It is related by Jefferson, in his "memoranda of conversations," that Judge Breckenridge, of Kentucky, told him, in 1800, that Michaux was not only a botanical agent of the French, but a political emissary, and that he held a commission as commissary for an expedition against the Spaniards,

in 1785 to introduce into the Royal plantations the most valuable trees of eastern North America, and Michaux was selected for this undertaking. He was instructed to explore the territory of the United States, to gather seeds of trees, shrubs, and other plants, and to establish a nursery near New York for their reception, and afterwards to send them to France, where they were to be planted in the park of Rambouillet. He was directed also to send game-birds from America, with a view to their introduction into the plantations of American trees. Michaux, accompanied by his son, then fifteen years old, arrived in New York in October, 1785. Here during two years he made his principal residence, establishing a nursery of which all trace has now disappeared, and making a number of short, botanical journeys into New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The fruits of these preliminary explorations, including 12 boxes of seeds, 5,000 seedling trees, and a number of live partridges were sent to Paris at the end of the first year.

Michaux's first visit to South Carolina was made in September, 1787. He found Charleston a more suitable place for his nurseries, and made that city his headquarters during the rest of his stay in America.

"Michaux's journeys in this country after his establishment in Charleston are detailed in the journal (printed in the place already referred to). They cover the territory of North America from Hudson's Bay to the Indian River of Florida, and from the Bahama Islands to the banks of the Mississippi River. His ambition to carry out his instructions was equalled only by his courage and industry. The history of botanical explorations accords no greater display of fortitude and enthusiasm in pursuit of knowledge than Michaux showed in his journey to the headquarters of Savannah River in December, 1788, when his zeal was rewarded by the discovery of Shortia on the return from his visit to Hudson's Bay. The hardship of his last journey even did not satisfy his craving for adventure and discovery, and shortly after his return he laid before the American Philosophical Society a proposition to explore the unknown region which lay beyond the Missouri. His proposition was well received. The sum of $5,000 was raised by subscription to meet the expenses of the journey, all arrangements were made, and he was about ready to start when he was called upon by the Minister of the French Republic, lately arrived in New York, to proceed to Kentucky to execute some business growing out of the relations between France and Spain with regard to the transfer of Louisiana."

'It was this suggestion of Michaux, no doubt," says Sargent in concluding this reference, “which led Mr. Jefferson, who had regarded him with great favor, to send a few years later the first trans-continental expedition to the shores of the Pacific." Prof. Sargent, like Dr. Gray, has evidently not been in possession of the history of Jefferson's early interest in this matter.

planned by Genet in connection with a plot to gain possession of the eastern Mississippi Valley for France.'

"In 1803," continues Jefferson, "the act of establishing trading houses with the Indian tribes being about to expire, some modifications of it were recommended to Congress by a confidential message of January 18th, and an extension of its views to the Indians on the Missouri. In order to prepare the way, the message proposed sending an exploring party to trace the Missouri to its source, to cross the highlands, and follow the best water-communication which offered itself from thence to the Pacific Ocean. Congress approved the proposition and voted a sum of money for carrying it into execution. Captain Lewis, who had then been near two years with me as private secretary, immediately renewed his solicitation to have the direction of the party."

In his life of Lewis, prefixed to the history of the expedition, Jefferson gives in full an account of Lewis's preparation for the expedition, including his instruction in astronomical observation by Andrew Ellicott, and also a full text of the instructions, signed by him, addressed to Lewis and his associate, Captain William Clarke. Captain Lewis left Washington on the 5th of July, 1803, and proceeded to Pittsburg. Delays of preparation, difficulties of navigation down the Ohio, and other obstructions retarded his arrival at Cahoki until the season was so far advanced that he was obliged to wait until the ice should break up in the beginning of spring. His mission accomplished, he returned to St. Louis on the 23d of September, 1806.

"Never," says Jefferson, "did a similar event excite more joy through the United States. The humblest of its citizens had taken a lively interest in the issue of the journey, and looked forward with impatience for the information it would furnish. The anxiety, too, for the safety of the corps had been kept in a state of excitement by lugubrious rumors circulated from time to time on uncertain authorities, and uncontradicted by letters or other direct information, from the time they had left the Mandan towns on their ascent up the river, in April of the preceding year, 1805, until their actual return to St. Louis."

The second expedition towards the West was also sent out during Jefferson's administration, being that under the com"Jefferson's Writings," ed. T. J. Randolph, iv., pp. 513, 514.

mand of Gen. Zebulon M. Pike, who was sent to explore the sources of the Mississippi River and the western parts of "Louisiana," continuing as far west as Pike's Peak, the name of which still remains as a memorial of this enterprise.'

The expedition of Lewis and Clarke was followed, in due course and in rapid succession, by others, some geographical, some geological, some for special researches, and some more comprehensive in character.

To those who are in the least degree familiar with the history of American exploration, the names of Long, Cass and Schoolcraft, Bonneville, Nicollet, Fremont, Sitgreaves, Wizlizenus, Foster and Whitney, Owen, Stansbury, Abert, Marcy, Stevens, Gunnison, Beckwith, Whipple, Williamson, Parke, Pope, Emory, Bartlett, Bryan, Magraw, Johnston, Campbell, Warren, Twining, Ives, Beale, Simpson, Lander, McClellan, Mullan, Raynolds, Heap, Jones, Ruffner, Ludlow, Maguire, Macomb, and Stone will bring up the memory of much adventurous exploration and a vast amount of good scientific work; while to mention Hayden, Wheeler, King, and Powell is to leave the field of history and to call up the early stages of the development of that magnificent organization, the United States Geological Survey, which is still in the beginning of its career of usefulness.'

The history of the Coast Survey began with the earliest years of the century. It has been thought by some that the idea originated with Albert Gallatin, and by others that it was due to Prof. Robert Patterson, while Hassler, whose

3

1 It is a matter of history that Alexander Wilson, the ornithologist, was anxious to be appointed the naturalist of Pike's expedition, and Jefferson has been warmly abused for not gratifying his desire. It should be borne in mind that at this time Wilson was a man whose reputation had not yet been achieved and also that it is quite possible that, in those days. as in the present, the projectors of such enterprises were often hindered by lack of financial opportunity. 2 The U. S. Geological Survey was organized March 3, 1879, and Clarence King was appointed its first director. Major J. W. Powell, his successor, was appointed March 18, 1881.

'The committee of twenty, appointed in 1857 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, to report upon the history and progress of the Coast Survey, made the following statement :

"It is believed that the honor of first suggesting a geodetic survey of the American coast, is due to the elder Professor Patterson, of Philadelphia, who, as

name is so intimately associated with its early history, seems to have supposed that it was suggested by his own advent, in 1805, bringing with him from Switzerland a collection of mathematical books and instruments.'

Passing by the question as to who was the originator of the idea, with the simple remark that it is doubtful whether such an enterprise should not have for long years been in the minds of many Americans, it may be said that, without doubt, the early organization of the survey was due to the scientific wisdom and political foresight of Jefferson, who realized that within a few years the country would be involved in a war with Great Britain, and that a thorough knowledge of the coast was essential not only to the prosperity of the nation in time of peace, but still more to its safety in case of invasion. At that time the only charts available for our mariners were those in "The Atlantic Nepearly as the year 1806, availed himself of his intimacy with the President, Mr. Jefferson, and the gentlemen who formed his Cabinet, to impress them with the feasibility and quality of the measure.”—“ Report on the History and Progress of the American Coast Survey up to the Year 1858, by the Committee of Twenty, Appointed by the Association for the Advancement of Science, at the Montreal Meeting, August, 1857" (pp. 1-88), p. 18.

1 "I arrived in this country in October, 1805, having relinquished my public station in my native country, Switzerland, foreseeing the turn of political events which have since come to pass, and from a taste for a rural life with completely different views and means quite sufficient for them, but which I have failed to claim. Having arrived in Philadelphia, the late Professor Patterson, Mr. Garnet, of New Brunswick, and several other gentlemen, on seeing the books, mathematical instruments, etc., I had brought with me for my private enjoyment, were so kind as to show me some attention. I had occasion to show them, in conversation, by the scientific publications of Europe, that I had been engaged in an extensive survey of Switzerland, which was interrupted by the revolution. Professor Patterson sent to President Jefferson, an account of my former life, which I furnished at his request; and Mr. Clay, the Representative to Congress from Philadelphia, before setting off for Congress, in 1806, asked me if I should be willing to take a survey of the coast, to which I assented." (Letter published in the New York American, probably in February, 1827. Principal Documents Relating to the Survey of the Coast of the United States since 1816, published by F. R. Hassler, Superintendent of the Survey. New York, William Van Norton, printer, 1834. Octavo, pp. 1-180, I-III: folding map. Second Volume of the Principal Documents Relating to the Survey of the Coast of the United States, from October, 1834, to November, 1835. Published by F. R. Hassler, Superintendent of the Survey. New York, William Van Norton, printer, 1835. Octavo, pp. 1–156, 1—111 (1).)

tune" of Colonel Des Barres, and the old hydrographic charts issued by the Dutch, French, and English governments. Jefferson realized that American seamen were less familiar with many portions of their own coast than were the European navigators, and he appreciated fully the importance of having a knowledge of this kind far more accurate than that which was possessed by any foreigner. "With the clear and bold perception which always distinguishes men of genius when they are trusted in times of danger with the destiny of nations, the President recommended the survey of the home coast with all the aid of the more recent discoveries in science"; and in his annual message to Congress, in the year 1807, proposed the establishment of a national survey, for the purpose of making a complete chart of the coast with the adjacent shoals and soundings.

In response to this recommendation, Congress made an appropriation of $50,000 for the purpose of carrying out the provision of the following law:

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR SURVEYING THE COAST OF THE UNITED STATES.

Be it enacted, &c. That the President of the United States shall be, and he is hereby authorized and requested to cause a survey to be taken of the coast of the United States, in which shall be designated the islands and shoals, in the roads or places of anchorage, within 20 leagues of any part of the shores of the United States; and also their respective courses and distances between the principal capes, or head lands, together with such other matters as he may deem proper for completing an accurate chart of every part of the coast within the extent of foresaid. Act of Feb. 10, 1807.

By the direction of the President, Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury, addressed a circular-letter to American men of science, requesting their opinion as to the character of the plan to be adopted.

In the circular of the Secretary of the Treasury, the work to be performed was defined as consisting of three distinct parts, as follows:

"I.

The ascertainment by a series of Astronomical observations of the position of a few remarkable points on the coast, and some of the LightHouses placed on the principal capes, or at the entrance of the principal harbors, appear to be the most eligible places for that purpose as being objects