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friendly & conciliatory manner which their own conduct will admit；
allay all jealousies as to the object of your journey； satisfy them
of it's innocence； make them acquainted with the position； extent；
character； peaceable & commercial dispositions of the U。S。； of our
wish to be neighborly； friendly & useful to them； & of our
dispositions to a commercial intercourse with them； confer with them
on the points most convenient as mutual emporiums； & the articles of
most desirable interchange for them & us。 If a few of their
influential chiefs； within practicable distance； wish to visit us；
arrange such a visit with them； and furnish them with authority to
call on our officers； on their entering the U。S。 to have them
conveyed to this place at the public expense。 If any of them should
wish to have some of their young people brought up with us； & taught
such arts as may be useful to them； we will receive； instruct & take
care of them。 Such a mission； whether of influential chiefs； or of
young people； would give some security to your own party。 Carry with
you some matter of the kine…pox； inform those of them with whom you
may be of it's efficacy as a preservative from the small…pox； and
instruct & encourage them in the use of it。 This may be especially
done wherever you may winter。
As it is impossible for us to foresee in what manner you will
be received by those people； whether with hospitality or hostility；
so is it impossible to prescribe the exact degree of perseverance
with which you are to pursue your journey。 We value too much the
lives of citizens to offer them to probably destruction。 Your
numbers will be sufficient to secure you against the unauthorized
opposition of individuals； or of small parties： but if a superior
force； authorized or not authorized； by a nation； should be arrayed
against your further passage； & inflexibly determined to arrest it；
you must decline it's further pursuit； & return。 In the loss of
yourselves； we should lose also the information you will have
acquired。 By returning safely with that； you may enable us to renew
the essay with better calculated means。 To your own discretion
therefore must be left the degree of danger you may risk； & the point
at which you should decline； only saying we wish you to err on the
side of your safety； & to bring back your party safe； even if it be
with less information。
As far up the Missouri as the white settlements extend； an
intercourse will probably be found to exist between them and the
Spanish posts at St。 Louis； opposite Cahokia； or Ste。 Genevieve
opposite Kaskaskia。 From still farther up the river； the traders may
furnish a conveyance for letters。 Beyond that you may perhaps be
able to engage Indians to bring letters for the government to Cahokia
or Kaskaskia on promising that they shall there receive such special
compensation as you shall have stipulated with them。 Avail yourself
of these means to communicate to us at seasonable intervals a copy of
your journal； notes & observations of every kind； putting into cipher
whatever might do injury if betrayed。
Should you reach the Pacific Ocean inform yourself of the
circumstances which may decide whether the furs of those parts may
not be collected as advantageously at the head of the Missouri
（convenient as is supposed to the waters of the Colorado & Oregon or
Columbia） as at Nootka Sound or any other point of that coast； & that
trade be consequently conducted through the Missouri & U。S。 more
beneficially than by the circumnavigation now practised。
On your arrival on that coast endeavor to learn if there be any
port within your reach frequented by the sea…vessels of any nation；
and to send two of your trusted people back by sea； in such way as
shall appear practicable； with a copy of your notes。 And should you
be of opinion that the return of your party by the way they went will
be eminently dangerous； then ship the whole； & return by sea by way
of Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope； as you shall be able。 As you
will be without money； clothes or provisions； you must endeavor to
use the credit of the U。S。 to obtain them； for which purpose open
letters of credit shall be furnished you authorizing you to draw on
the Executive of the U。S。 or any of its officers in any part of the
world； in which drafts can be disposed of； and to apply with our
recommendations to the consuls； agents； merchants or citizens of any
nation with which we have intercourse； assuring them in our name that
any aids they may furnish you； shall be honorably repaid and on
demand。 Our consuls Thomas Howes at Batavia in Java； William
Buchanan of the Isles of France and Bourbon & John Elmslie at the
Cape of Good Hope will be able to supply your necessities by drafts
on us。
Should you find it safe to return by the way you go； after
sending two of your party round by sea； or with your whole party； if
no conveyance by sea can be found； do so； making such observations on
your return as may serve to supply； correct or confirm those made on
your outward journey。
In re…entering the U。S。 and reaching a place of safety；
discharge any of your attendants who may desire & deserve it：
procuring for them immediate paiment of all arrears of pay &
cloathing which may have incurred since their departure & assure them
that they shall be recommended to the liberality of the Legislature
for the grant of a souldier's portion of land each； as proposed in my
message to Congress： & repair yourself with your papers to the seat
of government。
To provide； on the accident of your death； against anarchy；
dispersion & the consequent danger to your party； and total failure
of the enterprise； you are hereby authorized by any instrument signed
& written in your own hand to name the person among them who shall
succeed to the command on your decease； & by like instruments to
change the nomination from time to time； as further experience of the
characters accompanying you shall point out superior fitness： and all
the powers & authorities given to yourself are； in the event of your
death transferred to & vested in the successor so named； with further
power to him； & his successors in like manner to name each his
successor； who； on the death of his predecessor shall be invested
with all the powers & authorities given to yourself。
Given under my hand at the city of Washington； this 20th day of
June； 1803。