XXVII. XXVII
CLARK REITERATES HIS ACCEPTANCE OF
LEWIS'S OFFER
XXVII. [From original MS. in possession of Mrs. Julia Clark Voorhis and Miss Eleanor Glasgow Voorhis.]
Louisville 24th July 1803
Dear Lewis: I wrote you in answer to your letter of the 19th ulto:
by the last Mail, the contents of which as I before informed you were
truly pleasing to me and such as I heartily join you in. I am arranging
my matters so as to detain but a short time after your arrival here, well
convinced of the necessity of getting as far as possible up the——
this fall to accomplish the object as laid down by yourself and which I
highly approve of.
I have temporally engaged some men for the enterprise of a description
calculated to work & go thro' those labours & fatigues which will
be necessary. Several young men (gentlemen's sons) have applyed to
accompany us. As they are not accustomed to labour and as that is a
verry essential part of the services required of the party, I am cautious
in giving them any encouragement. The newspaper accounts seem to
confirm the report of war in Europe and the session of Louisiana to the
United States and as I think it possible that a confirmation of the session
of Louisiana may have detained you at the City longer than you expected,
I have enclosed a letter to you under cover to Mr. Jefferson. Pray let
me hear from you as often as possible.
Yr. WC.
[The following paragraph in the above rough draft was scratched out:]
My friend I join you with hand & Heart and anticipate advantages
which will certainly arrive from the accomplishment of so vast, Hazidous
& fatiguing enterprise. You no doubt will inform the president of my
determination to join you in an "official Character" as mentioned in
your letter. The Credentials necessary for me to be furnished with
had best be forwarded to this place, and if we set out before their
arrival, to Kaskaskie.
