1S93.1 -L i [Coues. 



Discriplion of the Original Mauu>^cripi Journals and Field Notebonkn of 

 Lewis and Clark, on which loas based Biddle's History of the Expedi- 

 tion of ISO4-6, and which are now in the possession of the American 

 Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. 



By Dr. Elliott Coues, Washington, D. C. 

 {Bead before the American Philosop)hical Society, January 20, 1S93.) 



It is well known that the Eidory of Lewis and Clark's Expedition was 

 written by Mr. Nicholas Bidclle, of Philadelphia, and first published there 

 in 1814, in two octavo volumes, by Bradford and luskeep. It is also 

 common report that the manuscripts of the famous explorers, upon which 

 Mr. Biddle worked, are extant. But what these are, and where they are 

 kept, few could have told. 



All the Journals and Notebooks, in the handwritings respectively of 

 Lewis and of Clark, upon which Mr. Biddle based his work, were deposited 

 by him with the Philosophical Society in April, 1818. I have before me 

 his original letter, of date April 6, 1818, making the deposit ; also a copy 

 of the receipt given by the Society. Both of these papers I owe to the 

 kindness of Judge Craig Biddle, who also placed in my hands about fifty 

 other documents, mainly Chirk-Biddle correspondence relating to the 

 preparation and publication of the work. 



By the terms of this deposit, as accepted by the Philosophical Society, 

 William Clark, his heirs or assigns, were and are always to have access 

 to and use of these manuscripts for the preparation of any other edition 

 of the work. 



Mr. JeflFerson K. Clark, of St. Louis, the only surviving son and heir 

 of "William Clark, very kindly furnished me with a letter to the Philo- 

 sophical Society, desiring the manuscripts to be placed at my disposition 

 for the preparation of the edition which I have now (Dec, 1892) in press. 



I lately spent a week in the rooms of the Society, making there a pre- 

 liminary study of the manuscripts, during which I was favored by Mr. 

 Henry Phillips, Jr., the Secretary and Librarian, with every attention 

 and facility. But finding it impossible to do tiie necessary work in the 

 few days I could spend in Philadelphia, I preferred a formal request to be 

 put in possession of the manuscripts for a limited period. By vote of the 

 Society in open meeting, December 16, 1893, this request was granted, 

 promptly and with great liberality ; and the whole of the material thus 

 passed into my hands. 



Diligent and minute examination of these manuscripts satisfies me that 

 their character should be made known, as a matter of great historic inter- 

 est. Accordingly the present description is offered. 



I will first describe the bound books and loose papers, just as I found 

 them, in general terms ; next, in terms of their several deposits — for there 

 are more of them than Mr. Biddle deposited ; and then I will o-ive an 



PROC. AMER. PniLOS. SOC. XXXI. 140. C. PRINTED MARCH 4, 1893. 



