Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-19
JErrEnsoN's LETTER OF CREDIT
The Original Recently Dfsco'crei
In M0nfnnR.

Seattle Washington Post-Intellisencer)
Perhaps the most remarkable and ex-
tenslye letter OF credit ever written has
lust been resurrected. after having been
shut from public view for mere than
ninty years IT is the famous writing OF
Thomas jefferson to Captain Aeilwether
Lewis. IN 1905. giving authority 10 ara"
for any amount upon the depaFtmehls az
washington city, and rledglnS tne lallh
Of the Government Of the United states
ti,at the drafts would promptly be paid.
Nv n notable coincidence the letter was
written on the Fourth Of july. by the
garne hand that drafted the Declaration
of independence; and while the iattef
proclaimed II edom 10 the American Col
onists. the former has become INK n
the chain OF events connecting popular
government with the States OF the west
for Il helped to supply means WHEREBY
Lewis and Clark. the renowned eNploI-
ere assembled the Missouri river. pene-
t,ated the Businesses Of the Rocky noun
tains. and. after innumerable hardshlps'
toode their way among unknown indlah
tribes down the mighty Columbia te us
mouth. But for that exploration, last
ING for more than two years. the Lou
isioua purchase might not have been
r,ade. and the doors Of the empire beyond
the Rockies would have remained closec
for another quarter Of century.
T-ntn recently the existence Of the let
ter was unknown. and the only copy
vas that among the records AZ Wasnlng-
ton city. But the original, In PRESIDENT
re0ereon's handwriting, a short time ago
turned up at Helena, Mon, sere win
age. uisshapen, with numerous iolainbs.
end "dog-eared" from the treatment OF
not quite century. In the First M
tlonal Bank Of Helena one day 7. II:
Kleinschmidt, the cashier. was eTeeteu
by commercial traveller. VINO showed lhe
letter. which he said he had found among
como old papers How II got there
he dld not know. Kleinschmidt realized
the value Of the relic. and tried to buy
II. but to his disappointment, the owner
steadfastly refused TO part win II at any
price. ..,,t,,
was offered to preserve the WrillhS'
The commercial traveller on gong 10
lunch n few moments after entering tAe
hank. left the letter Of credit Tor SAFE
keeping with the cashier No sooner
ma mo owner turned the corner than
Kleinschmldt was hurting In the other
direction in search Of photographer.
Ne succeeded I'm getting first-class mega
tive before the commercial Traveller re-
turned TO the bank and carried away the
original. .,,o no
qative and guards il with jealous care.
So far as known but two photographs
have been taken from 1t. one OF 'neSe
fen into the hands OF Bank-EXdhlHer
Eugene Wilson, and from MN passed. ~
pank-Examiner Charles CARY, OF thIs
CITY and from II has been taken the copy
printed in the Post-lnteliigencer. Inc
letter is as follows So,
washington. Us Of America, July L. 1871
Dear Sir.-The journey which you are
about TO undertake for the discovery
Of the course and source OF the MIS-
souri, and of the most convenient "attI
communication from thence TO the racine
ocean. your party being small, II Is 10 Oe
exnected that you win encounter consider
ohio dangers from the Indian inhabitants.
Should YOU escape these dangers anu
reach the Pacific ocean, you may find II
imnrudent TO hazard a return the same
way. and be forced TO seek passage
round by sea in such vessels as you may
find on the western coast. But You VIII
be without money, without clothes d
other necessaries. as suihcIent supply
cannot be carried with you from hence.
Your resource in that case can Only pe
In the credit Of the Us, for when puf-
nose. | hereby authorize you to draw on
the Secretaries Of State, Of the Urea
sury. of War, & Of the Navy Of the Us.
according as you may find your draughts
will be most negotiable, for the purpose
of obtaining money or necessarles ior
yourself & your men; and soiemnly
pledge the faith Of the United siates
that these .draughts shall be paid pune
tually at the date they are made payable.
| also ask OF the consuls. agents mel-
chants. & citizens Of any nation with
which we have intercourse or amity 10