| Title: |
Albert Gallatin to Thomas Jefferson, March 14, 1803
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| Source: |
Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress
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| Overview: |
Albert Gallatin informs Thomas Jefferson of the preparations he has made for the Corps of Discovery expedition, including commissioning Nicholas King's blank projection of western North America. Gallatin demonstrates his familiarity with the work of cartographers including Arrowsmith, Delisle, and Mackenzie, assuming Jefferson has the same background knowledge.
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Washington 14th March 1803
You will receive herewith an official information dated the 5th inst., submitting the propriety of removing the collectors of Brunswick Georgia, Plymouth Mass, & Fort Adams Mississ. The Commissions for their three successors, Turner of Georgia, Henry Warren & Mr Trist have already been received from the Secretary of State & transmitted to them. I had understood that a commission of register for the land office at Natchez Maps: was also to be made out in the name of the other Turner of the Mississippi territory; but upon application to the Depart.t of State, it we found that his name had not been transmitted by you; and being myself ignorant of his christian name, it was necessarily delayed. The sooner you can transmit his name the better it will be, as, independent of other reasons, I think it eligible that the news of his appointment should, together with that of Cato West, be received in the territory as early as that of Mr. Trist.
I have issued a Warrant for the 2,500 dollars appropriated
for the extension of the external commerce of the United States
in favor of T. Tucker' as Treasurer of the Military Department,
which will, of course, place the whole sum subject to the
drafts of Gen. Dearborn as Secy. of War; but it is necessary
that I should have for that purpose your authorization:
a form is herein enclosed. Capn. Lewis leaves this place to
morrow morning. I have requested Mr. King to project a
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a blank map to extend from 88 to 126° West longitude from Greenwich
& from 30° to 55° north latitude; which will give us the whole
course of the Mississipi Maps:
and the whole coast of the Pacific ocean
within the same latitudes together with a sufficient space
to the North to include all the head waters of the Port
Nelson River. In this I intend to insert the course of the
Mississipi Maps:
as high up as the Ohio Maps:
from Ellicot's, the coast of
the Pacific from Cook & Vancouver, the north bend of the Missouri Maps:
& such other of its waters as are there delineated from the
three maps of Arrowsmith & from that of Mackenzie, and
the Rio Norte and other parts of the Missoury from Danville
& Delisle. The most difficult point to ascertain is the latitude
of the sources of the Rio Norte: and it is important, in order
to know whether there would be any danger in following
a more southerly branch of the Missouri Maps:
than that
delineated in Mackenzie's & in the manuscript transcribed
from Mr. Thornton's map by Cap. Lewis. I mention this because
you may perhaps have some book at Monticello, which might
throw some light on that subject or at least on the latitude
& longitude of Santa Fe Maps:
.
I do not perceive that there will be any thing of importance to be done in this department till you return.
Banner image: From the Collection of The New-York Historical Society. Accession number 1867.306.
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