To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Watkins, 22 March 1804
From Thomas Watkins
Virginia Halifax County March 22 1804
Sir
by Examineing Congressenal proceedeings on the Subject of Louisiania as Stated in the Publick prents I find a Resolution directing the presedent to appoint persons to Examine and Explore the Cuntry of Louisiania and make Memerandoms of the Same in order I suppose to form an Accurate Map—the Better to Enable Government to have a full View of this newly acquired Teretory and to form Governmental proceedeings on Matter of fact
as I wish to be one of those Men appointed to Carey this Resolution into Compleate affect beg Leave to Come fored as a Candadate and be assured if I am forchinate Enought to Succeede nothing on my part Shall be Wanting to Render Satisfaction and Carey into Compleate affect any instructions I may Receive in this or any other appointmen your Honour may think proper to intrust to my perticular Care and attention as I have no intimate acquaintence with you it may not be thaught a miss to State that I am about fifty foure years old and have Served Six or Seven years in the Legislator of Virginia and am friendy disposed towards this purchase but in all provabilety you Can be better informed as to my abileteys integrety and uprightness by Mr. Abraham B Venable in the Senate of the U States to whom I beg Leave to Refer for any information you may Lack—any Communication by way of the post and Lodged at Halifax Cort house in the State of Virginia Shall be Amediately attended to
I wish you a Long Life and health that you may injoy the fruits of your well Earnt Labours while I beg Leave to Subscribe my Self your Cincear friend and Hble Servt—
Thos Watkins
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); endorsed by TJ as received 20 Apr. and “to explore Red river” and so recorded in SJL.
Thomas Watkins represented Halifax County in the Virginia House of Delegates for seven terms between 1788 and 1814 (, 169, 180, 184, 188, 192, 232, 274).
On 18 Feb., a House resolution instructed the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures to examine the expediency of authorizing the president to employ persons to explore such parts of Louisiana “as he may deem proper.” Reporting on 8 Mch., the committee considered it “highly desirable” that “intelligent men” should explore portions of Louisiana, especially the Arkansas and Red Rivers, and recommended that Congress make “some public provision” for ascertaining the extent and boundaries of the territory. On the final day of its session, 27 Mch., in a section of an act concerning lands south of the state of Tennessee, Congress authorized an appropriation of $3,000 “for the purpose of extending the external commerce, and exploring the limits of the United States, in the new acquired territory of Louisiana” (, 4:586, 629; Report of the Committee of Commerce and Manufactures, Who Were Instructed, by a Resolution of this House, on the 18th Ult. … 8th March, 1804 [Washington, D.C., 1804]; , 2:305).