JAMES MADISON. 185 



It was during Jefferson's presidency that a measure 

 proposed by him to Congress, on the 18th of January, 1803, 

 was sanctioned: That of exploring the river Missouri from 

 its mouth to it source, and crossing the highlands by the 

 shortest passage, to seek the best water communication, 

 thence to the Pacific Ocean. This exploration was suc- 

 cessfully made by Captain Meriwether Lewis, assisted by 

 Lieutenant Clarke. 



They entered the Missouri on the 14th of May, 1804, and 

 on the 1st of November took up their winter quarters near the 

 Mandan towns, 1600 miles above the mouth of the river, in 

 latitude 47 ° 21' 47" north, and longitude 99° 24' 56" west 

 from Greenwich. On the 8th of April, 1805, they proceeded 

 up the river in pursuance of the object prescribed to them. 

 During his stay among the Mandans, Captain Lewis was able 

 to lay down the Missouri according to courses and distances 

 taken on his passage up, corrected by frequent observations 

 of longitude and latitude, and to add to the actual survey of 

 this portion of the river, a general map of the country, between 

 the Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean, from the 33 to the 54 

 degrees of latitude. He also observed the customs, language, 

 commerce, and other interesting facts respecting the Indian 

 tribes inhabiting the territory of Louisiana, and the adjacent 

 countries to its northern and western borders. 



This was the first voyage of discovery made in the 

 West, by order of the Government of the United States. 



JAMES MADISON, 1809— 1817. 



James MADISON, the fourth President of the United 

 States, took office in March, 1809. George Clinton being 

 elected Vice-President. 



One of the first acts of the Congress was to repeal the 

 embargo law ; but at the same time prohibiting all intercourse 

 with France and England, in war at the time. In consequence 

 of repeated hostilities committed by the English, war was 

 declared against that country on. the 1 8th of June, 1812. It 

 was fought with great bravery on both sides, on land and at 

 sea, and lasted during the whole of the first and part of the 

 second term of office of President Madison. 



After the repulse of the British troops from Baltimore and 

 Plattsburg, and the capture of the English squadron on Lake 

 Champlain, a treaty of peace was signed at Ghent, on the 24th 

 of December, 18 14, and was ratified by the Prince Regent of 



