ToMerryweatherLewis，Esq。，Captainofthe1stRegimentofInfantryoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica。
YoursituationasSecretaryofthePresidentoftheUnitedStateshasmadeyouacquaintedwiththeobjectsofmyconfidentialmessageofJan。18，1803，tothelegislature。Youhaveseentheacttheypassed，which，tho’expressedingeneralterms，wasmeanttosanctionthoseobjects，andyouareappointedtocarrythemintoexecution。
Instrumentsforascertainingbycelestialobservationsthegeographyofthecountrythro’whichyouwillpass，havebeenalreadyprovided。Lightarticlesforbarter，&presentsamongtheIndians，armsforyourattendants，sayforfrom10to12men，boats，tents，&
othertravellingapparatus，withammunition，medicine，surgicalinstruments&provisionyouwillhavepreparedwithsuchaidsastheSecretaryatWarcanyieldinhisdepartment；&fromhimalsoyouwillreceiveauthoritytoengageamongourtroops，byvoluntaryagreement，thenumberofattendantsabovementioned，overwhomyou，astheircommandingofficerareinvestedwithallthepowersthelawsgiveinsuchacase。
AsyourmovementswhilewithinthelimitsoftheU。S。willbebetterdirectedbyoccasionalcommunications，adaptedtocircumstancesastheyarise，theywillnotbenoticedhere。WhatfollowswillrespectyourproceedingsafteryourdeparturefromtheU。S。