Sious City Academy of Science and Letters. 17 
July 2, 18038, to the end that the contractor’s agent should 
put on Capt. Lewis’ boat proper provisions to carry him 
and his men to Massac, and that he be furnished with 
eighteen light axes. 
“No record has been found showing the items of the 
account rendered to the Sec. of War, referred to by Capt. 
Lewis in his letter to President Jefferson, dated at Fort 
Mandan, Apr. 7, 1805. 
“By authority of the Sec. of War, 
“RY. C. AINSWORTH. 
“Chief Record and Pension Office.” 
In explanation of this lack of records at the War 
Dept. in Washington, we must remember that the pres- 
ent organization of that department is comparattively 
recent, and that what old records escaped destruction at 
the hands of the British in 1814 are somewhat scattered. 
But as I have already said my friend learned almost by 
accident that the expeditions of a century ago were fitted 
out at Philadelphia, and that there could be found some 
curious information concerning such old matters in the 
records of the old “Purveyor of Public Supplies.” A let- 
ter to the Depot Quartermaster at Philadelphia was re- 
ferred to the Commanding Officer of the Schuylkill 
Arsenal, and from him came the desired information in 
copies from the old records in his office. The following 
is a copy of his endorsement: 
“Phila. Depot Q. M. Dept., 
“Schuylkill Arsenal. 
“Phila., Pa., Mar. 17, 1904. 
“Respectfully returned to the Depot of Q. M., Phila., 
Pa., with copies of the papers specified below, relating to 
the Lewis and Clark expedition, which were found among 
the old records of this arsenal. 
“No. 1. Copy of list of articles wanted by Capt. 
Lewis. 
“No. 2. Copy of itemized statement of articles pur- 
chased and furnished to Capt. Lewis by Israel Whelen, 
Purveyor of Public Supplies. 
