University of Virginia Library

XX. XX

JEFFERSON'S LETTER OF CREDIT TO LEWIS

XX. [From original MS. in Bureau of Rolls—Jefferson Papers, series 1, vol. 9, doc. 94.][1]

Dear Sir: In the journey which you are about to undertake[2] for
the discovery of the course and source of the Missouri, and of the most
convenient water communication from thence to the Pacific ocean,
your party being small, it is to be expected that you will encounter
considerable dangers from the Indian inhabitants. should you escape
those dangers and reach the Pacific ocean, you may find it imprudent
to hazard a return the same way, and be forced to seek a passage
round by sea, in such vessels as you may find on the Western coast.
but you will be without money, without clothes, & other necessaries;
as a sufficient supply cannot be carried with you from hence. your
resource in that case can only be in the credit of the U. S. for which
purpose I hereby authorise you to draw on the Secretaries of State, of
the Treasury, of War & of the Navy of the U S. according as you
may find your draughts will be most negociable, for the purpose of
obtaining money or necessaries for yourself & your men; and I solemnly
pledge the faith of the United States that these draughts shall be paid
punctually at the date they are made payable. I also ask of the
Consuls, agents, merchants & citizens of any nation with which we
have intercourse or amity to furnish you with those supplies which

your necessities may call for, assuring them of honorable and prompt
retribution. and our own Consuls in foreign parts where you may
happen to be, are hereby instructed & required to be aiding & assisting
you in whatsoever may be necessary for procuring your return back to
the United States. And to give more entire satisfaction & confidence to
those who may be disposed to aid you, I Thomas Jefferson, President
of the United States of America, have written this letter of general
credit for you with my own hand, and signed it with my name.