LXXII. LXXII
LEWIS'S PROSPECTUS, 1807[1]
LXXII. [From original broadside in possession of Mrs. Julia Clark Voorhis and Miss Eleanor Glasgow Voorhis.]
Prospectus of Lewis and Clark's Tour to the Pacific Ocean
Through the Interior of the Continent of North America,
performed by order of the government of the United States, during
the years 1804, 1805, & 1806.
This work will be prepared by Captain Meriwether Lewis, and will
be divided into two parts, the whole comprised in three volumes octavo,
the first containing at least seven hundred pages, the second and third
from four to five hundred each, printed on good paper, and a fair Pica
type. The several volumes in succession will be put to press at as early
periods as the avocations of the author will permit him to prepare
them for publication.
Part the First: in two volumes.
Will contain a narrative of the voyage, with a description of some of
the most remarkable places in those hitherto unknown wilds of America,
accompanied by a map of good size, a large chart of the entrance of the
Columbia river, embracing the adjacent country, coast and harbours,
and embellished with views of two beautiful cataracts of the Missouri;
the plan, on a large scale, of the connected falls of that river, as also of
those of the falls, narrows, and great rapids of the Columbia, with their
several portages. For the information of future voyagers, there will be
added in the sequel of this volume, some observations and remarks on
the navigation of the Missouri and Columbia rivers, pointing out the
precautions which must necessarily be taken, in order to ensure success,
together with an itinerary of the most direct and practicable route across
the continent of North America, from the confluence of the Missouri
and Mississippi rivers to the discharge of the Columbia into the Pacific
Ocean.
Volume Second.
Whatever properly appertains to geography, embracing a description
of the rivers, mountains, climate, soil and face of the country; a view
of the Indian nations distributed over that vast region, showing their
traditions, habits, manners, customs, national characters, stature, complexions,
dress, dwelling, arms, and domestic utensils, with many other
interesting particulars in relation to them: also observations and reflections
on the subjects of civilizing, governing and maintaining a friendly
intercourse with those nations. A view of the fur trade of North
America, setting forth a plan for its extension, and showing the immense
advantages which would accrue to the mercantile interests of the United
States, by combining the same with a direct trade to the East Indies
through the continent of North America. This volume will be embellished
with twenty plates illustrative of the dress and general appearance
of such Indian nations as differ materially from each other; of their
habitations; their weapons and habiliments used in war; their hunting
and fishing apparatus, domestic utensils, &c. In an appendix there will
also be given a diary of the weather, kept with great attention throughout
the whole of the voyage, showing also the daily rise and fall of the
principal water-courses which were navigated in the course of the same.
Part the Second: in one volume.
This part of the work will be confined exclusively to scientific research,
and principally to the natural history of those hitherto unknown regions.
It will contain a full dissertation on such subjects as have fallen within
the notice of the author, and which may properly be distributed under
the heads of Botany, Mineralogy, and Zoology, together with some
strictures on the origin of Prairies, the cause of the muddiness of the
Missouri, of volcanic appearances, and other natural phenomena, which
were met with in the course of this interesting tour. This volume will
also contain a comparative view of twenty three vocabularies of distinct
Indian languages, procured by Captains Lewis and Clark on the voyage,
and will be ornamented and embellished with a much greater number of
plates than will be bestowed on the first part of the work, as it is intended
that every subject of natural history which is entirely new, and
of which there are a considerable number, shall be accompanied by an
appropriate engraving illustrative of it.
This distribution of the work has been made with a view to the
accommodation of every description of readers, and is here offered to
the patronage of the public in such shape, that all persons wishing to
become subscribers, may accommodate themselves with either of the
parts, or the entire work, as it shall be most convenient to them.
*** Subscriptions received by C. and A. Conrad and Co. (late
John Conrad and Co.) No. 30, Chestnut-street, Philadelphia.
Detached from this work, there will be published,
Lewis and Clark's Map of North America, from longitude 9° west
to the Pacific Ocean, and between 36° and 52° north latitude, with
extensive marginal notes, dimensions five feet eight inches by three
feet ten inches,
Embracing all their late discoveries, and that part of the continent
heretofore the least known. This Map will be compiled from the best
maps now extant, as well published as in manuscript; from the collective
information of the best informed travellers through the various portions
of that region, and corrected by a series of several hundred celestial
observations, made by Captain Lewis during his late tour.
For the convenience of subscribers, these several works will be delivered
at the most respectable commercial towns, and at the seats of
government of the respective states and territories within the Union:
no advance is required, nor will payment be demanded until such
delivery is made.
The price of part the first, in two volumes, will be ten dollars, and
that of part the second, in one volume, eleven dollars, delivered in
boards. Price of the Map, ten dollars.
*** Any persons who may have subscribed for these works, to lists
which contained no stipulated prices for the same, and who may be dissatisfied
with the terms now proposed, are at liberty to withdraw their
names from such lists, at any time prior to the first day of December
next.
M. Lewis.
Philadelphia, June 3d, 1807.
| SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES |
Lewis and Clark's Tour. No. of Copies. |
Lewis & Clark's Map of North America. |
|
Part 1st Part 2d |
No. of Copies. |
