In Philadelphia, Purveyor of Public Supplies Israel Whelan buys over $150 of Indian gifts and $25 of fishing tackle. Spain announces the retrocession of Louisiana to France and Washington City residents learn that the port of New Orleans has reopened to American trade.
Indian Gifts
Historic staging by re-enactors at Fort Shaw. Photo © 2017 by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Lawton’s Fishing Tackle
Phila. May 18 1803 Mr. Israel Wheelen Bt. of Geo. R. Lawton 70 Large hooks @ 30 / pr. [?] $2.80 55 ditto @ 22 / 6 pr. [?] [1.65] 1 donl. drum Line 4.— 1 do. Rock ditto 2.50 1½ do India Lines $5 7.50 1 India Line .42 2 Lines $1 2.— Sportsman Flask 1.50 8 Stave reel 3.— $25.37[1]“Supplies from Private Vendors,” in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), … Continue reading
Denchla’s Beads
Philada. May 18 1803 Israel Wheelen Esqr. Bot. of C. & Th. Denkla 6 ½ D. pocket Looking Glasses 37 Cts. $2.40 . . . . . 8 burning Glasses 1 ½ Drs. 12.— 2 Nonsopretty 11 / 2.94 . . . . . 72 Pc. Strip’d Silk Ribbon 55 Cts. 39.60 . . . . . 6 Paper Small bells 67 Cts. 4.02 2 do. brown beads 40 & 60 Cts. 1.— 10 do. yellow
25 do. whitebeads 40 Cts. 14.— 10 do. blue
10 do. yellow
10 do. whitebeads 60 Cts. 1.— 2 D. Tinzel Taizels 50 C 1.— . . . . . 1 D. Thread 1.50 1 D. Pin Cases .30 1 " Lockets 1.— . . . . . 8 ½ D. Red Beads 3 D. 25.50 2 D. Earings 50 Cts. 1.— $151.41
Louisiana’s Retrocession
The Spanish governor of Louisiana announces that the province will be given back to France.
We make it known to all the vassals of the King Our Lord of whatever class and condition that they may be, His Majesty has resolved to recede the Province of Louisiana, to the reciprocal satisfaction of both Powers, and continuing the same tests of protection and affection that they have always experienced by the inhabitants of this Province.
Given in New Orleans on May 18, 1803.
Manuel de Salcedo.
The Marquess of Casa-Calvo.[3]“Don Manuel de Salcedo, Brigadier de los reales exercitos gobernador militar y politico de la Provincias de la Luisiana y Florida occidental, inspector de las tropas veteranas, y milicias de … Continue reading
Right of Deposit Restored
A Mississippi Herald article reprinted in the National Intelligencer informs Washington residents that the Spanish King’s orders to lift the embargo have been received in New Orleans.
From the Mississippi Herald
DEPOSIT RESTORED.
His Excellency, Manuel de Salcedo, Governor General of Louisiana, has addressed to Governor Claiborne, a letter, of which the following is a translation.
Most Excellent Sir,
As the smallest circumstance respecting this important subject is so interesting to the general Satisfaction and tranquility of our respective governments, I take the particular pleasure in communicating to your Excellency, that yesterday at 12 o’clock, one hour after the arrival of the courier, the deposit for American merchandize and effects was restored, and put on the footing it formerly stood.
God preserver your Excellency many years.
MANUEL DE SALCEDO.
New Orleans, May 18th, 1803.
His Excellency W. C. C. Claiborne,
Governor of the Mississippi Territory.[4]The National Intelligencer and Washington Advertiser. (Washington City, [DC]), 20 June 1803 online at Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. … Continue reading
Notes
| ↑1 | “Supplies from Private Vendors,” in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 79. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Ibid., 86–7. |
| ↑3 | “Don Manuel de Salcedo, Brigadier de los reales exercitos gobernador militar y politico de la Provincias de la Luisiana y Florida occidental, inspector de las tropas veteranas, y milicias de ellas, vice-patrona real, juez subdelegado de la superi,” Library of Congress accessed 12 August 2022 at https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.02400600/?sp=1, translated from the original Spanish by Google Translate. |
| ↑4 | The National Intelligencer and Washington Advertiser. (Washington City, [DC]), 20 June 1803 online at Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045242/1803-06-20/ed-1/seq-3/ |
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).