University of Virginia Library

XLIX. XLIX

LEWIS AND CLARK TO THE NORTH WEST COMPANY

XLIX. [Letter sent by Lewis and Clark through Hugh M'Cracken, the trader met at the Mandan
villages. The original came into the possession of Roderic McKenzie, of Assiniboin; he sent a
copy to Jason Chamberlain, of the University of Vermont, who in February, 1812, forwarded it
to the editor of the Philadelphia Portfolio, in which it was published in May following—vol. vii,
no. 5, pp. 448, 449. Obviously, the document as published has been editorially "improved "over
the original.]

Sir: On our arrival at this Mandane Village, the 26th instant, we
met with Mr. Hugh M'Crachen, who informed us that he was in some
measure employed by you in behalf of the North West Company, to
traffic with the natives of this quarter; the return of the man to your
parts affords us the means of making, thus early, the present communication;
the contents of which we would thank you to make known, as
early as possible, to those engaged, and traders immediately under your
direction, as also, if convenient, to the principal representatives of any
other company of his Britannic Majesty's subjects, who may reside or
trade in this quarter.

We have been commissioned and sent by the government of the
United States for the purpose of exploring the river Missouri, and
the western parts of the continent of North America, with a view to the
promotion of general science. Your government have been advised of
the voyage and its objects, as the enclosed copy of a passport, granted
by Mr. Edward Thornton, his Britannic Majesty's charge d'affaires to
the United States, will evidence.

The cold season having now nearly arrived, we have determined to
fortify ourselves, and remain the ensuing winter, in the neighbourhood
of this place. During our residence here, or future progress on our
voyage, we calculate that the injunctions contained in the passport
before mentioned will, with respect to ourselves, govern the conduct of
such of his Brintannic Majesty's subjects as may be within communicative
reach of us. As individuals, we feel every disposition to cultivate

the friendship of all well-disposed persons; and all that we have at this
moment to ask of them, is a mutual exchange of good offices. We
shall, at all times, extend our protection as well to British subjects as
American citizens, who may visit the Indians of our neighbourhood,
provided they are well-disposed; this we are disposed to do, as well
from the pleasure we feel in becoming serviceable to good men, as
from a conviction that it is consonant with the liberal policy of our
government, not only to admit within her territory the free egress and
regress of all citizens and subjects of foreign powers with which she is
in amity, but also to extend to them her protection, while within the
limits of her jurisdiction.

If, sir, in the course of the winter, you have it in your power to
furnish us with any hints in relation to the geography of the country,
its productions, either mineral, animal, or vegetable, or any other
information which you might conceive of utility to mankind, or which
might be serviceable to us in the prosecution of our voyage, we should
feel ourselves extremely obliged by your furnishing us with it.