Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-07
JEFFERsON,s LETTER.
The Explorer Lewis Authorized to
Draw on the United States.

The Explorer Lewis Authorized to
Draw on the United States.
From the Seattle Post-Intellgencer.
Perhaps the most remarkable and ex-
tensive letter of credit ever written has
Just been resurrected, after having been
shut from public view for ninety years.
1t is the famous writing Of Thomas JEFF
ferson to Capt. Meriwether Lewis, in 1903,
giving authority to draw for any amount
upon the departments at Washington city,
and pledging the faith of the government
of the United States that the drafts would
promptly be paid. By a notable coinci-
dence. the letter was written on the Fourth
Of July, by the same hand that drafted
the Declaration of Independence. 1t helped
to supply means whereby Lewis and
Clarke, the renowned explorers, assembled
the Missouri river, penetrated the fast
nesses of the Rocky mountains, and made
their way down the Columbia to its mouth.
But for that exploration. lasting for more
than two years, the Louisiana purchase
might not have been made.
Until recently the existence of the letter
was unknown, and the only copy was that
among the records at Washington But
writing, short time ago turned up at
Helena, Mont, sere with age, misshapen
with numerous foldings and "dog-eared.
In the First National Bank of Helena 7.
L.
by a commercial traveller, who showed the
letter found among some old papers.
Kleinschmidt tried to buy it, but the
owner steadfastly refused to part with it
at any price.
The commercial traveller, on going to
lunch q few moments after entering the
bank, left the letter Of credit for safe
keeping with the cashier. No sooner had
the owner turned the corner than Klein
schmidt went to a photographer. He sue
ceeded in getting a first-class negative
before the commercial traveller returned
to the bank and carried away the original.
Kleinschmidt now preserves the negative
and guards it with jealous care. So far as
known, but two photographs have been
taken from 1t. One of these fell into the
hands of Bank Examiner Eugene Wilson.
and from him passed to Bank Examiner
Charles Clary of this city. and from 1t has
been taken the copy printed in the Post
Intelligencer. The letter is as follows:
WASHINGTON. U. S. OF AMERICA.
Dear Sir: In the journey which you are
about to undertake for the discovery of
the course and source Of the Missouri,
and of the most convenient water COM
munication from thence to the Pacific
ocean. your party being small. it is to be
expected that you will encounter consid-
cradle dangers from the Indian inhabit-
ants. Should you escape those dangers
and reach the Pacific ocean, you may find
1t imprudent to hazard return the same
way. and be forced to seek a passage
round by sea in such vessels as you may
find on the western coast. But you will
be without money, without clothes and
other necessaries, as a sufficient supply
cannot be carried with you from hence.
Your resource in that case can only be
in the credit of the United States, for
which purpose 1 hereby authorize you to
draw on the Secretaries of State, Of the
Treasury, Of War and of the Navy Of the
United States. according as you may find
your drafts will be most negotiable, for
the purpose of obtaining money or neces-
saries for yourself and your men, and l
solemnly pledge the faith of the United
States that these drafts shall be paid
punctually at the date they are made pay
able. I also ask Of the consuls, agents.
merchants and citizens of any nation with
which we have intercourse or amity to
furnish you with those supplies which your
necessities may call for, assuring them
of honorable and prompt retribution, and
our own consuls in foreign parts where
you may happen to be are hereby in
structed and required to be aiding and as.
sisting to you in whatsoever may be nee
essary for procuring your return back to
the United States. And to give more entire
and confidence to those who
may be disposed to aid you, l. Thomas JEFF
ferson, President of the United States
of America, have written this letter of
general credit for you with my own hand
and signed 1t with my name.
TIL JEFFERSON.
To Capt Meriwether Lewis