mouth to the hot springs, make part of the present communications. The examination of the Red river itself, is but now commencing. TH: JEFFERSON. Extract of a letter from Captain Meriwether Lewis to the President of the United States, dated I have transmitted to the secretary at war, every information relative to the geography of the country which we possess, together with a view of the Indian nations, containing infor mation relative to them, on those points with which I conceived it important that the government should be informed. By reference to the muster rolls forwarded to the war department, you will see the state of the party; in FORT MANDAN, April 17th, 1805. addition to which we have two inter Dear Sir, HEREWITH enclosed you will receive an invoice of certain articles, which I have forwarded to you from this place. Among other articles you will observe, by reference to the invoice, 67 specimens of earths, salts and minerals, and 60 specimens of plants; these are accompanied by their respective labels, expressing the days on which obtained, places where found, and also their virtues and properties, when known. By means of these labels, reference may be made to the chart of the Missouri, forwarded to the secretary of war, on which the encampment of each day has been carefully marked: thus the places at which these specimens have been obtained, may be easily pointed out, or again found, should any of them prove valuable to the community on further investigation. You will also receive herewith enclosed, a part of capt. Clark's private journal; the other part you will find enclosed in a separate tin box. This journal will serve to give you the daily details of our progress and transac tions. I shall dispatch a canoe with three, perhaps four persons from the extreme navigable point of the Missouri, or the portage between this river and the Columbia river, as either may first happen. By the return of this canoe, I shall send you my journal, and some one or two of the best of those kept by my men. I have sent a journal kept by one of the sergeants, to captain Stoddard, my agent at St. Louis, in order as much as possible to multiply the chances of saving something. We have encouraged our men to keep journals, and seven of them do, to whom in this respect we give every assistance in aur power. preters, one negro man, servant to capt. Clarke; one Indian woman, wife to one of the interpreters, and a Mandan man, whom we take with a view to restore peace between the Snake Indians, and those in this neighbourhood, amounting in total with ourselves to 33 persons. By means of the interpreters and Indians, we shall be enabled to converse with all the Indians that we shall probably meet with on the Missouri. I have forwarded to the secretary at war my public accounts, rendered up to the present day. They have been much longer delayed than I had any idea they would have been, when we departed from the Illinois; but this delay, under the circumstances in which I was compelled to act, has been unavoidable. The provision peroque and her crew, could not have been dismissed in time to have returned to St. Louis last fall, without evidently, in my opinion, hazarding the fate of the enterprize in which I am engaged, and I therefore did not hesitate to prefer the censure that I may have incurred by the detention of these papers, to that of risking in any degree the success of the expedition. To me the detention of these papers has formed a serious source of disquiet and anxiety; and the recollection of your particular charge to me on this subject, has made it still more poignant. I am fully aware of the inconvenience which must have arisen to the war department, from the want of these vouchers, previous to the last session of Congress, but how to avert it was out of my power to devise. From this place we shall send the barge and crew early to-morrow morning, with orders to proceed as expeditiously as possible to St. Louis by her we send our dispatches, which I trust will get safe to hand. Her crew consists of ten able-bodied men, well armed and provided with a sufficient stock of provision to last them to St. Louis. I have but little doubt but they will be fired on by the Siouxs; but they have pledged themselves to us that they will not yield while there is a man of them living. Our baggage is all embarked on board six small canoes, and two peroques; we shall set out at the same moment that we dispatch the barge. One, or perhaps both of these peroques, we shall leave at the falls of the Missouri, from whence we intend continuing our voyage in the canoes, and a peroque of skins, the frame of which was prepared at Harper's ferry. This peroque is now in a situa tion which will enable us to prepare it in the course of a few hours. As our vessels are now small, and the current of the river much more moderate, we calculate upon travelling at the rate of 20 or 25 miles per day, as far as the falls of the Missouri. Beyond this point or the first range of rocky mountains, situated about 100 miles further, any calculation with respect to our daily progress, can be little more than bare conjecture. The circumstance of the Snake Indians possessing large quantities of horses, is much in our favour, as by means of horses the transportation of our baggage will be rendered easy and expeditious over land, from the Missouri to the Columbia river. Should this river not prove navigable where we first meet with it, our present intention is to continue our march by land down the river, until it becomes so, or to the Pacific ocean. The map, which has been forwarded to the secretary of war, will give you the idea we entertain of the connexion of these rivers, which has been formed from the corresponding testimony of a number of Indians, who have visited that country, and who have been separate. ly and carefully examined on that subject, and we therefore think it entitled to some degree of confidence. Since our arrival at this place, we have subsisted principally on meat, with which our guns have supplied us amply, and have thus been ena bled to reserve the parched meal, portable soup, and a considerable proportion of pork and flour, which we had intended for the more difficult parts of our voyage. If Indian information can be credited, the vast quantity of game with which the country abounds through which we are to pass, leaves us but little to apprehend from the want of food. We do not calculate on completing our voyage within the present year, but expect to reach the Pacific ocean, and return as far as the head of the Missouri, or perhaps to this place, before winter. You may therefore expect me to meet you at Monticello in September, 1806. On our return we shall probably pass down the Yellow Stone river, which, from Indian information, waters one of the fairest portions of this continent. I can see no material or probable obstruction to our progress, and entertain, therefore, the most sanguine hopes of complete success. As to myself, individually, I never enjoyed a more perfect state of good health than I have since we commenced our voyage. My inestimable friend and companion, captain Clarke, has also enjoyed good health generally. At this moment every individual of the party is in good health and excellent spirits, zealously attached to the en terprize, and anxious to proceed; not a whisper of discontent or murmur is to be heard among them; but all in unison act with the most perfect harmony. With such men I have every thing to hope, and but little to fear. Be so good as to present my most affectionate regard to all my friends, and be assured of the sincere and unalterable attachment of Your most obedient servant, MERIWETHER LEWIS, Messrs. Poyntell and Co. from their Classical Press in Philadelphia, have just issued, in their neat and correct style, the first American edition of Xenophon's Gyropedia, in eight books. The American editors copied from Hutchinson's London edition, and announce that under the critical inspection of Mr. John Watts, they have corrected many errors of the London edition. It is highly honourary to our country that the Greek and Latin classics are now published among us in as neat and correct a style, to say the least, as in Great Britain, and at a price consider. ably lower. We hope, for the encouragement of enterprize so commendable, that in all our seminaries of learning, American editions of the classics will ever be preferred. And for beauty of type, goodness of paper, and correctness and elegance of execution, we can with pleasure recommend the editions of Messrs. Poyntell and Co. GREAT BRITAIN. LONDON INSTITUTION. At a very numerous and respecta ble meeting at the London Tavern, May 23, 1805, Sir F. Baring, Bart. M. P. in the chair, it was resolved to establish an Institution, on a liberal and extensive scale, in some central situation in the city of London; to be denom, inated the "London Institution, for the advancement of literature, and the diffusion of useful knowledge." This Institution will be similar, in its leading features, to the Royal Institution. Its object, like that of the other, will be to provide a Library containing works of intrinsic value; Lectures for the diffusion of useful knowledge; and reading rooms, for the daily papers, periodical publications, interesting pamphlets, and foreign journals. The qualification of a proprietor was fixed for the present at seventy-five guineas, and the subscription for life at twenty-five guineas. At a second meeting, held May 28, it was resolved to close the subscription for proprietors, which had proceeded with unexpected rapidity upwards of nine hundred names having been obtained, whose subscriptions amounted to about 70,000/. a sum fully adequate to effect the various ob. jects of the institution, and to secure permanent funds for its support. A temporary committee was appointed to prepare a plan to be laid before his Majesty's secretary of state, for the purpose of soliciting a charter for the institution, The Rev. Dr. Lettice proposes to publish in one vol. 8vo. price 14s. the Art of Assisting the Memory; being an improvement on Grey's Memoria Technica, the plan of which is said to be enlarged, by its application to the first elements of various arts and sci ences, and even to conversation and the transactions of business. A quarterly periodical work commenced last month, at 3s. 6d. each number, entitled, A Retrospect of Philosophical, Mechanical, Chemical, and Agricultural Discoveries; being an abridgment of the periodical and other publications, English and Foreign, relative to arts, chemistry, manufactures, agriculture, and natural philosophy; accompanied occasionally with remarks, pointing out the merits and defects of the various papers; and, in some cases, shewing to what other useful purposes the researches of individuals may be applied, beyond the original views of the author. It is intended to exhibit the substance of ex. ery interesting memoir, paper, &c. on the subjects above mentioned, which shall be published either at home or abroad." Some papers left for publication by the late Professor Robinson, of Edinburgh, will shortly be brought for ward under the care of his executors, The Literary Club has set on foot a subscription for erecting a Monument in St. Paul's Cathedral, to the memory of Sir Joshua Reynolds, the founder of that Society. In the 255th number of Mr. Arthur Young's Annals of Agriculture, a sketch is given of a new Farming So ciety, established in East Kent, near Hythe. It consists of twelve of the most intelligent farmers and graziers in the county of Kent, who meet monthly at one another's houses in succession, a severe fine being fixed for non attendance. The first business of the day is to take a minute survey of the practice pursued on the farm at which the meeting is appointed; their host shewing them the contents of his farmyard, the arable and pasture, land, implements, &c. in his possession. Wherever merit or blame attaches, it is to be candidly assigned, After this inspection, accompanied by a critical discussion with a view to improvement, they return at a late hour to dinner at the president's house after which a lecture is delivered by him, on a subject appointed at the preceding meeting. This subject is regularly debated; and the secretary enters each member's opinion, all being bound to deliver an opinion in a journal, for the use of the society, List of New Publications. MONTHLY Magazine, containing Ecclesiastical history, Morality, Religion, and other useful and interesting matter. Published by John C. Gray and Co. Danbury, (Con.) 32 pages. $1.50 a year. The first No. appeared Jan. 1, 1806. The use and importance of preaching the distinguishing doctrines of the gospel, illustrated in a sermon at the ordination of the Rev. John Keep, to the pastoral charge of the Congregational Church in Blandford, Oct. 30, 1805. By Asahel Hooker, A. M. Pastor of the Church in Goshen, Conn. Wm. Butler, Northampton. The immoral tendency of error, illustrated in a sermon delivered at the ordination of Rev. James Beach, to the pastoral care of the Church in Winstead, Jan. 11, 1806. By Asahel Hooker, A. M. Pastor of the Church in Goshen. Hartford, Lincoln and Gleason. 1806. Christianity the friend of Man. By James George Durham, A. B. Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Hugh Maxwell, and W. P. Farrand, Philadelphia. A discourse delivered in the south church in Portsmouth, at the interment of the Rev. Samuel Haven, D. D. who departed this life March 3, 1806, in the 79th year of his age, and 54th of his ministry. And of his wife, Mrs. Margaret Haven, who survived her husband about thirty six hours. By Joseph Buckminster, D. D. Also a Monody on their death, by Rev. James A. Neal. W. & D. Treadwell, Portsmouth, N. H. The safety of appearing at the day of judgment in the righteousness of Christ. By Solomon Stoddard, formerly pastor of the church in Northampton. 12mo. Price, 1 dol. Northampton, Mass. E. & S. Butler. 1805. Letters to a young lady on a course of English education. By J. Aikin, M. D. Boston. Munroe and Francis. Village Sermons; or plain and short discourses on the principal doctrines of the gospel; intended for the use of families, Sunday schools, or companies assembled for religious instruction in country villages. By George Burder, 3 vols. Boston. E. Lincoln, Samuel H. Parker, of this town, proposes to publish, by subscription, The Sacred Mirror or a compendious view of scripture history. Containing a faithful narration of all the principal ovents recorded in the Old and New Testaments, from the crea tion of the world to the death of St. Paul. With a continuation from that period to the final destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Designed for the mental improvement of youth, and particularly adapted to the use of schools. By the Rev. Thomas Smith, Author of the Universal Atlas, &c. To which is added a copious Index, not contained in the English edition. 1 vol. 12mo. Obituary. Died, April, 1806, at New Haven, (Con.) in the 27th year of her age, Mrs. MARTHA DAY, wife of Mr. Professor DAY, of Yale College, and daughter of the late Hon. ROGE SHERMAN. Her death was a severe affliction to her relations and intimate acquaintance; to her husband it was one of the most poignant trials, which men in this world are called to endure. She left an infant son, not capable of feeling the irreparable loss it has sustained. She was a blame. less woman, possessed of modesty, kindness, cultivated understanding, charity, and all the delicate and amiable virtues of her sex. In a time of youth and health, she had dedicated herself by a public and solemn covenant, to the service of the blessed God; and, in his presence, as her friends have reason to believe, her unembodied spirit now adores, and is happy. MESSRS. EDITORS, Poetry. The subsequent Elegy, published at Boston immediately after the death of the renowned WHITEFIELD, A. D. 1770, and displaying in truly poetic numbers the fire and devotion of the muse, appears worthy of re-publication in your excellent cork. J. WHITEFIELD, thy shade ten thousand groans await, Ah me! how soon the phantom life decays! Nor kindly shelteas from the destin❜d hour. How did he charm with wondrous art the soul, In many a pleasing tract did fancy roll And melt the youth, and thaw the snow of age. How did thy beauties, virtue, gently beam, Oft would thy top, O Golgotha, arise, A bleeding God, and Rome's fierce bloody throng; Nor pain'd the mind, nor thought the service long. But death, stern monarch, warns the saint away, And point the gloomy mansions of the tomb, Whilst the great soul with smiling youth enrob'd, And hail him welcome to the realms of love. There will he meet the plaudit of his King, Where death no more shall dart its venom'd sting, |
