University of Virginia Library

IX. IX

LEWIS TO JEFFERSON

IX. [From original MS. in Bureau of Rolls—Jefferson Papers, series 2, vol. 51, doc. 97.]

With a view to forward as much as possible, the preparations which
must necessarily be made in the Western country previous to my final
departure, as also to prevent the delay, which would attatch to their
being made after my arrival in that quarter, I have taken the following
measures, which I hope will meet your approbation; they appear to me
to be as complete as my present view of the subject will admit my
making them, and I trust the result will prove as favorable as wished
for.

I have writen triplicates to Mr John Conner accepting his service as
an Interpreter; he is the young man I recollect mentioning to you as
having proffered his services to accompany me: to him I have communicated
the real extent and objects of my mission, but with strict
injunctions to secresy. He is directed to bring with him two Indians,
provided he can engage such as perfectly answer the description given
him. I have informed him of the military posts at which I shall
touch on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and the probable time of my
arrival at each, leaving it discretionary with himself to meet me at
either; in these letters are inclosed triplicates addressed to the Commandants
of those posts, recommending Mr. Conner to their good
offices, and requesting for him every aid in their power to bestow,
should he be in want of assistance to enable him to get forwad in due
time. The circumstance of Mr. Conner's residence being at the
Delleware Town on White river, and distant of course from any post
office, induced me to give these letters different conveyances, which I
did by inclosing them by different mails to three gentlemen of my
acquaintance in that country, two of whom, Capts. McClelland &
Hamilton, live within twenty seven miles of the town; they are requested,
and I am confident will find the means of conveying the letters
to him; the other with a similar request was inclosed to Capt. Findley

of Cincinnati, in whose exertions tho' more distant, I have equal
confidence.

I have also written to Majr. Mac Rea, the Commandant of South
West Point, and to several officers of my acquaintance who constitute
that garrison, stating to them that my destination was up the Mississippi
for the purpose of accomplishing the objects which we agreed on as
most proper to be declared publicly: the qualifications of the men are
mentioned, and they are requested to took out in time for such volunteers
as will answer that description; the inducements for those
persons engaging in this service were also stated. The garrison of
South West Point must form my first resource for the scelection of my
party, which I shall afterwards change as circumstances may seem to
recommend; and with a view to this change, I have written in a
similar manner to the officers commanding the posts of Massac,
Kaskaskais and Illinois, the posts at which I shall touch previous to
ascending the Missourie, and subsequent to my departure from S. W.
Point. the men in every instance are to be engaged conditionally, or
subject to my approval or otherwise.

I have also written to Dr. Dickson, at Nashville, and requested him
to contract in my behalf with some confidential boat-builder at that place,
to prepare a boat for me as soon as possible, and to purchase a large
light wooden canoe; for this purpose I inclosed the Dr. 50 Dollars,
which sum I did not concieve equal by any means to the purchase of
the two vessels, but supposed it sufficient for the purchase of the canoe,
and to answer also as a small advance to the boat-builder: a discription
of these vessels was given. The objects of my mission are stated to
him as beforementioned to the several officers.

I have also written to Genl. Irwine of Philadelphia, requesting that
he will have in a state of prepareation some articles which are necessary
for me, and which will be most difficult to obtain, or may take the
greatest length of time in their prepareation.

My detention at Harper's Ferry was unavoidable for one month, a
period much greater than could reasonably have been calculated on: my
greatest difficulty was the frame of the canoe, which could not be completed
without my personal attention to such portion of it as would
enable the workmen to understand the design perfectly; other inducements
seemed with equal force to urge my waiting the issue of a full
experiment, arising as well from a wish to incur no expence unnecessarily,
as from an unwillingness to risk any calculation on the
advantages of this canoe in which hereafter I might possibly be deceived;
experiment was necessary also to determine it's demensions; I therefore

resolved to give it a fair trial, and accordingly prepared two sections of
it with the same materials, of which they must of necessity be composed
when completed for servise on my voyage; they were of two disciptions,
the one curved, or in the shape necessary for the stem and stern,
the other simicilindrical, or in the form of those sections which constitute
the body of the canoe. The experiment and it's result wer as
follows:

Dementions

         

Curved Section.	F.	I.	Simicilindrical Section.	F.	I.
Length of Keel from junction of section to commencement of curve	1	2	Length of Keel	4	6
Length of curve	4	5	Ditto Beam	4	10
Width of broad end	4	10	Debth of Hole	2	2
Debth of D° D°	2	2	Note.—The curve of the body of the canoe was formed by a suspended cord.

Weight of the Materials.

           

Curved section.	lbs.	Simicilindrical Section.	lbs.
Iron	22	Iron	22
Hide	25	Hide	30
Wood	10	Wood	12
Bark	21	Bark	25
Total	78	Total	89

Competent to a

 

Burthen of 850 lbs.

Burthen of

920 lbs.

Necessary to be transported by land

   

Iron and Hide of Curved Section	47
Iron and Hide of Simicilindrical section	52	99 lbs.

   

Burthen of Curved Section	850
D° D° Simicilindrical Section	920	1,770 lbs.

Thus the weight of this vessel competent to the burthen of 1,770
lbs. amounts to no more than 99 lbs. the bark and wood, when it
becomes necessary to transport the vessel to any considerable distance,
may be discarded; as those articles are readily obtained for the purposes
of this canoe, at all seasons of the year, and in every quarter of the
country, which is tolerably furnished with forest trees. When these
sections were united they appeared to acquire an additional strength and

firmness, and I am confident that in cases of emergency they would be
competent to 150 lbs. more than the burthen already stated. Altho' the
weight of the articles employed in the construction of a canoe on this
plan, have considerably exceeded the estimate I had previously made,
yet they do not weigh more than those which form a bark canoe of
equal dementions, and in my opinion is much preferable to it in many
respects: it is much stronger, will carry it's burthen with equal ease,
and greater security; and when the Bark and wood are discarded, will
be much lighter, and can be transported with more safety and ease. I
was induced from the result of this experiment to direct the iron frame
of the canoe to be completed.

My Rifles, Tomahawks & knives are preparing at Harper's Ferry,
and are already in a state of forwardness that leaves me little doubt of
their being in readiness in due time.

I arrived at this place yesterday, called on Mr. Ellicot, and have this
day commenced, under his direction, my observations &c., to perfect myself
in the use and application of the instruments. Mr Ellicot is extremely
friendly and attentive, and I am confident is disposed to render
me every aid in his power: he thinks it will be necessary I should remain
here ten or twelve days.

Being fully impressed with the necessity of seting out as early as
possible, you may rest assured that not a moment shall be lost in making
the necessary preparations. I still think it practicable to reach the
mouth of the Missourie by the Ist. of August.