The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-08

| the western coast Of Mort America. from
which to travel eastward to the nearest
confines OF civilization.
The sdventurer left Paris duly accredited
| to the powers Of the Empress Catherine,
| and had passed through 81. Petersburg
| On his ardouous undertaking. At that
| time travelling through Russia was not
as inviting as IL may be now. Neverthe-
less Mr.. Jeffersons mission would doubt
| less have been a successful one, had no..
| his agents movements unfortunately ex-
cited the suspicion of GATHERINGS officers
| At their instigation a messenger was dis
patched all the way to Tobolsk. at
Which place he had already arrived. with
orders for his immediate return on pain
! of arrest
Seventeen years afterwards, and while
he was President of the United ates
Mr.. Jefferson resolved upon carrying out
his scheme for exploring the great North
west. And now began the career or that
other Lewis to whom Mr.. Wise intended
TO allude when he made reference 10 that
most remarkable. ard probably most sue
cessful exploring expedition ever attempt
ed considering the means at hand TO
prosecute It, and the important results
that followed it. BY singular coinci-
dence this other Lewis had also with
him as coadutor a man named Clark.
We have seen how George Rogers Clark.
i'm i779 conquered the territory now Occur
pied by the States of Ohio, Indiana ana
Illinois IL was his younger Drother'
Captain william Clark. who, In lSoi' &C
COMMANDED Meriwether Lewis in his IA
nous expedition Both OF these noted
men were born In Albemarle county, va
within a mile or two of the town OF chaf-
lottesville. their parents having oriS'n III, ny
,,,,ad IN Caroline county. They
we're both well known to Mr. Jefferson,
who frequently referred to them as mill
bows bringing grist to the mill at 'Shad-
well
The Meriwether Lewis here referred 10
vos not Of the same family as Andrew
Lewis 40 far as known. If so, the connec-
tion must have been a very remote one.
The nrogenitors OF the former are saiu
10 have led from France to Wales. also
from religious persecution. From wales
they immigrated to Virginia and settled
I'm Gloucester county, from which locahty
they subsequently spread over many
parts Of the State. but found homes chieiy
in Goochland and Aoemafle couhtles'
The immediate family OF Merwether
Lewis were relatives and near nelshDo.s
to Mr. jefferson. He thus had apunnan II
onDortInity to observe the Characters
was 10 aid his distinguished patron In
making part Of the most important his
tory OF his country. Young Lewis had
hean we'll educated especially in mathe-
matics Under the tutorage OF Mr.. Jener-
son he had become versed in the arts
and sciences, was familiar with the prln-
ciples and practice of botany. geology
and mineralogy. lie had been his private
and confidential secretary, and so oy
intimate association with that man or III
knowledge, had caught from him the habit
Of absorbing information, as Wen as the
tact Of apply ing it. Lewis, in addition 10
these advantages, was renatkapie loi
certain personal traits, which par
ticularly recommended him as the
leader of the proposed expedition.
When but a lad he was noted for his
self-reliance and independence or CHAR
acter. His habits We're solitary, his de-
meanor grave and thoughtful. When
quite a small boy he was often known TO
leave his bed in the dead Of night. and
with his favorite dogs, go out alone TO
pursue through the darkness OF the Tor
ests his favorite game. AS MANHOOD ap-
preached these traits became more con-
spicu0us. but in other and more important
directions At an early age he had en-
tered the army Of the United states, and
at the time he was selected by Mr. JEFF
ferson 10 take charge Of the great cXpe-
dition held the rank Of captain. lie, too,
as has been seen, was 4 native or Abe
marie county, and had from childhood
enjoyed full opportunity among her oil
ing hills and more rugged mountains OF
developing those tastes and bodily hab-
it's. which in after years We're 20 find a
wider theatre among the grandeur Of the
great West.
In personal appearance Meriwether
Lewis was scarcely to be equalled In
physical development and MI NY beauty
He was above six feet in height, erect,
sinewy and agile lie was just thirty
years Of age when he led away the
column of stalwart followers, who with
him. were about 10 plunge into the bound
less fores SITS and wastes OF Lrackless
wilderness, inhabited b. h0rdes Of hostile
saVages and swarminS with beasts or
prey Clad in suit of prepared buckskin
and otherwise properly equipped for the
tourney, he Is described as appearing on
that occasion the very impersonation Of
courage and endurance as one born TO
lead and 10 be obeyed; one in whom men
would trust, and whose arm in the hour
Of peril would lie TO them a tower OF
strength
So went forth TO his appointed task,
IilS EIdnus ElpOily gDhAit ~ iieAAA NAA'NN
remarkable career should long ago have
commanded the fullest recognition in the
annals of his country and have furnish
ed a theme OF romance at every flre-
side of his native State. Instead Of this,
not a memorial Of any kind is left 10
testify 10 the value Of his services.
His personal history is scarcely known,
even to these who claim a share in the
renown of the Virginia people.
II would be gratifying to dwell longer
upon this important and interesting epoch
in American history, TO show how the sue
cess of Lewis and ClaFk's expedition
affected the destines Of the United States
in that direction, and particularly TO fol-
low In detail the tracks of the bold and
tireless explorers. For more than three
years they were separated from their
homes. At one time they had not been
heard from for more than two years, and
il was generally supposed the entire party
had been swallowed up in the wilderness.
To relate their adventures by land and
by water, 10 record their escapes from the
tolls OF crafty enemies and the fierce at
tacks Of man and beast. TO tell how they
were al times almost reduced to starya-
ton and well nigh destroyed by disease,
and above ALL to describe with what des-
perate energy thee had TO resist the de-
pressing thoughts OF home and its kindly
associations, would consume more time
and space than can be allowed here.
Amidst all the trials to which his party
were subjected Lewis himself never lost
hope, or doubted for an instant OF ulti-
mate success in his undertaking. In the
face OF the direst opposition he WAS never
without resources nor did his self-reliance
ever desert him. Under that solemn and
saturnine exterior lurked the fires Of an
inextinguishable energy. The very con-