1To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 10 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Not untill two late on friday last to answer by that days mail, did I receive your much esteemed favour of the 23rd. Ult, in it you have thought proper so far to honour me with your confidence, as to express a wish that I should accept the place of your private Secretary; I most cordially acquiesce, and with pleasure accept the office, nor were further motives necessary to induce my...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 3 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived at this place on the 1st. inst., a few hours only after your departure, Mr. Rapin presented me your very friendly letter of the 31st. ult., and in complyance therewith I have taken up my lodgings in the President’s house, where I feel myself much pleased, and extreamly gratifyed with the attention paid, as well by the Steward, as your other domesticks, to all matters which regard my...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 10 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Enclosed is a letter which was this morning handed me by the Secretary at War. Genl. Smith arrived last evening, his election has succeeded without opposition. There not being any thing material to detain me longer at this place, I shal set out for Virginia the 12th. inst.: my horse from his lameness is unable to travel, I shall therefore take the advantage of the stage as far as Richmond;...
4Levi Lincoln’s Opinion on the Betsy Cathcart, [3 July 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
The prize Ship Betsy Cathcart, in June 1796, with a British cargo on board, in her passage from one British port to another, being captured by a French privateer duly commissioned, was in distress brought into an American port. liberty to sell on repeated applications, by the captors, was refused on the part of the U.S. For the purpose of necessary repairs the cargo was permitted to be...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 31 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I was a few minutes since with Mr. Glendy : on saturday last he was attacked with a violent bilious disorder which has since confined him to his bed: he laments much that his indisposition prevents his keeping the appointment he had made to preach in Charlottsville on Thursday next: he requested me to give you this information as early as possible, and to offer the violence of disorder, as his...
6Statement of Account with Meriwether Lewis, 21 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Dr. Thos. Jefferson in Act. with M. Lewis 6th. 1802. £ s d 1802 £. s d. Nov. 17th. To ferriage at Georgetown 6 Nov. 16th. By Cash of
7Meriwether Lewis: Estimated Costs of Missouri River Expedition, 18 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Recapitulation of an estimate of the sum necessary to carry into effect the Missie. expedicion.— Mathematical Instruments $217.– Arms & Accoutrements extraordinary 81.– Camp Ecquipage 255.– Medecine & packing 55.– Means of transportation 430.– Indian presents 696.– Provisions extraordinary 224.– Materials for making up the various articles into portable packs } 55.– For the pay of hunters...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 20 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
With a view to forward as much as possible the preparations which must necessarily be made in the Western country previous to my final departure, as also to prevent the delay, which would attatch to their being made after my arrival in that quarter, I have taken the following measures, which I hope will meet your approbation; they appear to me to be as complete as my present view of the...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 27 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Joseph Ellicott, being about to visit the City of Washington I have taken the liberty of introducing him to your acquaintance—he is a brother of Mr. Andrew Ellicott, your old friend and acquaintance of this place; a judge, and resident of the western part of the State of New York—he is a good republican, and a man of good information and reputation.— I am with much respect Your Obt. & very...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 14 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
In your instructions to me you mention that the instruments for ascertaining by celestial observations the geography of the country through which I shall pass, have been already provided : I shall not therefore purchase any articles of that discription untill I hear further from you on this subject. Will you be so good as to inform me what instruments have been provided? and where they are?—it...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 29 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have at length so far succeeded in making the necessary preparations for my intended journey as to be enabled to fix on the sixth or seventh of June as the probable time of my departure for Washington. All the article have been either procured, or are in such state of forwardness in the hands of the workmen as to induce me to hope that my stay here after that period will be unnecessary;...
12Meriwether Lewis: Promissory Note, 23 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I promise to pay Thomas Jefferson his Heirs or Assigns, on demand, the sum of one hundred and three Dollars and ninety three Cents, for value recieved.— June 23rd. 1803. $.103.93 MS ( MHi ); entirely in Lewis’s hand; endorsement and later notations by TJ on verso: “Lewis Meriwether Note of hand Note of hand D 1803. June 23. 103.93 Y M D 1807. Aug. 1. 4 -1
13To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 8 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The waggon which was employed by Mr. Linnard the Military Agent at Philadelphia, to transport the articles forming my outfit, passed this place on the 28th. Ulto.—the waggoner determined that his team was not sufficiently strong to take the whole of the articles that had been prepared for me at this place and therefore took none of them; of course it became necessary to provide some other...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 15 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here at 2 O’Clock, and learning that the mail closed at 5 this evening hasten to make this communication, tho’ it can only contain the mere information of my arrival. No occurrence has taken place on my journey heither sufficiently interesting to be worthy of relation: the weather has been warm and dry; the roads in consequence extreemly dusty, yet I feel myself much benefitted by...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 22 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 11th. & 15th. Inst. were duly recieved, the former on the 18th. inst., the latter on this day. For my pocketbook I thank you: the dirk could not well come by post, nor is it of any moment to me, the knives that were made at Harper’s ferry will answer my purposes equally as well and perhaps better; it can therefore be taken care of untill my return: the bridle is of no consequence...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 26 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved as yet no answer from Mr. Clark; in the event of Mr. Clark’s declining to accompany me Lieut Hooke of this place has engaged to do so, if permitted; and I think from his disposition and qualifications that I might safely calculate on being as ably assisted by him in the execution of the objects of my mission, as I could wish, or would be, by any other officer in the Army. Lieut...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 8 September 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
It was not untill 7 O’Clock on the morning of the 31st. Utmo. that my boat was completed, she was instantly loaded, and at 10. A.M. on the same day I left Pittsburgh, where I had been moste shamefully detained by the unpardonable negligence of my boat-builder. On my arrival at Pittsburgh, my calculation was that the boat would be in readiness by the 5th. of August; this term however elapsed...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 13 September 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here at 7. P.M. and shall pursue my journey early tomorrow. This place is one hundred miles distant from Wheeling, from whence in descending the water is reather more abundant than it is between that place and Pittsburgh, insomuch that I have been enabled to get on without the necessity of employing oxen or horses to drag my boat over the ripples except in two instances; tho’ I was...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 3 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I reached this place on the 28th. Ult.; it being necessary to take in a further supply of provisions here, and finding my men much fatiegued with the labour to which they have been subjected in descending the river, I determined to recruit them by giving them a short respite of a few days; having now obtained the distance of five hundred miles: on the evening of the 1st. inst. I again...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 19 December 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
On my arrival at Kaskaskias, I made a selection of a sufficient number of men from the troops of that place to complete my party, and made a requisition on the Contractor to cause immediately an adequate deposit of provisions to be made at Cahokia subject to further orders or other destination should circumstances render it necessary—This done, it became important to learn as early as possible...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 28 December 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
On my arrival at St. Louis, the first object to which, I called my attention, was that of collecting such information as might be in some measure serviceable to you in forming your opinions, or shaping your arrangements to effect a certain point of policy, which you expressed to me while with you at Washington last Summer; I mean that of a wish you then entertained, if possible to induce the...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 26 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you herewith inclosed, some slips of the Osages Plums , and Apples . I fear the season is too far advanced for their success. had I earlyer learnt that these fruits were in the neighbourhood, they would have been forwarded at a more proper time. I would thank you to send a part of them to Messrs. John Mason, & William Hamilton. should they not succeed, Mr. Charles Gratiot, a gentleman...
23To Thomas Jefferson from William Clark and Meriwether Lewis, 18 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The following is a list of Articles forwarded you by Mr. Peter Chouteau . Minerals . No. 1. A specimen of Silver Oar from Mexico No. 2. ditto of lead, supposed to contain a considerable quantity of Silver, from Mexico. } These were presented me by Mr. Peter Chouteau, who received them from the Osage Indians—They having collected them in some of Their War excursions into that Country No. 3. An...
24Description of a Plant by Meriwether Lewis, 5 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
This specimen of a plant common to the praries in this quarter was presented to me by Mr. Hugh heney, a gentleman of respectability and information who has resided many years among the natives of this country, from whom he obtained the knowledge of it’s virtues. Mr. Heney informed me that he had used the root of this plant frequently with the most happy effect in cases of the bite of the mad...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 7 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Herewith inclosed you will receive an invoice of certain articles, which I have forwarded to you from this place. among other articles, you will observe by reference to the invoice, 67. specimens of earths, salts and minerals; and 60 specimens of plants: these are accompanyed by their rispective labels expressing the days on which obtained, places where found, and also their virtues and...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 21 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Having acquired information & provisions of the Mandans On the evening of the 7th of Apl. 1805 we embarked with our baggage on board 2 large perogues and six small canoes at Fort Mandan—on a Voyage of Discovery to the Pacific Ocean. The party consisted of the following persons my friend and Colleague Capt. Wm Clark, Interpreters George Drewyer and Touasant Charbono, Sergts. John Ordway...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 23 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with pleasure that I anounce to you the safe arrival of myself and party at 12 Obtr. today at this place with our papers and baggage. In obedience to your orders we have penitrated the Continent of North America to the Pacific Ocean, and sufficiently explored the interior of the country to affirm with confidence that we have discovered the most practicable rout which dose exist across...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 19 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by Mr. McKennan, the Prothonotory of Washington county Pensylvania, whom I beg leave to make known to you as a gentleman of sobriety, integrity and a sound republican in the wost of times . The pecuniary circumstances of Mr. McKennan are but moderate, his family numerous and entirely dependant on his exertions for support: thus situated he is about to remove to the...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 27 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I transmit you by Genl. Dearborn your ring and Majr. Randolph’s watch. the ring has been reset with the addition of four new brilliants. knowing it to be a family piece, I directed the workman to reset it in the same stile it formerly was, but regardless of the charge he took the liberty of consulting his own taste on the subject and has made it such as I fear will not prove pleasing to you.—...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 15 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In consequence of the measures which were taken last spring in relation to the Osage nations they were reduced in the course of a few months to a state of perfect submission without bloodshed; this has in my opinion very fairly proven the superiority which the policy of withholding merchandize from the Indians has over the chastizement of the swoard, when their local situations are such as...