Letter signed Meriwether Lewis, Washington, to his mother, Mrs. Lucy Marks, Charlottesville, Virginia. In two days he will set out for the Western Country. His absence will probably be fifteen to eighteen months. The nature of the expedition is by no means dangerous. The route will be through tribes of Indians who are friendly to the United States, therefore, he considers the chances of life just as much in his favor on this trip as he would conceive them to be were he to remain at home for the same length of time. The charge of the expedition is honorable to him as it is important to his country. He feels perfectly prepared for its fatigues and does not doubt his ability to survive the journey. “I go with the most perfect preconviction in my own mind of returning safe and hope therefore that you will not suffer yourself to indulge any anxiety for my safety.” He discusses family matters and finances. In a postscript he says that he is sending by Mr. Jefferson the patents belonging to P. & J. Marks for the Brush Creek lands. (3 pages), 1803 July 2

Item — Box: 1, Folder: 7

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Meriwether Lewis Papers is an artificial, or subject-based, collection gathered to record the Lewis and Clark Expedition. During the re-processing of the Meriwether Lewis Collection in 1999, several items were removed from the collection and returned to the archival collection in which they originally belonged. (Please consult the separation record at the end of this finding aid.)

Dates

1803 July 2

Conditions Governing Access

The Missouri Historical Society asks researchers to assist in the preservation of the collection by using either the microfilm or the published versions of documents at all times. Permission to access the original documents in the Meriwether Lewis Papers must be obtained from a member of the archives staff.