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Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clark, December 4, 1783
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| Overview: |
Thomas Jefferson expresses concern over supposed British plans to explore North America from the Mississippi River to California and asks Clark if he would be willing to undertake such an exploration on behalf of the United States. Jefferson also addresses the ongoing Congressional debate over the location of the new capitol, believing a site on the Potomac River would be amenable to western states as they form.
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Annapolis, Dec 4. 1783.
I received here about a week ago your obliging letter of
Oct. 12. 1783 with the shells & seeds for which I return you many
thanks. you are also so kind as to keep alive the hope of getting for me as many of the different species of bones, teeth & tusks
of the Mammoth as can now be found. this will be most acceptable. Pittsburg & Philadelphia Maps:
or Winchester will be the surest
channel of conveyance: I find they have subscribed a very large sum of money
in England for exploring the country from the Missisipi Maps:
to California. they pretend it is only to promote knoledge I am afraid they
have thoughts of colonising into that quarter. some of us have been
talking here in a feeble way of making the attempt to search that
country. but I doubt whether we have enough of that kind of spirit
to raise the money. how would you like to lead such a party?
tho I am afraid our prospect is not worth asking the question.
the definitive treaty of peace is at length arrived. it is not
altered from the preliminaries. the cession of the territory West
of Ohio to the United States has been at length accepted by Congress
with some small alterations of the conditions. we are in daily
expectation of receiving it with the final approbation of Virginia.
Congress have been lately agitated by questions where they
should fix their residence. they first resolved on Trentown Maps:
.
the Southern states however contrived to get a vote that they
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would give half their time to Georgetown at the Falls of Patowmac Maps:
. still we consider the matter as undecided between the
Delaware Maps:
& Patowmac Maps:
. we urge the latter as the only point
of union which can cement us to our Western friends when they
shall be formed into separate states. I shall always be
happy to hear from you and am with very particular
esteem Dr. Sir
Banner image: From the Collection of The New-York Historical Society. Accession number 1867.306.
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