Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-18
lFEoM THE 81. LOUIS ESQUIREn.1
COMMERCE WITH ASIA.

Afdds 10 iHaia by iody Of The Columbia and Missouri
rirerS.
The object Of your mission, is 10 ex,oro tho NJ;s.
souri, river, ana such principal streams it, rs by its
course and communication with the wa,ers Of the Pa
cine ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregon Colo
RADIO, or any other river, may offer the most direct
and practicable water communication across th .
continent, for the purposes Of commerce. (JeFer-
sons Instructions 10 LeioiS and C2uf Vol /, D. xiv
OF The Journal ofUieir Erpedifion)
lhe interesting points Of the porfdg, between
tue heads oil the Missouri and the water offering the
best communication With the Pacific Ocean, should
also be hxed by observation; and the Of that
Maer 70 inc ocean, IN the same manner that Of the
missouri. (S0ne TIge.)
Should you reach the Pacific Ocean inform,
yourselves Of the circumstances which may decide
whether the iuis OF those parts may be collected
us adyantageously at The bead of the Missouri com
venIen ms is supposed to the waters of the Colorado
Oregon, or Columbia, ut Nootka Sound or any o.
Their point OF that coast and that trade he conse-
gUenily conducted through the Missouri and United
states more benehcialy than by the circumycntion
now practIscd. (samc p. XVIII
Our camp IS ~ full view Of the ocean. on the bay
laid down 10y vancouver, which we distinguish by the
name Of Ialey's bay, from trader who visits the
Indians here, and is 4 great flyomrite among them
Latitude OF the camp, ~ degrees 10 minutes The
wind was strong from 5. w and the waves very
high, get the Indians passing up n nd down tho
bay IN their canoes (Letcis and Clrk's Journal.
Vol 2, p. ~
"Thc Falls ofthc Columbia is the place TO which
ue neghboring natives resort to trade IN the
nOhtns Oh Aprh ana October many ships also arrive
They prescribed 10 rs particularly tie following Mr.
Haley, in vessel with three masts. Youens do.
Iallnmon. Calalmet, do. Swipton, do Moore. in n
vessel with -four masis. Washingion do Balct do
Skely, do They anchor on the north side of the
bay above mentioned" (Sqme, Vol ., y 1l2-3-I0
We had now travelled The whole distance from
Iravclier's Rest Creek "a branch Of Clarks River
where Is 10 yards wide) the head Of JcTersons
River, which seems to form the best and shortest
route over The mountains, tse distance one hundred
and siNtylOnr miles. IL is in fact very cSceIlent
road, and by cutting few trees, might be rendered
good route for wagons, with the exception Of about
Tour miles over one OF the mountains, which yonlJ
require some lcVelling. (LcleiS and Curtis journal
Vol. ?, p. 57l.)
The abundance and cheapncss Of horses will be
extremely advantageous 70 those who may hereafter
tcmpt tbe fu trade the East Indies by the way OF
60 snbia and Missouri rivers and the Pacific Ocean
NJ elegant horse may be purchased for few beads
They appear TO be OF an rxcelcnt race, lofty. elc-
gany formed, active and durable MANY Of then,
appear like fare English courscrs-1some are pied
others resemble IN colour, Icetncss and bottom fine
best booded horses 81 Virginia Same Vol 2, d. IGf
~-5O - ~
" The route taken BY Lewis anil Clark across the
moups'ins we perhaps ihe worst that could bc sc