University of Virginia Library

LIX. LIX

CLARK TO CHARBONNEAU

LIX. [From original MS., probably the draft retained by Clark, in possession of Mrs. Julia Clark Voorhis
and Miss Eleanor Glasgow Voorhis.]

Sir: Your present Situation with the Indians givs me Some concern—
I wish now I had advised you to come on with me to the Illinois where
it most probably would be in my power to put you in Some way to do
Something for your Self—I was so engaged after the Big White had
concluded to go down with Jessomme as his Interpreter, that I had not
time to talk with you as much as I intended to have done. You have
been a long time with me and have conducted your Self in Such a manner
as to gain my friendship, your woman who accompanied you that
long dangerous and fatigueing rout to the Pacific Ocean and back, diserved
a greater reward for her attention and Services on that rout than
we had in our power to give her at the Mandans. As to your little Son
(my boy Pomp) you well know my fondness for him and my anxiety to
take and raise him as my own child. I once more tell you if you will
bring your son Baptiest to me I will educate him and treat him as my
own child—I do not forget the promis which I made to you and Shall
now repeet them that you may be certain—Charbono, if you wish to
live with the white people, and will come to me I will give you a piece
of land and furnish you with horses cows & hogs—If you wish to visit
your friends in Montreall I will let you have a horse, and your family
Shall be taken care of untill your return—if you wish to return as an
Interpreter for the Menetarras when the troops come up to form the
establishment, you will be with me ready and I will procure you the
place—or if you wish to return to, trade with the indians and will leave
your little Son Pomp with me, I will assist you with merchendize for that
purpose and become my self conserned with you in trade on a Small
scale that is to say not exceeding a perogue load at one time—. If you
are desposed to accept either of my offers to you and will bring down

your Son your famn Janey had best come along with you to take care of
the boy untill I get him—let me advise you to keep your Bill of Exchange
and what furs and pelteries you have in possession, and get as
much more as you can—, and get as many robes, and big horn and Cabbra
Skins as you can collect in the course of this winter. and take them
down to St. Louis as early as possible in the Spring—When you get to
St Louis enquire of the Govorner of that place for a letter which I shall
leave with him for you—in the letter which I shall leave with the governer
I shall inform you what you had best do with your firs pelterees
and robes &c and derect you where to find me—If you should meet with
any misfortune on the river &c. when you get to St Louis write a letter
to me by the post and let me know your Situation—If you do not intend
to go down either this fall or in the Spring, write a letter to me
by the first oppertunity and inform me what you intend to do that I may
know if I may expect you or not. If you ever intend to come down
this fall or the next Spring will be the best time—this fall would be best
If you could get down before the winter—. I shall be found either in
St. Louis or in Clarksville at the Falls of the Ohio.

Wishing you and your family great suckcess & with anxious expectations
of seeing my little dancing boy Baptiest I shall remain your
friend