh his voyage TO the Pacific
ocean; and distinguished himself on that voy
age by his intrepidisy. Being of roaming
| disposition. he was now painting for some
new enterprise. His immediate object at
Paris was to engage mercantile company
I'D the fur-trade of the western coast of a.
tnerica, in which, howc,e he failed.
then proposed to him to go by land to Kani>
| schatka, cross in some of the Russian vessels
1 to Nootka Sound, fall down into the latitude
Of the Missouri. and penetrate to, and thro'
that to the United States. He eagerly seiz,
ed the idea, and only aske d to be assured Of
the permission of the Russs-si government.
| interested, in obtaining that, NJ. de Simou.
lin, minister plenipotentIary of the empress
at Paris, but more especially the baron de
Grimm, minister plenipotentiary of SAKE
GOTTA, her more special agent and cores
pendent there in matters not Immediately
diplomatic. Her permission was obtained,
and an assurance of protection while the
course OF the voyage should DC through her
territories. l.edyard set out from Paris, and
| arrived at saint Petersburg after the EN-.
] press hao lett that place 70 pass the winter,
| think. at Moscow. His finances not per
uniting him to make Unnecessary stay at St.
| Petersburg, he lett 1t with passport from
one OF tho minister's ard at two hundred
mills from kaDschatka, was obliged 10 take
! up his winter quarters. He was preparing
IN the spring, To resume his journey, when
he was arrested by an officer of the empress,
who by this time had changed her mind. x
forbidden his proceeding. lie was put into
close carriage, and conveyed day x night,
without ever stopping, till they reached Po.
| land where he was set down and lef, to
himself. The fatigue OF this journey broke
down his Constitution and when he return
eel 10 Paris his bodily health was much i'm
paired. Ills mind, however, remained firm,
and he after this Undertook the Journey to
Egypt. i received a letter from him, full
ot sqnyuine hopes, dated Mt Cairo, the 18th
OF November, 1888, the day before he was
to set ont for the head of the Nile ON which
day, ~, ever, ended hi career and life -
and thus failed the first attempt to explore
the western part Of our northern continent
In 1892, proposed to the American Phi
| iosophicai Society thar we should set on foot