MR. H A M E R. 283 



vegetable productions, especially those unknown in the United 

 States ; and the present races of animals, as well as remains or 

 accounts of those supposed to be extinct, were deemed worthy of 

 observation. The mineral productions of every kind were to be 

 noted; limestone, coal, saltpetre, salines and mineral waters, 

 remarking the temperature and character of the latter, were all com- 

 mended to their notice. To these were added volcanic appear- 

 ances, climate, and the proportions of clear and cloudy weather ; 

 rain, hail, snow, ice, and frost, at different seasons ; particular 

 birds, reptiles, and insects ; and the latitude and longitude of im- 

 portant places. 



" They were further instructed to hold intercourse with the 

 natives, and to impress them with the position, extent, character, 

 peaceable and commercial dispositions of the United States, and 

 of our inclination to hold friendly intercourse with them. 



"Such were the directions given by that great and good man, 

 Thomas Jefferson. The expedition which he sent out was exactly 

 such a one as we now propose to send, except that one went into a 

 wilderness almost entirely unknown to our people, and the other was 

 to go into seas that were partially known to them, it is true, but 

 whose rocks and reefs were not known, either to our navigators, or 

 to those of any other nation. The instructions to Long, in 1822, 

 were similar to those given to Lewis and Clarke. Indeed, Mr. 

 Monroe refers to the instructions given to them, and directs Major 

 Long to be governed by them in his tour. The expedition of Mr. 

 Featherstonhaugh, the geologist, sent out to Arkansas during the 

 last year by our government, was instituted for similar purposes. 



" The practice of the government had therefore given a construc- 

 tion to the constitution, such as we now claimed for it. The right 

 to make these explorations, both by sea and land, had been claimed 

 and exercised in numerous instances, and the authority to make 

 them could not well be doubted. At this moment, whilst we were 

 discussing the question, Mr. Hassler was executing charts from the 



