ToMerryweatherLewis，Esq。，Captainofthe1stRegimentofInfantryoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica。
YoursituationasSecretaryofthePresidentoftheUnitedStateshasmadeyouacquaintedwiththeobjectsofmyconfidentialmessageofJan。18，1803，tothelegislature。Youhaveseentheacttheypassed，which，tho’expressedingeneralterms，wasmeanttosanctionthoseobjects，andyouareappointedtocarrythemintoexecution。
Instrumentsforascertainingbycelestialobservationsthegeographyofthecountrythro’whichyouwillpass，havebeenalreadyprovided。Lightarticlesforbarter，&presentsamongtheIndians，armsforyourattendants，sayforfrom10to12men，boats，tents，&
othertravellingapparatus，withammunition，medicine，surgicalinstruments&provisionyouwillhavepreparedwithsuchaidsastheSecretaryatWarcanyieldinhisdepartment；&fromhimalsoyouwillreceiveauthoritytoengageamongourtroops，byvoluntaryagreement，thenumberofattendantsabovementioned，overwhomyou，astheircommandingofficerareinvestedwithallthepowersthelawsgiveinsuchacase。
AsyourmovementswhilewithinthelimitsoftheU。S。willbebetterdirectedbyoccasionalcommunications，adaptedtocircumstancesastheyarise，theywillnotbenoticedhere。WhatfollowswillrespectyourproceedingsafteryourdeparturefromtheU。S。
YourmissionhasbeencommunicatedtotheMinistersherefromFrance，Spain，&GreatBritain，andthroughthemtotheirgovernments：andsuchassurancesgiventhemastoit’sobjectsaswetrustwillsatisfythem。ThecountryofLouisianahavingbeencededbySpaintoFrance，thepassportyouhavefromtheMinisterofFrance，therepresentativeofthepresentsovereignofthecountry，willbeaprotectionwithallit’ssubjects：AndthatfromtheMinisterofEnglandwillentitleyoutothefriendlyaidofanytradersofthatallegiancewithwhomyoumayhappentomeet。
TheobjectofyourmissionistoexploretheMissouririver，&
suchprincipalstreamofit，as，byit’scourse&communicationwiththewaterofthePacificOceanmayofferthemostdirect&
practicablewatercommunicationacrossthiscontinent，forthepurposesofcommerce。
BeginningatthemouthoftheMissouri，youwilltakeobservationsoflatitudeandlongitudeatallremarkablepointsontheriver，&especiallyatthemouthsofrivers，atrapids，atislands&otherplaces&objectsdistinguishedbysuchnaturalmarks&charactersofadurablekind，asthattheymaywithcertaintyberecognizedhereafter。Thecoursesoftheriverbetweenthesepointsofobservationmaybesuppliedbythecompass，thelog-line&bytime，correctedbytheobservationsthemselves。Thevariationsofthecompasstoo，indifferentplacesshouldbenoticed。
TheinterestingpointsoftheportagebetweentheheadsoftheMissouri&thewaterofferingthebestcommunicationwiththePacificOceanshouldbefixedbyobservation&thecourseofthatwatertotheocean，inthesamemannerasthatoftheMissouri。
Yourobservationsaretobetakenwithgreatpains&accuracy，tobeentereddistinctly，&intelligiblyforothersaswellasyourself，tocomprehendalltheelementsnecessary，withtheaidoftheusualtablestofixthelatitude&longitudeoftheplacesatwhichtheyweretaken，&aretoberenderedtothewaroffice，forthepurposeofhavingthecalculationsmadeconcurrentlybyproperpersonswithintheU。S。Severalcopiesoftheseaswellasofyourothernotes，shouldbemadeatleisuretimes&putintothecareofthemosttrustworthyofyourattendants，toguardbymultiplyingthemagainsttheaccidentallossestowhichtheywillbeexposed。A
furtherguardwouldbethatoneofthesecopiesbewrittenonthepaperofthebirch，aslessliabletoinjuryfromdampthancommonpaper。
Thecommercewhichmaybecarriedonwiththepeopleinhabitingthelineyouwillpursue，rendersaknolegeofthesepeopleimportant。Youwillthereforeendeavortomakeyourselfacquainted，asfarasadiligentpursuitofyourjourneyshalladmit。
withthenamesofthenations&theirnumbers；
theextent&limitsoftheirpossessions；
theirrelationswithothertribesornations；
theirlanguage，traditions，monuments；
theirordinaryoccupationsinagriculture，fishing，hunting，war，arts，&theimplementsforthese；
theirfood，clothing，&domesticaccommodations；
thediseasesprevalentamongthem，&theremediestheyuse；
moralandphysicalcircumstancewhichdistinguishthemfromthetribestheyknow；
peculiaritiesintheirlaws，customs&dispositions；
andarticlesofcommercetheymayneedorfurnish&towhatextent。
Andconsideringtheinterestwhicheverynationhasinextending&strengtheningtheauthorityofreason&justiceamongthepeoplearoundthem，itwillbeusefultoacquirewhatknolegeyoucanofthestateofmorality，religion&informationamongthem，asitmaybetterenablethosewhoendeavortocivilize&instructthem，toadapttheirmeasurestotheexistingnotions&practisesofthoseonwhomtheyaretooperate。
Otherobjectsworthyofnoticewillbethesoil&faceofthecountry，itsgrowth&vegetableproductions；especiallythosenotoftheU。S。
theanimalsofthecountrygenerally，&especiallythosenotknownintheU。S。
Theremains&accountsofanywhichmaybedeemedrareorextinct；
themineralproductionsofeverykind；butmoreparticularlymetals，limestone，pitcoal&saltpetre；salines&mineralwaters，notingthetemperatureofthelast&suchcircumstancesasmayindicatetheircharacter；volcanicappearances；
climateascharacterizedbythethermometer，bytheproportionofrainy，cloudy&cleardays，bylightening，hail，snow，ice，bytheaccess&recessoffrost，bythewinds，prevailingatdifferentseasons，thedatesatwhichparticularplantsputforthorlosetheirflowers，orleaf，timesofappearanceofparticularbirds，reptilesorinsects。
Altho’yourroutewillbealongthechanneloftheMissouri，yetyouwillendeavortoinformyourselfbyinquiry，ofthecharacterandextentofthecountrywateredbyitsbranches，andespeciallyonit’ssouthernside。ThenorthriverorRioBravowhichrunsintothegulphofMexico，andthenorthriver，orRiocolorado，whichrunsintothegulphofCalifornia，areunderstoodtobetheprincipalstreamsheadingoppositetothewatersoftheMissouri，&runningSouthwardly。WhetherthedividinggroundsbetweentheMissouri&
themaremountainsorflatlands，whataretheirdistancefromtheMissouri，thecharacteroftheintermediatecountry，&thepeopleinhabitingit，areworthyofparticularenquiry。ThenorthernwatersoftheMissouriarelesstobeenquiredafter，becausetheyhavebeenascertainedtoaconsiderabledegree，andarestillinacourseofascertainmentbyEnglishtraders&travellers。ButifyoucanlearnanythingcertainofthemostnorthernsourceoftheMississippi，&ofit’spositionrelativetothelakeofthewoods，itwillbeinterestingtous。SomeaccounttooofthepathoftheCanadiantradersfromtheMississippi，atthemouthoftheOuisconsinriver，towhereitstrikestheMissouriandofthesoilandriversinit’scourse，isdesirable。
Inallyourintercoursewiththenativestreattheminthemostfriendly&conciliatorymannerwhichtheirownconductwilladmit；
allayalljealousiesastotheobjectofyourjourney，satisfythemofit’sinnocence，makethemacquaintedwiththeposition，extent，character，peaceable&commercialdispositionsoftheU。S。，ofourwishtobeneighborly，friendly&usefultothem，&ofourdispositionstoacommercialintercoursewiththem；conferwiththemonthepointsmostconvenientasmutualemporiums，&thearticlesofmostdesirableinterchangeforthem&us。Ifafewoftheirinfluentialchiefs，withinpracticabledistance，wishtovisitus，arrangesuchavisitwiththem，andfurnishthemwithauthoritytocallonourofficers，ontheirenteringtheU。S。tohavethemconveyedtothisplaceatthepublicexpense。Ifanyofthemshouldwishtohavesomeoftheiryoungpeoplebroughtupwithus，&taughtsuchartsasmaybeusefultothem，wewillreceive，instruct&takecareofthem。Suchamission，whetherofinfluentialchiefs，orofyoungpeople，wouldgivesomesecuritytoyourownparty。Carrywithyousomematterofthekine-pox，informthoseofthemwithwhomyoumaybeofit’sefficacyasapreservativefromthesmall-pox；andinstruct&encouragethemintheuseofit。Thismaybeespeciallydonewhereveryoumaywinter。
Asitisimpossibleforustoforeseeinwhatmanneryouwillbereceivedbythosepeople，whetherwithhospitalityorhostility，soisitimpossibletoprescribetheexactdegreeofperseverancewithwhichyouaretopursueyourjourney。Wevaluetoomuchthelivesofcitizenstoofferthemtoprobablydestruction。Yournumberswillbesufficienttosecureyouagainsttheunauthorizedoppositionofindividuals，orofsmallparties：butifasuperiorforce，authorizedornotauthorized，byanation，shouldbearrayedagainstyourfurtherpassage，&inflexiblydeterminedtoarrestit，youmustdeclineit’sfurtherpursuit，&return。Inthelossofyourselves，weshouldlosealsotheinformationyouwillhaveacquired。Byreturningsafelywiththat，youmayenableustorenewtheessaywithbettercalculatedmeans。Toyourowndiscretionthereforemustbeleftthedegreeofdangeryoumayrisk，&thepointatwhichyoushoulddecline，onlysayingwewishyoutoerronthesideofyoursafety，&tobringbackyourpartysafe，evenifitbewithlessinformation。
AsfaruptheMissouriasthewhitesettlementsextend，anintercoursewillprobablybefoundtoexistbetweenthemandtheSpanishpostsatSt。Louis，oppositeCahokia，orSte。GenevieveoppositeKaskaskia。Fromstillfartheruptheriver，thetradersmayfurnishaconveyanceforletters。BeyondthatyoumayperhapsbeabletoengageIndianstobringlettersforthegovernmenttoCahokiaorKaskaskiaonpromisingthattheyshalltherereceivesuchspecialcompensationasyoushallhavestipulatedwiththem。Availyourselfofthesemeanstocommunicatetousatseasonableintervalsacopyofyourjournal，notes&observationsofeverykind，puttingintocipherwhatevermightdoinjuryifbetrayed。
ShouldyoureachthePacificOceaninformyourselfofthecircumstanceswhichmaydecidewhetherthefursofthosepartsmaynotbecollectedasadvantageouslyattheheadoftheMissouriconvenientasissupposedtothewatersoftheColorado&OregonorColumbiaasatNootkaSoundoranyotherpointofthatcoast；&thattradebeconsequentlyconductedthroughtheMissouri&U。S。morebeneficiallythanbythecircumnavigationnowpractised。
Onyourarrivalonthatcoastendeavortolearniftherebeanyportwithinyourreachfrequentedbythesea-vesselsofanynation，andtosendtwoofyourtrustedpeoplebackbysea，insuchwayasshallappearpracticable，withacopyofyournotes。Andshouldyoubeofopinionthatthereturnofyourpartybythewaytheywentwillbeeminentlydangerous，thenshipthewhole，&returnbyseabywayofCapeHornortheCapeofGoodHope，asyoushallbeable。Asyouwillbewithoutmoney，clothesorprovisions，youmustendeavortousethecreditoftheU。S。toobtainthem；forwhichpurposeopenlettersofcreditshallbefurnishedyouauthorizingyoutodrawontheExecutiveoftheU。S。oranyofitsofficersinanypartoftheworld，inwhichdraftscanbedisposedof，andtoapplywithourrecommendationstotheconsuls，agents，merchantsorcitizensofanynationwithwhichwehaveintercourse，assuringtheminournamethatanyaidstheymayfurnishyou，shallbehonorablyrepaidandondemand。OurconsulsThomasHowesatBataviainJava，WilliamBuchananoftheIslesofFranceandBourbon&JohnElmslieattheCapeofGoodHopewillbeabletosupplyyournecessitiesbydraftsonus。
Shouldyoufinditsafetoreturnbythewayyougo，aftersendingtwoofyourpartyroundbysea，orwithyourwholeparty，ifnoconveyancebyseacanbefound，doso；makingsuchobservationsonyourreturnasmayservetosupply，correctorconfirmthosemadeonyouroutwardjourney。
Inre-enteringtheU。S。andreachingaplaceofsafety，dischargeanyofyourattendantswhomaydesire&deserveit：
procuringforthemimmediatepaimentofallarrearsofpay&
cloathingwhichmayhaveincurredsincetheirdeparture&assurethemthattheyshallberecommendedtotheliberalityoftheLegislatureforthegrantofasouldier’sportionoflandeach，asproposedinmymessagetoCongress：&repairyourselfwithyourpaperstotheseatofgovernment。
Toprovide，ontheaccidentofyourdeath，againstanarchy，dispersion&theconsequentdangertoyourparty，andtotalfailureoftheenterprise，youareherebyauthorizedbyanyinstrumentsigned&writteninyourownhandtonamethepersonamongthemwhoshallsucceedtothecommandonyourdecease，&bylikeinstrumentstochangethenominationfromtimetotime，asfurtherexperienceofthecharactersaccompanyingyoushallpointoutsuperiorfitness：andallthepowers&authoritiesgiventoyourselfare，intheeventofyourdeathtransferredto&vestedinthesuccessorsonamed，withfurtherpowertohim，&hissuccessorsinlikemannertonameeachhissuccessor，who，onthedeathofhispredecessorshallbeinvestedwithallthepowers&authoritiesgiventoyourself。
GivenundermyhandatthecityofWashington，this20thdayofJune，1803。
ANATIONALAGRICULTURALSOCIETY
_ToSirJohnSinclair_
_Washington，June30，1803_
DEARSIR，——ItissolongsinceIhavehadthepleasureofwritingtoyou，thatitwouldbevaintolookbacktodatestoconnecttheoldandthenew。YetIoughtnottopassovermyacknowledgmentstoyouforvariouspublicationsreceivedfromtimetotime，andwithgreatsatisfactionandthankfulness。Isendyouasmalloneinreturn，theworkofaveryunletteredfarmer，yetvaluable，asitrelatesplainfactsofimportancetofarmers。YouwilldiscoverthatMr。Binnsisanenthusiastfortheuseofgypsum。
Buttherearetwofactswhichprovehehasarighttobeso：1。Hebeganpoor，andhasmadehimselftolerablyrichbyhisfarmingalone。
2。ThecountyofLoudon，inwhichhelives，hadbeensoexhaustedandwastedbybadhusbandry，thatitbegantodepopulate，theinhabitantsgoingSouthwardlyinquestofbetterlands。Binns’successhasstoppedthatemigration。ItisnowbecomingoneofthemostproductivecountiesoftheStateofVirginia，andthepricegivenforthelandsismultipliedmanifold。
Wearestilluninformedherewhetheryouareagainatwar。
BonapartehasproducedsuchastateofthingsinEuropeasitwouldseemdifficultforhimtorelinquishinanysensibledegree，andequallydangerousforGreatBritaintosuffertogoon，especiallyifaccompaniedbymaritimepreparationsonhispart。TheeventswhichhavetakenplaceinFrancehavelessenedintheAmericanmindthemotivesofinterestwhichitfeltinthatrevolution，anditsamitytowardsthatcountrynowrestsonitsloveofpeaceandcommerce。Wesee，atthesametime，withgreatconcern，thepositioninwhichGreatBritainisplaced，andshouldbesincerelyafflictedwereanydisastertodeprivemankindofthebenefitofsuchabulwarkagainstthetorrentwhichhasforsometimebeenbearingdownallbeforeit。
Butherpowerandpowersatseaseemtorendereverythingsafeintheend。Peaceisourpassion，andthewrongsmightdriveusfromit。
Weprefertrying_ever_otherjustprinciples，rightandsafety，beforewewouldrecurtowar。