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obscuring them with jargon； until they have caused good men to reject
the whole in disgust； & to view Jesus himself as an impostor。
Notwithstanding these disadvantages； a system of morals is
presented to us； which； if filled up in the true style and spirit of
the rich fragments he left us； would be the most perfect and sublime
that has ever been taught by man。
The question of his being a member of the Godhead； or in direct
communication with it； claimed for him by some of his followers； and
denied by others； is foreign to the present view； which is merely an
estimate of the intrinsic merit of his doctrines。
1。 He corrected the Deism of the Jews； confirming them in their
belief of one only God； and giving them juster notions of his
attributes and government。
2。 His moral doctrines； relating to kindred & friends； were
more pure & perfect than those of the most correct of the
philosophers； and greatly more so than those of the Jews； and they
went far beyond both in inculcating universal philanthropy； not only
to kindred and friends； to neighbors and countrymen； but to all
mankind； gathering all into one family； under the bonds of love；
charity； peace； common wants and common aids。 A development of this
head will evince the peculiar superiority of the system of Jesus over
all others。
3。 The precepts of philosophy； & of the Hebrew code； laid hold
of actions only。 He pushed his scrutinies into the heart of man；
erected his tribunal in the region of his thoughts； and purified the
waters at the fountain head。
4。 He taught； emphatically； the doctrines of a future state；
which was either doubted； or disbelieved by the Jews； and wielded it
with efficacy； as an important incentive； supplementary to the other
motives to moral conduct。
EXPEDITION TO THE PACIFIC
_Instructions to Captain Lewis_
_June 20； 1803_
To Merryweather Lewis； Esq。； Captain of the 1st Regiment of
Infantry of the United States of America。
Your situation as Secretary of the President of the United
States has made you acquainted with the objects of my confidential
message of Jan。 18； 1803； to the legislature。 You have seen the act
they passed； which； tho' expressed in general terms； was meant to
sanction those objects； and you are appointed to carry them into
execution。
Instruments for ascertaining by celestial observations the
geography of the country thro' which you will pass； have been already
provided。 Light articles for barter； & presents among the Indians；
arms for your attendants； say for from 10 to 12 men； boats； tents； &
other travelling apparatus； with ammunition； medicine； surgical
instruments & provision you will have prepared with such aids as the
Secretary at War can yield in his department； & from him also you
will receive authority to engage among our troops； by voluntary
agreement； the number of attendants above mentioned； over whom you；
as their commanding officer are invested with all the powers the laws
give in such a case。
As your movements while within the limits of the U。S。 will be
better directed by occasional communications； adapted to
circumstances as they arise； they will not be noticed here。 What
follows will respect your proceedings after your departure from the
U。S。
Your mission has been communicated to the Ministers here from
France； Spain； & Great Britain； and through them to their
governments： and such assurances given them as to it's objects as we
trust will satisfy them。 The country of Louisiana having been ceded
by Spain to France； the passport you have from the Minister of
France； the representative of the present sovereign of the country；
will be a protection with all it's subjects： And that from the
Minister of England will entitle you to the friendly aid of any
traders of that allegiance with whom you may happen to meet。
The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river； &
such principal stream of it； as； by it's course & communication with
the water of the Pacific Ocean may offer the most direct &
practicable water communication across this continent； for the
purposes of commerce。
Beginning at the mouth of the Missouri； you will take
observations of latitude and longitude at all remarkable points on
the river； & especially at the mouths of rivers； at rapids； at
islands & other places & objects distinguished by such natural marks
& characters of a durable kind； as that they may with certainty be
recognized hereafter。 The courses of the river between these points
of observation may be supplied by the compass； the log…line & by
time； corrected by the observations themselves。 The variations of
the compass too； in different places should be noticed。
The interesting points of the portage between the heads of the
Missouri & the water offering the best communication with the Pacific
Ocean should be fixed by observation & the course of that water to
the ocean； in the same manner as that of the Missouri。
Your observations are to be taken with great pains & accuracy；
to be entered distinctly； & intelligibly for others as well as
yourself； to comprehend all the elements necessary； with the aid of
the usual tables to fix the latitude & longitude of the places at
which they were taken； & are to be rendered to the war office； for
the purpose of having the calculations made concurrently by proper
persons within the U。S。 Several copies of these as well as of your
other notes； should be made at leisure times & put into the care of
the most trustworthy of your attendants； to guard by multiplying them
against the accidental losses to which they will be exposed。 A
further guard would be that one of these copies be written on the
paper of the birch； as less liable to injury from damp than common
paper。
The commerce which may be carried on with the people inhabiting
the line you will pursue； renders a knolege of these people
important。 You will therefore endeavor to make yourself acquainted；
as far as a diligent pursuit of your journey shall admit。
with the names of the nations & their numbers；
the extent & limits of their possessions；
their relations with other tribes or nations；
their language； traditions； monuments；
their ordinary occupations in agriculture； fishing； hunting；
war； arts； & the implements for these；
their food； clothing； & domestic accommodations；
the diseases prevalent among them； & the remedies they
use；
moral and physical circumstance which distinguish them
from the tribes they know；
peculiarities in their laws； customs & dispositions；
and articles of commerce they may need or furnish & to
what extent。
And considering the interest which every nation has in
extending & strengthening the authority of reason & justice among the
people around them； it will be useful to acquire what knolege you can
of the state of morality； religion & information among them； as it
may better enable those who endeavor to civilize & instruct them； to
adapt their measures to the existing notions & practises of those on
whom they are to operate。
Other objects worthy of notice will be
the soil & face of the country； its growth & vegetable
productions； especially those not of the U。S。
the animals of the country generally； & especially those not
known in the U。S。
The remains & accounts of any which may be deemed rare or
extinct；
the mineral productions of every kind； but more particularly
metals； limestone； pit coal & saltpetre； salines & mineral waters；
noting the temperature of the last & such circumstances as may
indicate their character； volcanic appearances；
climate as characterized by the thermometer； by the proportion
of rainy； cloudy & clear days； by lightening； hail； snow； ice； by the
access & recess of frost； by the winds； prevailing at different
seasons； the dates at which particular plants put forth or lose their
flowers； or leaf； times of appearance of particular birds； reptiles
or insects。
Altho' your route will be along the channel of the Missouri；
yet you will endeavor to inform yourself by inquiry； of the character
and extent of the country watered by its branches； and especially on
it's southern side。 The north river or Rio Bravo which runs into the
gulph of Mexico； and the north river； or Rio colorado； which runs
into the gulph of California； are understood to be the principal
streams heading opposite to the waters of the Missouri； & running
Southwardly。 Whether the dividing grounds between the Missouri &
t