PRELIMINARY DOCUMENTS. 



I. 



Detroit, November 18, 1819. 



Sir: The country upon the soutliern shore of Lake Superior, 

 and upon the water communication between that Lake and the 

 Mississippi, has been but little explored, and its natural features 

 are imperfectly known. We have no correct topographical de- 

 lineation of it, and the little information we possess relating to it 

 has been derived from the reports of the Indian traders. 



It has occurred to yne that a tour through that country, with 

 a view to examine the productions of its animal, vegetable, and 

 mineral kingdoms, to explore its facilities for water communica- 

 tion, to delineate its natural objects, and to ascertain its present 

 and future probable value, would not be uninteresting in itself, 

 nor useless to the Government. Such an expedition would not 

 be wholly unimportant in the public opinion, and would well 

 accord with that zeal for inquiries of this nature which has re- 

 cently marked the administration of the War Department. 



But, however interesting such a tour might be in itself, or 

 however important in its result, either in a political or geogra- 

 phical point of view, I should not have ventured to suggest the 

 subject, nor to solicit your permission to carry it into effect, were 

 it not, in other respects, intimately connected with the discharge 

 of my official duties. 



Mr. Woodbridge, the delegate from this Territory, at my re- 

 quest, takes charge of this letter, and he is so intimately acquainted 

 with the subject, and every way so competent to enter into any 

 explanations you may require, that I shall not be compelled to 

 go as much into detail as, under other circumstances, might be 

 necessary. 



The route which I propose to take, is from here to Michili- 



