3 



military and scientific, and particularly to several mem- 

 bers of the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, for 

 their prompt offers of any aid in their power to con- 

 tribute towards advancing the objects of the expedition 

 at its commencement. We are indebted more espe- 

 cially to Professors James, Walsh, and Patterson, to 

 Dr. Dewees and Mr. Duponceau: each of whom fur- 

 nished a number of queries, and a list of objects, by 

 which to direct our observations. These we found 

 eminently useful, and we regret to state that, with many 

 of our manuscripts they were inadvertently mislaid, 

 otherwise, they should have been published in this 

 place, for the information of future travellers. 



An interesting communication from Messrs. Gordon 

 and Wells, of Smithland, Kentucky, was received after 

 the first volume had gone to press, consequently too 

 late for insertion. 



As a farther introduction to our narrative, we sub- 

 join an extract from the orders of the Honourable 

 Secretary of War to Major Long, exhibiting an outline 

 of the plan and objects of the Expedition. 



" You will assume the command of the Expedition 

 to explore the country between the Mississippi and the 

 Rocky Mountains." 



" You will first explore the Missouri and its princi- 

 pal branches, and then, in succession, Red river, Ar- 

 kansa and Mississippi, above the mouth of the Mis- 

 souri." 



" The object of the Expedition, is to acquire as tho- 

 rough and accurate knowledge as may be practicable, 

 of a portion of our country, which is daily becoming 



