Kafional Scientific and Editcalioiial Iiis/i/ii/ions. 29 1 



sending an exploring party to trace the Missouri to its source, to cross the highlands, 

 and follow the best water communication which offered itself from thence to the 

 Pacific Ocean. Congress approved the proposition and voted a sum of money for 

 carrying it into execution. Captain Lewis, who had then been near two 3-ears with 

 me as private secretary, immediately renewed his solicitation to have the direction 

 of the party. 



In his life of Lewis, prefixed to the history of the expedition, Jefferson 

 gives in full an account of Lewis's preparation for the expedition, inchtd- 

 ing his instruction in astronomical observation b}' Andrew Ellicott, and 

 also a ftiU text of the instructions, signed by him, addressed to Lewis and 

 his associate, Captain William Clarke. Captain Lewis left Washington 

 on the 5th of July, 1803, and proceeded to Pittsburg. Dela3-s of prepa- 

 ration, difficulties of navigation down the Ohio, and other obstructions 

 retarded his arrival at Cahoki until the season was so far advanced that 

 he was obliged to wait until the ice should break up in the beginning of 

 spring. His mis.sion accomplished, he retitrned to vSt. Louis on the 23d 

 of vSeptember, 1806. 



Never, [saj-s Jefferson,] did a similar event excite more joy through the United 

 States. The humblest of its citizens had taken a lively interest in the issue of the 

 journey, and looked forward with impatience for the information it would furnish. 

 The anxiety, too, for the safet}- of the corps had been kept in a state of excitement 

 by lugubrious rumors circulated from time to time on uncertain authorities, and 

 uncontradicted by letters or other direct information, from the time they had left 

 the ^Nlandan towns on their ascent up the river in April of the preceding year, 1S05, 

 until their actual return to St. Louis. 



The second expedition toward the West was also .sent out during Jef- 

 ferson's Administration, being that under the command of General Zebu- 

 Ion AL Pike, who was sent to explore the sources of the Missis.sippi River 

 and the wCvStern parts of Louisiana, continuing as far west as Pikes Peak, 

 the name of which .still remains as a memorial of this enterpri.se.' 



The expedition of Lewis and Clarke was followed in due course and in 

 rapid succession by others, some geographical, some geological, some for 

 special researches, and .some more comprehensive in character. 



To those who are in the least degree familiar witli the history of 

 American exploration the names of Long, Cass and Schoolcraft, Bonne- 

 ville, Nicollet, Fremont, vSitgreaves, Wizlizenus, Foster and Whitney, 

 Owen, Stansbury, Abert, Marcy, vStevens, Gunni.son, Beckwith, Whipple, 

 Williamson, Parke, Pope, Emory, Bartlett, Bryan, Magraw, Johnston, 

 Campbell, Warren, Twining, Ives, Beale, vSimpson, Lander, McClellan, 

 Mullan, Raynolds, Heap, Jones, Ruffner, Ludlow, Maguire, Macoml:), 

 and Stone will bring up the memory of nuicli adventurous exploration 



' It is a matter of liistor}- that Alexander Wil.son, the ornithologist, was anxious 

 to be appointed the naturalist of Pike's expedition, and Jefferson has been warmly 

 abused for not gratifying his desire. It should be borne in mind that at this time 

 Wilson was a man who.se reputation had not yet been achieved, and also that it is 

 (juite pos.sible that in those days, as in the present, the projectors of such enterprises 

 were often hindered by lack of financial op]x>rtunity. 



