VII. VII
JEFFERSON TO DR. BENJAMIN RUSH[1]
VII. [Extract—from Ford, viii, p. 219.]
Washington, Feb. 28, 1803.
Dear Sir: I wish to mention to you in confidence that I have
obtained authority from Congress to undertake the long desired object
of exploring the Missouri & whatever river, heading with that, leads
into the western ocean. About 10. chosen woodsmen headed by
Capt. Lewis my secretary will set out on it immediately & probably
accomplish it in two seasons. Capt. Lewis is brave, prudent, habituated
to the woods, & familiar with Indian manners and character. He is
not regularly educated, but he possesses a great mass of accurate observation
on all the subjects of nature which present themselves here,
& will therefore readily select those only in his new route which shall
be new. He has qualified himself for those observations of longitude
& latitude necessary to fix the points of the line he will go over. It
would be very useful to state for him those objects on which it is most
desirable he should bring us information. For this purpose I ask the
favor of you to prepare some notes of such particulars as may occur in
his journey & which you think should draw his attention & enquiry
He will be in Philadelphia about 2. or 3. weeks hence & will wait on
you.
