Meriwether Lewis arrives at Fort Fayette outside Pittsburgh and immediately writes the President. In Washington City, Thomas Jefferson shares news of the Louisiana Purchase and gives the coordinates from Broughton’s exploration of the Columbia.
“View of the City of Pittsburgh in 1817”
by Charles O. Lappe
Chromolithograph, 12.5 x 18.25 inches. Historic Pittsburgh collection hosted by the University of Pittsburgh.
Two early boats ply the river and a steam locomotive can be seen coming down the Monongahela River. The lithograph is inscribed:
Taken from a sketch drawn by Mrs. E. C. Gibson, Wife of Jas. Gibson, Esg. of the Philada. Bar, while on her Wedding Tour in 1817.
Pittsburgh Arrival
Pittsburgh July 15th. 1803. 3. O’Clock P.M.
Dear Sir,
I arrived here at 2 O’Clock, and learning that the mail closed at 5 this evening hasten to make this communication, tho’ it can only contain the mere information of my arrival. No occurrence has taken place on my journey heither sufficiently interesting to be worthy of relation: the weather has been warm and dry; the roads in consequence extreemly dusty, yet I feel myself much benefitted by the exercise the journey has given me, and can with pleasure anounce, so far and all is well.—
I have not yet seen Lieut. Hook nor made the enquiry relative to my boat [the barge], on the state of which, the time of my departure from hence must materially depend: the Ohio is quite low, but not so much so as to obstruct my passage altogether.—
Your Obt. Humble Sert.
Meriwether Lewis.[1]Meriwether Lewis to Thomas Jefferson, Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-41-02-0031 accessed on 12 June 2022. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas … Continue reading
Jefferson’s News
Washington July 15. 1803.
Dear Sir
. . . . .
last night also we recieved the treaty from Paris ceding Louisiana according to the bounds to which France had a right. price 11¼ millions of Dollars besides paying certain debts of France to our citizens which will be from 1. to 4. millions. I recieved also from Mr. La Cepede at Paris, to whom I had mentioned your intended expedition a letter of which the following is an extract. ‘Mr. Broughton, one of the companions of Captain Vancouver went up Columbia river 100. miles, in December 1792. he stopped at a point which he named Vancouver lat. 45.° 27.’ longitude 237.° 50.’ E.
if your nation can establish an easy communication by rivers, canals, & short portages between N. York for example & the city [they were building] or [to be built] [for the badness of the writing makes it uncertain which is meant, but probably the last] at the mouth of the Columbia, what a route for the commerce of Europe, Asia, & America.’ Accept my affectionate salutations.
Th: Jefferson[2]Thomas Jefferson to Meriwether Lewis, Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-41-02-0030 accessed 12 June 2022. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas … Continue reading
Notes
| ↑1 | Meriwether Lewis to Thomas Jefferson, Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-41-02-0031 accessed on 12 June 2022. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 41, 11 July–15 November 1803, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2014, pp. 57–58.] |
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| ↑2 | Thomas Jefferson to Meriwether Lewis, Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-41-02-0030 accessed 12 June 2022. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 41, 11 July–15 November 1803, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2014, p. 57.] |
Experience the Lewis and Clark Trail
The Lewis and Clark Trail Experience—our sister site at lewisandclark.travel—connects the world to people and places on the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Discover More
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.
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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).