AN ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO 

 THE TRAVELS OF LEWIS AND CLARKE, WITH A COMMENTARY 

 ON THE ZOOLOGICAL RESULTS OF THEIR EXPEDITION. 



By Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A. 



PAKT I.— BIBLIOGRAPHICAL. 



Publication of the results of this memorable undertakiug was attended 

 by the untoward circumstances that neither of the persons chiefly con- 

 cerned became the ostensible author, and that, pending the preparation 

 of their unfinished MSS. for the press at other hands, two separate 

 sources of incomplete information respecting their travels became avail- 

 able. These were eagerly seized by publishers, who appreciated the 

 lively and general interest which the intrepid explorers had awakened. 

 The "result has been the appearance of a number of books of the most 

 diversified character, all of which, nevertheless, purport to be, in one 

 way or another, the "Narrative," "Travels," or "Journey," of "Lewis 

 and Clarke," though the claim of the majority of them to be so considered 

 rests upon slight foundation. The bibliography of the subject, if not 

 more extensive than would be expected, is in a confused state, and 

 quotation of Lewis and Clarke has become impossible without explicit 

 reference to some particular edition. 



Having frequent occasion to consult the work in its bearing upon the 

 zoology of the West, a subject now undergoing searching scrutiny at 

 many able hands, I have been led to examine the matter with some 

 care, and with the result here presented, which, it is hoped, may tend 

 to place the subject in clearer light. I have examined most of the 

 editions, and am able to give the titles of others not seen. 



Probably the best account extant of these books is that contained 

 in Thomas W. Field's "An Essay towards an Indian Bibliography,"^ 

 &c. (New York, 8vo, 1873.) The author, however, includes none 

 of the foreign versions, and omits several others 1 have seen. — And 

 here I would add that, in the arid wilderness of titles, often imperfect 

 if not erroneous, which compose the average catalogues of books, it is 

 refreshing to meet with such a model piece of bibliography as this 

 masterly work of Mr. Field's. 



All of the numerous editions and versions of " Lewis and Clarke " which 

 I have seen or heard of may be traced to one or another of three sources, 

 namely : — 



I. The Je-fferson Message and Accompanying Documents. (180G.) 

 IL The Gass Journal. (1807.) 



IIL The Biddle- Allen History of the Expedition. (1814.) 



Of these, the last named alone is the complete, autlientic, and author- 

 ized account, prepared from the original MSS. of Lewis and Clarke. 

 The Gass Journal is a perfectly authentic narrative of the journey, b3'- 

 a non-commissioned officer attached to tlie party, but is not a "Lewis 

 and Clarke." From Jeiierson's othcial communication, which is, of course, 

 exactly what it purports to be, have sprung a number of books to which 

 the names of Lewis and Clarke are more or less prominently at- 

 tached; all of which are, nevertheless, .spurious as far as they claim to 

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