
          Spokan Mission, Oregon Territory, Decbr. [December] 28th 1843.


 To George C. Thorburn Esqr. [Esquire]


 My dear Sir! You will find it perhaps curious that I write to
 you after a lapse of ten years, and that I write at all, having never had the
 pleasure of becoming more intimate with you than a servant does commonly with
 his employer, I think it likely that you have forgotten me; however, this shall not prevent 
 me to address you by letter at least once, and should it be for no other benefit to 
 me, it at least will show to you that, kind treatment and regard [insert:s]; shown to man who
 stands in need of it, is almost without exception, and after many years or forever
 gratefully remembered.


 Since I left your service and New York my life has been very much subjected to changes and
 full of personal experience to me. It would require too much space to recapitulate to you
 my history and it might also be tedious to you, as my knowledge of the English language
 is not sufficient to say much with few words. Though I shall endeavour to give to you
 the outlines of it, as I am convinced that you take some interest in it, as well as in
 my future movements. May you also believe me that I shall duly appreciate any account
 of yours, which you might honor me with, in answer to this, and may this
 letter find you and yours in good health, happiness and prosperity.


 When I left New York on the 1st of March 1835, my course was directly to the far west,
 and on the 18th of April I was already on the western borders of the state of Missouri; I equipped
 myself and made a journey to the Pawnee-loups Indians on the Big Nemahaw [Nemaha?] and lower
 North Fork of the Platte river, got in some difficulty with the Indians, left them almost destitude [destitute]
 of every thing, sick at a climate fever and barely did I bring my life back to Missouri,
 it took me a long time to recover, and I embarked from the mouth of Kansas River
 for St Louis in the Septbr [September], in company with the celebrated astronomer and topographer
 Nicollet and Sir Charles Murray Viscount Dunmore from Scotland. In St Louis I found to
 my displeasure that all my letters had failed me, and to occupy myself with advantage
 and to make my living also I applied myself to printing, to acquire at the same time
 the English language of which I was much in need. I had enough for a long time on
 my first journey to the wildernes [wilderness] and remained Stationary at St Louis until March 1838,
 then I got a letter from the above named Nicollet from Washington city, inviting me as
 an officer of the western exploring expedition for the botanical department, under order
 of the Secretary of war. This I accepted and I filled, (I think) my place to the satisfaction
 of my patrons for several consecutive expeditions; to the sources of the Mississippi,
 throughout the whole territory between the Missouri & Mississippi up to the line of British
 America, and the Missouri River to the Yellowstone; I held my place up to the 1st of July
 1840 when I attended Your brothers establishment at St Louis during his journey and voyage
 to Scotland. I will not dwell on the unfortunate catastrophe which brought ruin on
 his fine establishment, nor will I name the causes, though well known to me and likely
 to you also, sufficient is for me to say to you that I could have then prevented the
 effect of his absence, had he [crossed out: had] entrusted me with sufficient power to administer his
 affairs, instead of others who instead of saving him brought ruin upon him, by not advising
 him to leave a power of attorney to raise money by mortgage, which was the 
 only means for relief. Pierre Chouteau Jun. was ready to pay 3400 dollars (the sum
 of debts, which [crossed out: his] [inserted: your brothers] bookkeeper posted out from the books) had I been able to produce
 a power of attorney.  This, Mr Chouteau and his Son in-law Sandford, who are at present
 in New York will attest and corroborate. Later I had reason to disapprove of the course
 your brother took, and had no more intercourse with him, nor could I have bee [been] of any
 service to him. Last spring I equipped myself for a botanical expedition to the Rocky
 mountain and I went up in the suite of Sir Wm [William] Drummond Stuart [Stewart], (Earl of Conn from
 [Munthly?] in the county of Perth in Scotland), as far as the Colorado River, from there I went
 with the expedition of the Jesuits to the Flathead Ind., passing Lewis River and the Sources
 and upper forks of the Madison, from there to Clark River, through the country of the terrible
 Blackfeet Indians; during the November I crossed the mountains between the Salesh or Flatheads 
 and the Skitsowich or Coeur d'aleine [d'Alene] Ind [Indian], one of the most terrible journeys I ever
 made, especially in the midst of winter, crossing 76 times streams, (tributaries of Clark River)
 Some we had to swim; from there I crossed without guide and by the risk of my life and
 limbs the mountains between Skitsowich and Spokan [Spokane?] River and arrived at Christmas day
 at the Missionary Station of the American board of Missions at the Spokan Indians, at the
 house of Mres Eells and Walker, Revds., where I was welcomed like a christian, and 
 indeed:

        