The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

FROM THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE.

St. Lewis, August 12th, 1805

I arrived here the 27th ult. after a most fatiguing journey, but thank God we all, as was the case with Col. Hammond, Mr. Pope, and the rest of our company--and agreeable to my promise when I saw you last, I now endeavor to fulfill part of that promise by writing you. We passed through a charming country both in West Tennessee, part of Kentucky, and that most valuable tract called Indiana Territory, the whole of those lands formed any idea for need of them or fertility, in many places we passed through prairies where the grass is as high as a horse, and the land excellent, and not a tree on them, they are from three to twelve miles in length, and nearly as broad, and afforded the most delightful landscapes I ever saw, and where we met with woodland, the cane grew on it as large and thick as in the low grounds on Savannah river, it is healthy and only wants inhabitants to cultivate it I crossed several large rivers, as Holstein, French-Broad, Clinch, Red and the Ohio rivers the last of which is the handsomest river I ever saw, being about one mile and a quarter wide, clear and runs very gentle, I passed through two wildernesses, one of one hundred and fifty miles in length, having every twenty miles a station, and the other about one hundred and twenty miles without any house but three and infested with all kind of wild animals, so that I think we were lucky in passing safe. The river Mississippi on the banks of which this town is situate, is about one mile wide, runs rather rapid and is always muddy, as high up as where the Missouri empties itself into it, which is eighteen miles by water. and then the Mississippi becomes clear and is not so rapid, and is a beautiful river.

The river Missouri is where I saw it, seventeen miles from hence, about the same width and rapidity as the Mississippi, but always muddy, this no person can account for. There has been no late accounts from capt. Lewis, the last account was by the boat that carried him, which returned, he had then ascended the river Missouri two thousand five hundred miles, and then was among a nation of Indians, called the Mandan nation which was higher up the Missouri than any of the traders had ever been, they are in daily expectation of hearing from him. Government a few days past dispatched a boat to find out the source of the Mississippi, it is under the command of a lieut. Pike, a worthy officer, a good draftsman and artist, and who I make no doubt will give the United States a satisfactory account of it This country appears to me a new world. and not known by its former masters, known I trust under the American government.

This country, from the information I have collected abounds with mines of different kinds--but the most profitable are the lead mines, their product is beyond conception. This town consists of about 300 houses, built in general after the French mode, the inhabitants chiefly French, (say Canadians) who have heretofore but a few among them being left in a servile state, however since the adoption of the American government begin to taste a little of the sweets of liberty, they are a well disposed set of people. The land adjoining this place is prairies, for about seven miles, but tolerable good, but about twelve miles from hence they are as good as I ever saw, the climate is much the same as that of Georgetown, Maryland, the water good and the inhabitants healthy, all this country wants is inhabitants, the advantages would be great. Lands produce from 50 to 60 bushels per acre, on high land. and a better wheat no country ever produced, the crops of wheat have been great, selling at 75 cents per bushel, it weighs from 60 to 70 lbs. per bushel, so that the main staff of life is easily procured, oats 37 1/2 cents per bushel your money, and is very good and heavy.

I would advise the emigrants coming to this country, to go through your state, (say Jackson county) as far as S W. Point, where they can either descend the river Tennessee into the Mississippi, or come by land as they choose. The lands in upper Louisiana, will not, in all probability be given up or sold by the United States for some time to come. but Spanish rights to land can be purchased lower than what the United States will dispose of the lands here, for at all events emigrants will not suffer want of land The cattle here are remarkably fine, better beef is not to be had on the continent, and it is a great advantage that they can winter themselves, hogs thrive well here and are large, in fact from what I can learn and what I have seen, it is a second Egypt. The trade of this country consists chiefly in fur and skins, all of which is chiefly sent by the lakes to Montreal and Quebec, the supplies of this trade are mostly brought by the lakes to this country--I am of opinion that, this most valuable traffic ought to be attended to, so that the advantage arising from it ought either to benefit the United States, or the citizens belonging to them--as it is at present carried on it benefits neither--the furs are remarkably fine. Mechanics are much in want. say carpenters, mill wrights. wheel-wrights, blacksmiths, coopers, &c. and their wages are high--tailors, (decent ones) saddlers and tanners, would do well.