![LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION – JEFFERSON, Thomas. Letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") as President, to the "Chiefs of the Osages, Missouris, Kansas, Ottos, Panis, Ayowas, & Sioux", [Washington,] 4 January 1806.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2018/NYR/2018_NYR_16392_0154_001(lewis_and_clark_expedition_jefferson_thomas_letter_signed_as_president095513).jpg?w=1)
![LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION – JEFFERSON, Thomas. Letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") as President, to the "Chiefs of the Osages, Missouris, Kansas, Ottos, Panis, Ayowas, & Sioux", [Washington,] 4 January 1806.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2018/NYR/2018_NYR_16392_0154_002(lewis_and_clark_expedition_jefferson_thomas_letter_signed_as_president095530).jpg?w=1)
![LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION – JEFFERSON, Thomas. Letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") as President, to the "Chiefs of the Osages, Missouris, Kansas, Ottos, Panis, Ayowas, & Sioux", [Washington,] 4 January 1806.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2018/NYR/2018_NYR_16392_0154_003(lewis_and_clark_expedition_jefferson_thomas_letter_signed_as_president013202).jpg?w=1)
![LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION – JEFFERSON, Thomas. Letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") as President, to the "Chiefs of the Osages, Missouris, Kansas, Ottos, Panis, Ayowas, & Sioux", [Washington,] 4 January 1806.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2018/NYR/2018_NYR_16392_0154_000(lewis_and_clark_expedition_jefferson_thomas_letter_signed_as_president095459).jpg?w=1)
PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION – JEFFERSON, Thomas. Letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") as President, to the "Chiefs of the Osages, Missouris, Kansas, Ottos, Panis, Ayowas, & Sioux", [Washington,] 4 January 1806.
Details
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION – JEFFERSON, Thomas. Letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") as President, to the "Chiefs of the Osages, Missouris, Kansas, Ottos, Panis, Ayowas, & Sioux", [Washington,] 4 January 1806.
Four pages, 250 x 200mm (partial separation and minor toning along mailing folds).
Thomas Jefferson welcomes the first large delegation of Native American Plains tribes who travelled to Washington at the suggestion of Lewis and Clark during their expedition across the continent. Greeting the delegation upon their arrival in Washington: "I take you by the hand of friendship & give you a hearty welcome to the seat of the government of the United States. The journey which you have taken to visit your fathers on this side of our Island is a long one, & your having undertaken it is a proof that you desired to become acquainted with us." He informs the delegation of the new strategic reality in North America: "The French, the English, the Spaniards have now agreed with us to retire from all the country which you and we hold between Canada & Mexico, & never more to return to it. And remember the words I now speak to you my children, they are never to return again. We are become as numerous as the leaders of the trees, and, tho we do not boast, we do not fear any nation. We are now your father, & you shall not lose by the change. As soon as Spain had agreed to withdraw from all the waters of the Missouri & Mississippi, I felt the desire of becoming acquainted with all my red children beyond the Mississippi & of uniting them with us as we have done those on this side of that river in the bonds of peace & friendship." To that end, Jefferson had sent "our beloved man Capt. Lewis one of my own family, to go up the Missouri river, to get acquainted with all the Indian nations in its neighborhood to take them by the hand, deliver my talks to them, and to inform us in what way we could be useful to them. Some of you who are here have seen him & heard his words. You have taken him by the hand & been friendly to him. My children I thank you for the services you rendered him, & for your attention to his words." He assures the delegation that upon the return of Lewis and Clark, the United States would establish new trading posts.
Jefferson then offers some "important advice" urging his "children" to "live in peace & friendship with one another as brethren of the same family ought to do." He also invites the delegation to visit other parts of the country: "My children, you are come from the other side of our great island from where the sun sets to see your new friends as the sun rising. You have now arrived where the waters are constantly rising and falling every day, but you are still distant from the sea. I very much desire that you should not stop here, but go on & see your brothers as far as the edge of the great water." Specifically he invites them "to pay a visit to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York & the cities still beyond that if you should be willing to go further. We will provide carriages to convey you & a person to go with you & see that you want for nothing." The delegation took Jefferson up on his offer, visiting Baltimore, Philadelphia and New England causing a popular sensation wherever they travelled. Provenance: R. B. Coutant (his sale, Anderson Galleries, 20-23 February 1922, lot 860).
Four pages, 250 x 200mm (partial separation and minor toning along mailing folds).
Thomas Jefferson welcomes the first large delegation of Native American Plains tribes who travelled to Washington at the suggestion of Lewis and Clark during their expedition across the continent. Greeting the delegation upon their arrival in Washington: "I take you by the hand of friendship & give you a hearty welcome to the seat of the government of the United States. The journey which you have taken to visit your fathers on this side of our Island is a long one, & your having undertaken it is a proof that you desired to become acquainted with us." He informs the delegation of the new strategic reality in North America: "The French, the English, the Spaniards have now agreed with us to retire from all the country which you and we hold between Canada & Mexico, & never more to return to it. And remember the words I now speak to you my children, they are never to return again. We are become as numerous as the leaders of the trees, and, tho we do not boast, we do not fear any nation. We are now your father, & you shall not lose by the change. As soon as Spain had agreed to withdraw from all the waters of the Missouri & Mississippi, I felt the desire of becoming acquainted with all my red children beyond the Mississippi & of uniting them with us as we have done those on this side of that river in the bonds of peace & friendship." To that end, Jefferson had sent "our beloved man Capt. Lewis one of my own family, to go up the Missouri river, to get acquainted with all the Indian nations in its neighborhood to take them by the hand, deliver my talks to them, and to inform us in what way we could be useful to them. Some of you who are here have seen him & heard his words. You have taken him by the hand & been friendly to him. My children I thank you for the services you rendered him, & for your attention to his words." He assures the delegation that upon the return of Lewis and Clark, the United States would establish new trading posts.
Jefferson then offers some "important advice" urging his "children" to "live in peace & friendship with one another as brethren of the same family ought to do." He also invites the delegation to visit other parts of the country: "My children, you are come from the other side of our great island from where the sun sets to see your new friends as the sun rising. You have now arrived where the waters are constantly rising and falling every day, but you are still distant from the sea. I very much desire that you should not stop here, but go on & see your brothers as far as the edge of the great water." Specifically he invites them "to pay a visit to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York & the cities still beyond that if you should be willing to go further. We will provide carriages to convey you & a person to go with you & see that you want for nothing." The delegation took Jefferson up on his offer, visiting Baltimore, Philadelphia and New England causing a popular sensation wherever they travelled. Provenance: R. B. Coutant (his sale, Anderson Galleries, 20-23 February 1922, lot 860).