The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 5 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 5 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
SIR,--If my recollection does not deceive me, the collection of the
remains of the animal incognitum of the Ohio (sometimes called mammoth),
possessed by the Cabinet of Natural History at Paris, is not very copious.
Under this impression, and presuming that this Cabinet is allied to the
National Institute, to which I am desirous of rendering some service, I
have lately availed myself of an opportunity of collecting some of those
remains. General Clarke (the companion of Governor Lewis in his expedition
to the Pacific Ocean) being, on a late journey, to pass by the Big-bone
Lick of the Ohio, was kind enough to undertake to employ for me a number
of laborers, and to direct their operations in digging for these bones
at this important deposit of them. The result of these researches will
appear in the enclosed catalogue of specimens which I am now able to place
at the disposal of the National Institute. An aviso being to leave this
place for some port of France on public service, I deliver the packages
to Captain Haley, to be deposited with the Consul of the United States,
at whatever port he may land. They are addressed to Mr. Warden of our
legation at Paris, for the National Institute, and he will have the honor
of delivering them. To these I have added the horns of an animal called
by the natives the Mountain Ram, resembling the sheep by his head, but
more nearly the deer in his other parts; as also the skin of another
animal, resembling the sheep by his fleece but the goat in his other
parts. This is called by the natives the Fleecy Goat, or in the style of
the natural historian, the Pokotragos. I suspect it to be nearly related
to the Pacos, and were we to group the fleecy animals together, it would
stand perhaps with the Vigogne, Pacos, and Sheep. The Mountain Ram was
found in abundance by Messrs. Lewis and Clarke on their western tour,
and was frequently an article of food for their party, and esteemed more
delicate than the deer. The Fleecy Goat they did not see, but procured
two skins from the Indians, of which this is one. Their description will
be given in the work of Governor Lewis, the journal and geographical part
of which may be soon expected from the press; but the parts relating
to the plants and animals observed in his tour, will be delayed by the
engravings. In the meantime, the plants of which he brought seeds, have
been very successfully raised in the botanical garden of Mr. Hamilton
of the Woodlands, and by Mr. McMahon, a gardener of Philadelphia; and
on the whole, it is with pleasure I can assure you that the addition to
our knowledge in every department, resulting from this tour of Messrs.
Lewis and Clarke, has entirely fulfilled my expectations in setting it on
foot, and that the world will find that those travellers have well earned
its favor. I will take care that the Institute as well as yourself shall
receive Governor Lewis's work as it appears.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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