XXIII. XXIII
JEFFERSON TO LEWIS
XXIII. [From original MS. in Bureau of Rolls—Jefferson Papers, series 2, vol. 51, doc. 115.]
Washington, July 15, 1803.
Dear Sir: I dropped you a line on the 11th. inst. and last night
recieved yours of the 8th. last night also we recieved the treaty from
Paris ceding Louisiana according to the bounds to which France had a
right. price 11 ¼ millions of Dollars, besides paying certain debts of
France to our citizens which will be from 1, to 4, millions. I received
also from Mr. La Cepede,[1]
at Paris, to whom I had mentioned your
intended expedition a letter of which the following is an extract. "Mr
Broughton, one of the companions of Mr. Vancouver went up Columbia
River 100 miles, in December 1792. he stopped at a point which he
named Vancouver, lat. 45° 27′, longitude 237° 50′ E. here the river
Columbia is still a quarter of a mile wide & from 12 to 36 feet deep.
It is far then to it's head. from this point Mount Hood is seen 20
leagues distant, which is probably a dependence of the Stony mountains,
of which mr Fiedler saw the beginning about lat 40° and the source of
the Missouri river is probably in the Stony mountains. if your nation
can establish an easy communication by rivers, canals & short portages
between N. York for example & the city (they were building) or (to be
built) (for the badness of the writing makes it uncertain which is
meant, but probably the last) at the mouth of the Columbia, what a
route for the commerce of Europe, Asia & America." Accept my
affectionate salutations.
Th. Jefferson.
Capt. M. Lewis.
