THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 55 



the river, he descended by the other side to its confluence 

 with the sea,* 



" In the course of this voyage or journey, he made an 

 accurate draft and survey of the various widths, depths, 

 courses and distances, both of the main stream and of the 

 lakes and branches. He also noted the situation and quality 

 of the soil, the vegetable and animal productions, together 

 with other interesting observations, all of which were highly 

 approved of by the governor and sent to the Board of Trade 

 and plantations in England, by whose direction they were 

 ordered to be published for the benefit of the new colony. 



" Out of his great but unfulfilled desire to explore the 

 Mississippi Valley grew that idea of exploring the Missouri 

 country, discussed immediately after the Revolutionary War, 

 by Franklin, William Bartram and the Marshalls. This 

 discussion and hope became almost a reality ten years after- 

 ward, when Dr. Wistar wrote to one of the Marshalls that 

 ' Mr. Jefferson and others are much interested 

 and think they can insure a thousand guineas to any one 

 who undertakes the journey, and can bring satisfactory 

 proof of having passed across to the South Sea. If thee 

 can come to town and converse with Mr. Jefferson, I am 

 confident no small matter will stop them.' 



" Something happened, for ten years later, when the 

 expedition started in 1803 that was to give us the Oregon 

 country as proof of having reached the South Sea, we know 

 it was led by Lewis and Clarke, but Jefferson's instructions 

 to them read like extracts from Bartram's letters. 



" Mr. Bartram was a man of modest and gentle 

 manners, frank, cheerful, and of great good-nature ; a lover 



* 1S49. DARLINGTON Memorials of John Bartram and Humphry Marshall. 



