ToMerryweatherLewis，Esq。，Captainofthe1stRegimentofInfantryoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica。
　　YoursituationasSecretaryofthePresidentoftheUnitedStateshasmadeyouacquaintedwiththeobjectsofmyconfidentialmessageofJan。18，1803，tothelegislature。Youhaveseentheacttheypassed，which，tho’expressedingeneralterms，wasmeanttosanctionthoseobjects，andyouareappointedtocarrythemintoexecution。
　　Instrumentsforascertainingbycelestialobservationsthegeographyofthecountrythro’whichyouwillpass，havebeenalreadyprovided。Lightarticlesforbarter，&presentsamongtheIndians，armsforyourattendants，sayforfrom10to12men，boats，tents，&
　　othertravellingapparatus，withammunition，medicine，surgicalinstruments&provisionyouwillhavepreparedwithsuchaidsastheSecretaryatWarcanyieldinhisdepartment；&fromhimalsoyouwillreceiveauthoritytoengageamongourtroops，byvoluntaryagreement，thenumberofattendantsabovementioned，overwhomyou，astheircommandingofficerareinvestedwithallthepowersthelawsgiveinsuchacase。
　　AsyourmovementswhilewithinthelimitsoftheU。S。willbebetterdirectedbyoccasionalcommunications，adaptedtocircumstancesastheyarise，theywillnotbenoticedhere。WhatfollowswillrespectyourproceedingsafteryourdeparturefromtheU。S。
　　YourmissionhasbeencommunicatedtotheMinistersherefromFrance，Spain，&GreatBritain，andthroughthemtotheirgovernments：andsuchassurancesgiventhemastoit’sobjectsaswetrustwillsatisfythem。ThecountryofLouisianahavingbeencededbySpaintoFrance，thepassportyouhavefromtheMinisterofFrance，therepresentativeofthepresentsovereignofthecountry，willbeaprotectionwithallit’ssubjects：AndthatfromtheMinisterofEnglandwillentitleyoutothefriendlyaidofanytradersofthatallegiancewithwhomyoumayhappentomeet。
　　TheobjectofyourmissionistoexploretheMissouririver，&
　　suchprincipalstreamofit，as，byit’scourse&communicationwiththewaterofthePacificOceanmayofferthemostdirect&
　　practicablewatercommunicationacrossthiscontinent，forthepurposesofcommerce。
　　BeginningatthemouthoftheMissouri，youwilltakeobservationsoflatitudeandlongitudeatallremarkablepointsontheriver，&especiallyatthemouthsofrivers，atrapids，atislands&otherplaces&objectsdistinguishedbysuchnaturalmarks&charactersofadurablekind，asthattheymaywithcertaintyberecognizedhereafter。Thecoursesoftheriverbetweenthesepointsofobservationmaybesuppliedbythecompass，thelog-line&bytime，correctedbytheobservationsthemselves。Thevariationsofthecompasstoo，indifferentplacesshouldbenoticed。
　　TheinterestingpointsoftheportagebetweentheheadsoftheMissouri&thewaterofferingthebestcommunicationwiththePacificOceanshouldbefixedbyobservation&thecourseofthatwatertotheocean，inthesamemannerasthatoftheMissouri。
　　Yourobservationsaretobetakenwithgreatpains&accuracy，tobeentereddistinctly，&intelligiblyforothersaswellasyourself，tocomprehendalltheelementsnecessary，withtheaidoftheusualtablestofixthelatitude&longitudeoftheplacesatwhichtheyweretaken，&aretoberenderedtothewaroffice，forthepurposeofhavingthecalculationsmadeconcurrentlybyproperpersonswithintheU。S。Severalcopiesoftheseaswellasofyourothernotes，shouldbemadeatleisuretimes&putintothecareofthemosttrustworthyofyourattendants，toguardbymultiplyingthemagainsttheaccidentallossestowhichtheywillbeexposed。A
　　furtherguardwouldbethatoneofthesecopiesbewrittenonthepaperofthebirch，aslessliabletoinjuryfromdampthancommonpaper。
　　Thecommercewhichmaybecarriedonwiththepeopleinhabitingthelineyouwillpursue，rendersaknolegeofthesepeopleimportant。Youwillthereforeendeavortomakeyourselfacquainted，asfarasadiligentpursuitofyourjourneyshalladmit。
　　withthenamesofthenations&theirnumbers；
　　theextent&limitsoftheirpossessions；
　　theirrelationswithothertribesornations；
　　theirlanguage，traditions，monuments；
　　theirordinaryoccupationsinagriculture，fishing，hunting，war，arts，&theimplementsforthese；
　　theirfood，clothing，&domesticaccommodations；
　　thediseasesprevalentamongthem，&theremediestheyuse；
　　moralandphysicalcircumstancewhichdistinguishthemfromthetribestheyknow；
　　peculiaritiesintheirlaws，customs&dispositions；
　　andarticlesofcommercetheymayneedorfurnish&towhatextent。
　　Andconsideringtheinterestwhicheverynationhasinextending&strengtheningtheauthorityofreason&justiceamongthepeoplearoundthem，itwillbeusefultoacquirewhatknolegeyoucanofthestateofmorality，religion&informationamongthem，asitmaybetterenablethosewhoendeavortocivilize&instructthem，toadapttheirmeasurestotheexistingnotions&practisesofthoseonwhomtheyaretooperate。
　　Otherobjectsworthyofnoticewillbethesoil&faceofthecountry，itsgrowth&vegetableproductions；especiallythosenotoftheU。S。
　　theanimalsofthecountrygenerally，&especiallythosenotknownintheU。S。
　　Theremains&accountsofanywhichmaybedeemedrareorextinct；
　　themineralproductionsofeverykind；butmoreparticularlymetals，limestone，pitcoal&saltpetre；salines&mineralwaters，notingthetemperatureofthelast&suchcircumstancesasmayindicatetheircharacter；volcanicappearances；
　　climateascharacterizedbythethermometer，bytheproportionofrainy，cloudy&cleardays，bylightening，hail，snow，ice，bytheaccess&recessoffrost，bythewinds，prevailingatdifferentseasons，thedatesatwhichparticularplantsputforthorlosetheirflowers，orleaf，timesofappearanceofparticularbirds，reptilesorinsects。
　　Altho’yourroutewillbealongthechanneloftheMissouri，yetyouwillendeavortoinformyourselfbyinquiry，ofthecharacterandextentofthecountrywateredbyitsbranches，andespeciallyonit’ssouthernside。ThenorthriverorRioBravowhichrunsintothegulphofMexico，andthenorthriver，orRiocolorado，whichrunsintothegulphofCalifornia，areunderstoodtobetheprincipalstreamsheadingoppositetothewatersoftheMissouri，&runningSouthwardly。WhetherthedividinggroundsbetweentheMissouri&
　　themaremountainsorflatlands，whataretheirdistancefromtheMissouri，thecharacteroftheintermediatecountry，&thepeopleinhabitingit，areworthyofparticularenquiry。ThenorthernwatersoftheMissouriarelesstobeenquiredafter，becausetheyhavebeenascertainedtoaconsiderabledegree，andarestillinacourseofascertainmentbyEnglishtraders&travellers。ButifyoucanlearnanythingcertainofthemostnorthernsourceoftheMississippi，&ofit’spositionrelativetothelakeofthewoods，itwillbeinterestingtous。SomeaccounttooofthepathoftheCanadiantradersfromtheMississippi，atthemouthoftheOuisconsinriver，towhereitstrikestheMissouriandofthesoilandriversinit’scourse，isdesirable。
　　Inallyourintercoursewiththenativestreattheminthemostfriendly&conciliatorymannerwhichtheirownconductwilladmit；
　　allayalljealousiesastotheobjectofyourjourney，satisfythemofit’sinnocence，makethemacquaintedwiththeposition，extent，character，peaceable&commercialdispositionsoftheU。S。，ofourwishtobeneighborly，friendly&usefultothem，&ofourdispositionstoacommercialintercoursewiththem；conferwiththemonthepointsmostconvenientasmutualemporiums，&thearticlesofmostdesirableinterchangeforthem&us。Ifafewoftheirinfluentialchiefs，withinpracticabledistance，wishtovisitus，arrangesuchavisitwiththem，andfurnishthemwithauthoritytocallonourofficers，ontheirenteringtheU。S。tohavethemconveyedtothisplaceatthepublicexpense。Ifanyofthemshouldwishtohavesomeoftheiryoungpeoplebroughtupwithus，&taughtsuchartsasmaybeusefultothem，wewillreceive，instruct&takecareofthem。Suchamission，whetherofinfluentialchiefs，orofyoungpeople，wouldgivesomesecuritytoyourownparty。Carrywithyousomematterofthekine-pox，informthoseofthemwithwhomyoumaybeofit’sefficacyasapreservativefromthesmall-pox；andinstruct&encouragethemintheuseofit。Thismaybeespeciallydonewhereveryoumaywinter。
　　Asitisimpossibleforustoforeseeinwhatmanneryouwillbereceivedbythosepeople，whetherwithhospitalityorhostility，soisitimpossibletoprescribetheexactdegreeofperseverancewithwhichyouaretopursueyourjourney。Wevaluetoomuchthelivesofcitizenstoofferthemtoprobablydestruction。Yournumberswillbesufficienttosecureyouagainsttheunauthorizedoppositionofindividuals，orofsmallparties：butifasuperiorforce，authorizedornotauthorized，byanation，shouldbearrayedagainstyourfurtherpassage，&inflexiblydeterminedtoarrestit，youmustdeclineit’sfurtherpursuit，&return。Inthelossofyourselves，weshouldlosealsotheinformationyouwillhaveacquired。Byreturningsafelywiththat，youmayenableustorenewtheessaywithbettercalculatedmeans。Toyourowndiscretionthereforemustbeleftthedegreeofdangeryoumayrisk，&thepointatwhichyoushoulddecline，onlysayingwewishyoutoerronthesideofyoursafety，&tobringbackyourpartysafe，evenifitbewithlessinformation。
　　AsfaruptheMissouriasthewhitesettlementsextend，anintercoursewillprobablybefoundtoexistbetweenthemandtheSpanishpostsatSt。Louis，oppositeCahokia，orSte。GenevieveoppositeKaskaskia。Fromstillfartheruptheriver，thetradersmayfurnishaconveyanceforletters。BeyondthatyoumayperhapsbeabletoengageIndianstobringlettersforthegovernmenttoCahokiaorKaskaskiaonpromisingthattheyshalltherereceivesuchspecialcompensationasyoushallhavestipulatedwiththem。Availyourselfofthesemeanstocommunicatetousatseasonableintervalsacopyofyourjournal，notes&observationsofeverykind，puttingintocipherwhatevermightdoinjuryifbetrayed。
　　ShouldyoureachthePacificOceaninformyourselfofthecircumstanceswhichmaydecidewhetherthefursofthosepartsmaynotbecollectedasadvantageouslyattheheadoftheMissouriconvenientasissupposedtothewatersoftheColorado&OregonorColumbiaasatNootkaSoundoranyotherpointofthatcoast；&thattradebeconsequentlyconductedthroughtheMissouri&U。S。morebeneficiallythanbythecircumnavigationnowpractised。
　　Onyourarrivalonthatcoastendeavortolearniftherebeanyportwithinyourreachfrequentedbythesea-vesselsofanynation，andtosendtwoofyourtrustedpeoplebackbysea，insuchwayasshallappearpracticable，withacopyofyournotes。Andshouldyoubeofopinionthatthereturnofyourpartybythewaytheywentwillbeeminentlydangerous，thenshipthewhole，&returnbyseabywayofCapeHornortheCapeofGoodHope，asyoushallbeable。Asyouwillbewithoutmoney，clothesorprovisions，youmustendeavortousethecreditoftheU。S。toobtainthem；forwhichpurposeopenlettersofcreditshallbefurnishedyouauthorizingyoutodrawontheExecutiveoftheU。S。oranyofitsofficersinanypartoftheworld，inwhichdraftscanbedisposedof，andtoapplywithourrecommendationstotheconsuls，agents，merchantsorcitizensofanynationwithwhichwehaveintercourse，assuringtheminournamethatanyaidstheymayfurnishyou，shallbehonorablyrepaidandondemand。OurconsulsThomasHowesatBataviainJava，WilliamBuchananoftheIslesofFranceandBourbon&JohnElmslieattheCapeofGoodHopewillbeabletosupplyyournecessitiesbydraftsonus。
　　Shouldyoufinditsafetoreturnbythewayyougo，aftersendingtwoofyourpartyroundbysea，orwithyourwholeparty，ifnoconveyancebyseacanbefound，doso；makingsuchobservationsonyourreturnasmayservetosupply，correctorconfirmthosemadeonyouroutwardjourney。
　　Inre-enteringtheU。S。andreachingaplaceofsafety，dischargeanyofyourattendantswhomaydesire&deserveit：
　　procuringforthemimmediatepaimentofallarrearsofpay&
　　cloathingwhichmayhaveincurredsincetheirdeparture&assurethemthattheyshallberecommendedtotheliberalityoftheLegislatureforthegrantofasouldier’sportionoflandeach，asproposedinmymessagetoCongress：&repairyourselfwithyourpaperstotheseatofgovernment。
　　Toprovide，ontheaccidentofyourdeath，againstanarchy，dispersion&theconsequentdangertoyourparty，andtotalfailureoftheenterprise，youareherebyauthorizedbyanyinstrumentsigned&writteninyourownhandtonamethepersonamongthemwhoshallsucceedtothecommandonyourdecease，&bylikeinstrumentstochangethenominationfromtimetotime，asfurtherexperienceofthecharactersaccompanyingyoushallpointoutsuperiorfitness：andallthepowers&authoritiesgiventoyourselfare，intheeventofyourdeathtransferredto&vestedinthesuccessorsonamed，withfurtherpowertohim，&hissuccessorsinlikemannertonameeachhissuccessor，who，onthedeathofhispredecessorshallbeinvestedwithallthepowers&authoritiesgiventoyourself。
　　GivenundermyhandatthecityofWashington，this20thdayofJune，1803。
　　ANATIONALAGRICULTURALSOCIETY
　　_ToSirJohnSinclair_
　　_Washington，June30，1803_
　　DEARSIR，——ItissolongsinceIhavehadthepleasureofwritingtoyou，thatitwouldbevaintolookbacktodatestoconnecttheoldandthenew。YetIoughtnottopassovermyacknowledgmentstoyouforvariouspublicationsreceivedfromtimetotime，andwithgreatsatisfactionandthankfulness。Isendyouasmalloneinreturn，theworkofaveryunletteredfarmer，yetvaluable，asitrelatesplainfactsofimportancetofarmers。YouwilldiscoverthatMr。Binnsisanenthusiastfortheuseofgypsum。
　　Buttherearetwofactswhichprovehehasarighttobeso：1。Hebeganpoor，andhasmadehimselftolerablyrichbyhisfarmingalone。
　　2。ThecountyofLoudon，inwhichhelives，hadbeensoexhaustedandwastedbybadhusbandry，thatitbegantodepopulate，theinhabitantsgoingSouthwardlyinquestofbetterlands。Binns’successhasstoppedthatemigration。ItisnowbecomingoneofthemostproductivecountiesoftheStateofVirginia，andthepricegivenforthelandsismultipliedmanifold。
　　Wearestilluninformedherewhetheryouareagainatwar。
　　BonapartehasproducedsuchastateofthingsinEuropeasitwouldseemdifficultforhimtorelinquishinanysensibledegree，andequallydangerousforGreatBritaintosuffertogoon，especiallyifaccompaniedbymaritimepreparationsonhispart。TheeventswhichhavetakenplaceinFrancehavelessenedintheAmericanmindthemotivesofinterestwhichitfeltinthatrevolution，anditsamitytowardsthatcountrynowrestsonitsloveofpeaceandcommerce。Wesee，atthesametime，withgreatconcern，thepositioninwhichGreatBritainisplaced，andshouldbesincerelyafflictedwereanydisastertodeprivemankindofthebenefitofsuchabulwarkagainstthetorrentwhichhasforsometimebeenbearingdownallbeforeit。
　　Butherpowerandpowersatseaseemtorendereverythingsafeintheend。Peaceisourpassion，andthewrongsmightdriveusfromit。
　　Weprefertrying_ever_otherjustprinciples，rightandsafety，beforewewouldrecurtowar。