University of Virginia Library

PREFACE.

In presenting these volumes to the public, the editor
owes equally to himself and to others, to state the circumstances
which have preceded the publication, and to explain
his own share in compiling them.

It was the original design of captain Lewis to have been
himself the editor of his own travels, and he was on his
way towards Philadelphia for that purpose when his sudden
death frustrated these intentions. After a considerable
and unavoidable delay, the papers connected with
the expedition were deposited with another gentleman, who,
in order to render the lapse of time as little injurious as possible,
proceeded immediately to collect and investigate all
the materials within his reach.

Of the incidents of each day during the expedition, a minute
journal was kept by captain Lewis or captain Clark,
and sometimes by both, which was afterwards revised and
enlarged at the different periods of leisure which occurred
on the route. These were carefully perused in conjunction
with captain Clark himself, who was able from his own recollection
of the journey, as well as from a constant residence
in Louisiana since his return, to supply a great mass of explanations,
and much additional information with regard to
part of the route which has been more recently explored.
Besides these, recourse was had to the manuscript journals

kept by two of the serjeants, one of which, the least minute
and valuable, has already been published. That nothing
might be wanting to the accuracy of these details, a very
intelligent and active member of the party, Mr. George
Shannon, was sent to contribute whatever his memory
might add to this accumulated fund of information.

From these copious materials the narrative was sketched
nearly in its present form, when other pursuits diverted the
attention of the writer, and compelled him to transfer his
manuscript, in its unfinished state, with all the documents
connected with it, to the present editor, to prepare them for
the press and superintend the publication. That he may not
seem to arrogate any thing from the exertions of others, he
should therefore state that, although the whole work was
thus submitted to his entire discretion, he found but little to
change, and that his labour has been principally confined to
revising the manuscript, comparing it with the original papers,
and inserting such additional matter as appears to have
been intentionally deferred by the writer till the period
of a more mature revisal. These circumstances, which
would otherwise be indifferent to the public, are mentioned
merely to account for imperfections, which are in some
degree inseparable from any book of travels not written
by the traveller. In a work of pure description indeed,
like the present, where the incidents themselves are
the sole objects of attraction, the part of an editor is necessarily
subordinate, nor can his humble pretensions aspire
beyond the merit of rigid adherence to facts as they are
stated to him. This has been very diligently attempted,
and for this, in its full extent, the editor deems himself responsible.

The present volumes, it will be perceived, comprise only
the narrative of the journey. Those parts of the work which
relate to the various objects of natural history, observed or
collected during the journey, as well as the alphabets of the

Indian languages, are in the hands of professor Barton,
and will, it is understood, shortly appear.

To give still further interest to the work, the editor addressed
a letter to Mr. Jefferson, requesting some authentic
memoirs of captain Lewis. For the very curious and valuable
information contained in his answer, the public, as well
as the editor himself, owe great obligations to the politeness
and knowledge of that distinguished gentleman.