Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-18

ceednSy uniformed Of every thing relating to it;
addressed inquiries TO every Individual Of the |
country, who thought might give US informa. |
ton, and lremember that | considered that fur !
n,Shed by DIR. Sihley distinguished in its value
AZ the ensuing Congress, | communicated the |
whole TO that body, and IT printed, andnnade |
large octave volume. The originals and their |
printed copy, were probably burn, by the British;
out the printed copy which had kept for myself
went afterwards to Washington with my library E.
may there he turned to. 1t will be found entered
IN the printed catalogue page l0i. No 26l. IN
der the title of :" State papers. 1893 1872 3S v
octave" The date OF the communication. No
vember II. 1903, will point to the particular vo-
uine. In this will probably be found much of the
information received FROM DIR. Sihley, which will
give an idea of the extent and value of his services
10 us on that occasion
wiz! respect 10 the two articles particularly stat
ed in your Letter, have carefully examined all my
papers and letters of the years 1904 and 1905 ant
DO not ind the scrip Of pen relative TO them
My memory furnishes me with some general re-
collections, on which can depend, as to DE Ia
Harpc's Journal but several OF the particulars are
TOO family recalled to be depended on. For exam
pie, ! am not certain whether the correspondence
and orders on that subject passed between Govern
or Claiborne and myself or the W ar Office & DR..
Sibley. My impression, although faint is tina, il
was Governor Claiborne who informed me of the
existence ofthat hook, in the hands ,f an indivdu-
AZ, and that II could he pnrcha ed; giving such
description Gifts contents showed it 10 he high
3
l think he had got his information of il from, DIR.
Sibiey. We directed the pure base to be made,
and that, before trusting the original to the mail
a copy should be taken, Gas think, but your
letter says t,"o and it may be SOY and sent by
cesSivc mails. Iney were safely received and
havn believed that the whole had been promptly
reimbursed. either 10 Claiborne or Dir Sibiry
through whose agcncyit obtained The I'M
portance oil the work con sisted in this: De la Harpe
was in some considerable office i'm the government
ken 'nriy, TO MI To-,
nal OF the public transactions The French con-
sideredthc Rio Bravo the Western boundary of
Louisiana; but she SpsniardS claimed indefinitely,
! 10 me East OF that river. The French 6, Spanish
hrighoonng Governors, with certain mercantile
associates, entered into contraband commerce.
the former furnishing French merchandise and
receiving from the latter hard dollars in exchange:
but the distance between ~ Orleans and the Rio
Bravo occasioncd Inconvenience 6 difficulties
ana therefore the French Governor wnked al the
opaniards taking small post at Nacoglochcs
anu made ms reciamations family, not TO dis
t'irb the post. cite these transactions by memory
nut believed without materal error. When we ac-
CURED Louisiana, We considered il as extending to
the Rio Bravo, and so Bonaparie declared to or
Commissioners and that he should have taken pos
session to that extent: but Spain, under color of
the corrupt foot hold she had got of this and one
or TWO other small posts, claimed the country a.
ganNt us, on the ground Of posse ssion This Jour
nal OF DE la Harpe clearly proved how fraudu-
iently II had been obtained, and was therefore of
the utmost importance TO US. Hence our anxiety
10 guard against its loss. by having it copied and
trusted TO different mails The original being lodg-
cd IN The Office Of the Secretary of State retain
ell copy IN my office, TO be REQUIRED 10 in pre-
paIing instructions to Minister at Madrid.
when removed from Washington, this was mad
Nertenuy packed with my own books and papers,
and not attended TO until the burning of the pub
lie records, at Washington brought thu. thing 10
my mind. ! Immediately sent the copy to the Sc
cretary OF State, in whose Office il doubtless now is
ana VIII prove that its Importance justified the
price il cost u.s.
OF horses &c, TO bring party of Indians 10 W ash
ingion, ] bave not the slightest trace, either in
writing or recollection. TO the great value which
was SCI on Dir Sibley's services, by the Admins
tr"tion of that day, bear testimony willingly, as
an act OF duty AMI OF truth
! am sorry that the decay OF my memory does
not permit me to offer any thing further and pray
you to be assured of my great respect s. esteem.
THOMAS JET FERSON
HON J: ) JOHNSTON, of the Congress Of The
u. STATES, nOtc in WASHINGTON
certify that the foregoing is true COPY of the
original, which was on file in this Office and
which was returned to the Hon. J. S. Johnston.
2s, 1925. JAMES EAKIN
Chief CTerh.
ITO be continued.l
-..eAe~.-
Gov. Cass, and Col. Menard, Of Illinois, have |
Oeeh appointed Commissioners to treat with the |
Sac, Fox, Winnebago, Ot.owa, Patawatamie, and
Chippewa tribes Of Indians, for the extinction of
the;r title TO the mining country upon Fever Riv-
err and also 10 tract of land South of the ST. Jo-
sePh OF Lake Michigan, and to another TO connect
the seuementsof Indiana. The season is so far adj !
vanced, that we learn il will be imprac,icable TO I
hold the council this year for the lead county
1t viii he held next season. Some of the other OBJ
Jects committed to the Commissioners will be eff
iected this year Det GAG
Trust SnIc of rniilnhLe Aerrnes