that arrived, and in many cases their place of destination-- A. Ph. Society or P (for Peale’s Museum).

Jefferson’s letter to the American Philosophical Society announcing the dispatch of the box containing the minerals from Capt. Lewis “by the first vessel”, was dated from Washington, May 4, 1806.

At the end are listed the living creatures sent, as follows:

“

Cage containing four liveing Magpies. 1. came P.

do. containing a liveing burrowing Squirel of the Praries. came. P.

do. containing one liveing hen of the Prarie.

”

On February 11, 1806, Jefferson wrote to the Comte de Volney in Paris an account of Lewis’s discoveries: “ . . . Our last news of Capt ⁿ. Lewis was that he had reached the upper part of the Missouri and had taken horses to cross the highlands to the Columbia river. he passed the last winter among the Mandans 1610 miles above the mouth of the river. so far he had delineated it with as great accuracy as will probably be ever applied to it, as his courses & distances by mensuration were corrected by almost daily observations of Latitude & Longitude. with his map he sent us specimens or information of the following animals not before known to the Northern continent of America. 1. the horns of what is perhaps a species of the Ovis Ammon. 2. a new variety of the deer having a black tail. 3. an Antelope. 4. the badger, not before known out of Europe. 5. a new species of Marmotte. 6. a white weasel. 7. the magpie. 8. the Prairie hen, said to resemble the Guinea-hen (Peintade). 9. a prickly Lizard. to these are added a considerable collection of minerals, not yet analysed. he wintered in Lat. 47 ^o 20' and found the Maximum of cold 43 ^o below the zero of Farenheit. we expect he has reached the Pacific, & is now wintering on the head of the Missouri, & will be here next autumn . . . ”

On the 19th of the same month Jefferson addressed a report on the Lewis and Clark expedition, beginning: To the Senate & House of Representatives of the US.

In pursuance of a measure proposed to Congress by a message of Jan. 18. 1803. and sanctioned by their appropriation for carrying it into execution, Cap ^t Meriwether Lewis, of the 1 ^st. regiment of infantry was appointed, with a party of men, to explore the river Missouri from it’s mouth to it’s source; and, crossing the highlands by the shortest portage, to seek the best water communication thence to the Pacific ocean; and Lieut ^t Clarke was appointed second in command. they were to enter into conference with the Indian nations on their route, with a view to the establishment of commerce with them . . . [See no. 3512.]

Lewis’s next report was dated from St. Louis, September 23, 1806. This report contained 6 pages, and opened: “It is with pleasure that I anounce to you the safe arrival of myself and party at 12 00 ^m. today at this place with our papers and baggage. In obedience to your orders we have penitrated the Continent of North America to the Pacific Ocean, and sufficiently explored the interior of the country to affirm with confidence that we have discovered the most practicable rout which dose exist across the continent by means of the navigable branches of the Missouri and Columbia Rivers . . .”

The postscript read: “NB. the whole of the party who accompanyed me from the Mandans have returned in good health, which is not, I assure you, to me one of the least pleasing considerations of the Voyage.”

Jefferson wrote to Lewis in answer to this on October 20: “ I recieved, my dear Sir, with unspeakable joy your letter of Sep. 23 announcing the return of yourself, Capt Clarke & your party in good health to S ^t. Louis. the unknown scenes in which you were engaged, & the length of time without hearing of you had begun to be felt awfully. your letter having been 31. days coming, this cannot find you at Louisville, & I therefore think it safest to lodge it at Charlottesville. it’s only object is to assure you of what you already know, my constant affection for you & the joy with which all your friends here will recieve you. tell my friend of Mandane also that I have already opened my arms to recieve him. perhaps while in our neighborhood, it may be gratifying to him, & not otherwise to yourself to take a ride to Monticello and see in what manner I have arranged the tokens of friendship I have recieved from his country ”