The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-21
.Jrprgssoy,s LErrER or CREDIT
The Original Recently Discovered In Mon
ianlI.

JEFFERSDN'S IJIiIH of 'HhD'''
Tho or,oipal Recently Discovered in Mon
tana.
Perhaps the most remarkable and eN-
tensive letter OF credit ever written mas
inst beeu resurrrectef after having httu
shut from public view iol Hoie 49, No..
ninety years II is the famous WIS
OF Thomas jefferson 10 Capt. Mcri"etIel
Lewis in 1903. giving authority 20 ulHm
for any amount upon the departments
at Washington City. ana plttbH,5 .IS
faith of the Government OF the tHI.I5-
states that the drafts would prohlpts
lie paid. BY q notable coincidence the
letter was written on the rOurti u
July, by the same hand that dfalteu VIZ
Declaration of Independence, anu WIZ
the latter proclaimed freedom 10 tii1
American Colonies, the former mas oe-
como "a link in the chain or events 0v"
Meeting popular government WIN '-o
States OF the West. for II heiped 70 sIp
uiv means whereby Lewis ana 4 ,dIhe,
the renowned explorers, asceaded 'Ae
Missouri river. penetrates the las.-
nessrs Of the Rocky Mountains, ana,
AFTER innumerahle hardships, made tn-H
nav among unknown Indian tribes down
tire mighty Columbia to IT'S mouth. but
for that exploration, lasting Tor inoIe
than two years, the Louisiana purchase
,uf.ht rot have been made ana the doors
Ct the empire beyond the ROCKIES "otlu
have remained closed for another quar-
Until recently the existence Of the letter
was unknown, and the only copy was mat
among the records at Washington Guy.
But the original IN President Jeh -iaon
handwriting, "A short time ago tDfh-i up
at Helena. Mon. sere villa age mis-
sharon with numerous lOldinss ana
"dog-f AIRED" from the treatment or NOT
ouite a century In the First Ndtonai
Bank OF Helena one day 1. n. Mem
schmidt. the cashier. was greeted by a
...H ..If NI..
letter. which he said nc had found amos
some old papers How 10 got there De
ala not know kleinschmidt reallz -d the
value OF the relic and tried 10 buy IL, nus'
10 his disappointment the owner sleiu-
tasty refused 10 part with 10 AT any
price ..,...
However, an unexpected opportunity
was offered 10 preserve the wruns. ing
commercial traveller on going 10 l"lc"
"a few moments after entering the bank.
left the letter Of credit for sale-keepins
with the cashier. No sooner hap the o"n,r
Z turned the corner than Kleinschmldt
WAS hurrylng On the other direction m
scare. of photographer. lie succ -fc u
in getting a frst-class negative before lNe
commercial traveller returned 20 the Ddhh
and carried away the orr slliL
Kfciuschmidt now pres erN-s the mega
tive and guards ID with Jealous care. 80
far as known but two photographs nave
! been taken from IT, one OF LNr.f rem
Wilson and from him passed 10 Bank
/ Examiner Charles Clary, OF TINS city anu
! from IL has been taken the copy printed
| i'm tho Post-lntelgencer. The letter is
as follows. ...,
Dear Sir. ln the journey which YOU are
: about 90 undertake for the discovery or
the course ana 50 lrte OF the missouri
and of the most convenient water com
munication from thence 20 ile facilic
I
Dee expected that You VIII encounter roh-
siderable dangers from the indian irhan-
uants. Should you escape those dangers
and reach the Pacific Ocean, you may
find it imprudeuf 20 hazard return tine
same way, and be- forced 20 seek pas
sage round hv sea in such vessels as
| Won may ind on the " cstern coast iui
you viii Doe without money. without
| clothes. x other nccessarles. as slfii-
ciont supply cannot ae carried with you
| from hence. Your resource in that case
! can only be i'm the credit OF the US. Tor
which purpose ! hereby authorize You 10
draw on the Secretaries of state, Of The
| Treasury. OF War. a Of the Navy OK tne
| Us. according as You may hnd your
| drd.ghts will be- most neeo liable. Tor the
! uurr0se of obtaining money or nects-
| sares Tor yourself 81 your men; ana l
solemuly pledge the faith OF the United
| States that these draughts shall De PAID
| uuucfualv at the date they are made
/ rayahlc | also ask OF the cousuls,
/ agents. merchants. citizens OF any
| nation with which we have intercourse ~
] smity 90 furnish Won with those supplies
| which YOUR necessities may call for,
/ assuring them Of honorable ana prompt
| rnfrihuti0n. and our own cuusuls 10
| f0reisu parts where You may happen l-
be. are hereby instructed ~ required
10 be- aiding * assisting TO you in what
! socVer may DE necessary for procuring
| your return back 20 the United states
! And 10 give more entire satisfaction and
| confidence 10 those who may Dee disposed
| TO aid You. J. Thomas Jefferson, iresi'
| dert of the United states of America
| have written this letter Of general credit
| for you with my own hand and signed II
| with my name. TIL: JEFFERSON.
To Capt. Meriwether Lewis.
= The letter contains twenty-five lines oil
! the clc8r-ruf handwriting OF Jefferson
| with faultless alignment and the mas
, teriv diction of the third President. The
| smelling. as appears above. az times Is
| quaint. and one or two phrases appear
| TO modern minds 10 De odd. There Is Du
| a single IinterllneatOn. the words "iOi
! YOU" in the last lire.
The temperance OF this Old-time let
| Ter OF credit has excited widespread com
| mont iu this city. The explorations oil
! Lewis and Clarke. the first white mel
| ever 10 cross the American Continent
| resulted finally in the acquisition by the
| United States OF the immense empire on
! Of which since have been carved Wash
! inetOn and oregon ana cther states an'
! Territories OF the West The letter itsel
is evidence Of the comprehensive mine
| and statesmanship Of Jefferson. who faH
! the possibilities OF the dndeselopad Yves
more clearly than Webster did fortl
l.vesrs later.-Seattle Post-ln.elligcncer