In Washington City, President Thomas Jefferson writes a letter to Meriwether Lewis updating him on the status of the expedition’s navigational instruments. Jefferson is undecided about the need for a theodolite and says to refer to his mentors, Robert Patterson and Andrew Ellicott.
The “Necessary” Instruments
© 2014 by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Above starting lower-left and moving clockwise: artificial horizon, surveyor’s chain, surveyors’ compass, chronometer, surveyors’ compass, octant, and compass.
Having read a draft of Jefferson’s instructions for the expedition, Lewis is confused about whether he should purchase navigational instruments. In the following letter, Jefferson clarifies his meaning.
Washington May 16. 1803.
Dear Sir
the instructions say that the necessary instruments ‘have been provided,’ which will be true when they recieve their ultimate form, date & signature, tho’ nothing was provided at the time of writing the rough draught. this will serve to correct the expression which has been misunderstood, and to let you know you are relied on to provide every thing for yourself.—
with respect to the theodolite, I wish you to be governed entirely by the advice of mr Patterson & mr Ellicott: as also as to the time piece & whatever else they think best. mr Garnett told us he had some good ones still on hand; which I remind you of, lest you should not be able to get one in Philadelphia. Accept my affectionate salutations.
Th: Jefferson[1]Thomas Jefferson to Meriwether Lewis, Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-40-02-0284 accessed 12 May 2022. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas … Continue reading
Notes
| ↑1 | Thomas Jefferson to Meriwether Lewis, Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-40-02-0284 accessed 12 May 2022. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 40, 4 March–10 July 1803, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2013, p. 377.] |
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