IV. IV
ANDRÉ MICHAUX'S PROPOSED EXPEDITION, 1793
Jefferson's Instructions to André Michaux for exploring the Western Boundary.
[From Ford, vi, pp. 158–161.]
Sundry persons having subscribed certain sums of money for your
encouragement to explore the country along the Missouri, and thence
westwardly to the Pacific ocean, having submitted the plan of the enterprise
to the directors of the American Philosophical society, and the
society having accepted of the trust, they proceeded to give you the
following instructions:
They observe to you that the chief objects of your journey are to find
the shortest and most convenient route of communication between the
United States and the Pacific ocean, within the temperate latitudes, and
to learn such particulars as can be obtained of the country through which
it passes, its productions, inhabitants, and other interesting circumstances.
As a channel of communication between these States and the Pacific
ocean, the Missouri, so far as it extends, presents itself under circumstances
of unquestioned preference. It has, therefore, been declared as
a fundamental object of the subscription (not to be dispensed with) that
this river shall be considered and explored as a part of the communication
sought for. To the neighborhood of this river, therefore, that is to say,
to the town of Kaskaskia, the society will procure you a conveyance in
company with the Indians of that town now in Philadelphia.
From thence you will cross the Mississippi and pass by land to the
nearest part of the Missouri above the Spanish settlements, that you may
avoid the risk of being stopped.
You will then pursue such of the largest streams of that river as shall
lead by the shortest way and the lowest latitudes to the Pacific ocean.
When, pursuing those streams, you shall find yourself at the point from
whence you may get by the shortest and most convenient route to some
principal river of the Pacific ocean, you are to proceed to such river and
pursue its course to the ocean. It would seem by the latest maps as if
a river called Oregon, interlocked with the Missouri for a considerable
distance, and entered the Pacific ocean not far southward of Nootka
Sound. But the society are aware that these maps are not to be trusted
so far as to be the ground of any positive instruction to you. They
therefore only mention the fact, leaving to yourself to verify it, or to
follow such other as you shall find to be the real truth.
You will in the course of your journey, take notice of the country
you pass through, its general face, soil, rivers, mountains, its productions
—animal, vegetable, and mineral—so far as they may be new to us,
and may also be useful or very curious; the latitude of places or material
for calculating it by such simple methods as your situation may admit
you to practice, the names, members, and dwellings of the inhabitants,
and such particulars, as you can learn of their history, connection with
each other, languages, manners, state of society, and of the arts and
commerce among them.
Under the head of animal history, that of the mammoth is particularly
recommended to your inquiries, as it is also to learn whether the Lama
or Paca of Peru, is found in those parts of this continent, or how far
north they come.
The method of preserving your observations is left to yourself according
to the means which shall be in your power. It is only suggested
that the noting them on the skin might be best for such as may be the
most important, and that further details may be committed to the bark
of the paper-birch, a substance which may not excite suspicions among
the Indians, and little liable to injury from wet or other common accidents.
By the means of the same substance you may perhaps find
opportunities, from time to time of communicating to the society information
of your progress, and of the particulars you shall have noted.
When you shall have reached the Pacific ocean, if you find yourself
within convenient distance of any settlement of Europeans, go to them,
commit to writing a narrative of your journey and observations, and take
the best measure you can for conveying it thence to the society by sea.
Return by the same, or some other route, as you shall think likely to
fulfil with most satisfaction and certainty the objects of your mission,
furnishing yourself with the best proofs the nature of the case will admit
of the reality and extent of your progress, whether this shall be by certificates
from Europeans settled on the western coast of America, or by
what other means, must depend on circumstances. Ignorance of the
country through which you are to pass, and confidence in your judgement,
zeal, and discretion, prevent the society from attempting more
minute instructions, and even from exacting rigorous observance of
those already given, except, indeed, what is the first of all objects, that
you seek for and pursue that route which shall form the shortest and
most convenient communication between the higher parts of the Missouri
and the Pacific ocean.
It is strongly recommended to you to expose yourself in no case to
unnecessary dangers, whether such as might affect your health or your
personal safety, and to consider this not merely as your personal concern,
but as the injunction of science in general, which expects its enlargement
from your inquiries, to whom your report will open new fields and
subjects of commerce, intercourse, and observation.
If you reach the Pacific ocean and return, the society assign to you
all the benefits of the subscription before mentioned. If you reach the
waters only that run into that ocean, the society reserve to themselves
the apportionment of the reward according to the conditions expressed
in the subscription. If you do not reach even those waters they refuse
all reward, and reclaim the money you may have received here under
the subscription.
They will expect you to return to the city of Philadelphia to give in
to them a full narrative of your journey and observations, and to answer
the inquiries they shall make of you, still reserving to yourself the
benefit arising from the publication of such parts of them as are in the
said subscription reserved to you.
Synopsis of Proceedings of American Philosophical Society, in the matter of
Michaux's Expedition.
April 19, 1793—Society votes to solicit subscriptions "to enable
Andrew Michaux to make discoveries in the Western Country."
April 30, 1793—"Resolved, That the President be requested to
pay to Mr. Michaux, such sum of the subscription as he hath or may
receive;—not exceeding 400 dollars."
Dec. 16, 1796. The Michaux Committee reported that "Mr
Michaux's proposed plan . . . . had failed."
Feb. 1, 1799—Treasurer instructed "to call on the Executors of
David Rittenhouse & receive from them the Sums contributed, and
placed in his hands, towards aiding the expedition of Mr. Micheau."
Committee appointed "to report the proceedings which have been had
with respect to the sums received on account of Mr. Micheau's Expedition,
and their opinion on the proper measures to be pursued thereon.—
Collin, Peale, Wistar."
May 17, 1799—"A letter was received from the Treasurer satisfying
the enquiry made in the minutes of 1
st Feb. relative to a certain sum
of money left in the hands of M
r. Rittenhouse."
April 4, 1800.—"Dr. Collin presented a Statement of sums received
by him for the Society, to aid Mr Micheau's projected expedition some
years since; received previously to 25th April 1793, viz. Alex. Hamilton
$12.50; Geo. Washington $25; John Vaughan $12.50; Walter
Stewart, John Ross, J. B. Bordley, each $5; Wm. White $2.50;
Robert Morris $20; Ewing, S. Powell, McConnell, Nixon, each $2.50;
S. Coats, $2.25; B. Bache, Jared Ingersol, M. Clarkson, J. Dorsey,
each $2; R. Blackwell, N. Collin, each $4; Thos. Jefferson $12.50.—
Total $128.25."
