[II. CLARK'S REPLY THERETO]
Gentlemen: Those sentiments of esteem and solicitude for our
personal safety expressed in your affectionate address has excited in me
the livelyest sencibility.—To meet with the approbation of our country
for the attempt which has been made to render services to the government
by Capt. Lewis Myself and the party that accompanied us, is a
source of the highest gratification. It will be a pleasing reflection in
future life to find that the expedition has been productive of those
advantages to our Country, Geography, and science that you are willing
to imagine. To respect the rights of humanity has and ever will be
the leading principal of my life, and no reflection is more pleasing to
me than that of effecting the object we had in view with the effusion
of so small a portion of human blood.
Gentlemen we ought to assign the general safety of the party to a
singular interposition of providence, and not to the wisdom of those
who commanded the expedition. Your anxiety that our country should
reward our services with liberality, produces in me those emmotions
natural to the mind, at the same time acknowledging our uniform confidence
not only in the justice but the liberality of our Country.
The friendly attention manifested towards us by many of our fellow
citizens is highly flattering, but the distinguished attention shewn to me
by the Citizens of Fincastle & its vicinity produces those emmotions
which I am unable to discribe. I will do my self the Honor to hand
Capt. Lewis and make known to the faithfull party that accompanied
us your friendly address, which I will undertake to say for them will
be justly appreciated.
You will please Gentlemen except of the best wishes of your most
obedient Humble Servant
W. Clarke
To the Citizens of Fincastle and its vicinity
