This scheme fell through on account of
the obstacles thrown in Ledyard's way by the Russian Government. A few
years later, in 1792, Jefferson, whose mind was apparently fixed on
carrying out his project, proposed to the American Philosophical Society
of Philadelphia that a subscription should be opened for the purpose of
raising money "to engage some competent person to explore that region in
the opposite direction (from the Pacific coast),--that is, by ascending
the Missouri, crossing the Stony (Rocky) Mountains, and descending the
nearest river to the Pacific." This was the hint from which originated
the famous expedition of Lewis and Clark.
But the story-teller should not forget to mention that hardy and
adventurous explorer, Jonathan Carver. This man, the son of a British
officer, set out from Boston, in 1766, to explore the wilderness north
of Albany and lying along the southern shore of the Great Lakes. He was
absent two years and seven months, and in that time he collected a vast
amount of useful and strange information, besides learning the language
of the Indians among whom he lived. He conceived the bold plan of
travelling up a branch of the Missouri (or "Messorie"), till, having
discovered the source of the traditional "Oregon, or River of the West,"
on the western side of the lands that divide the continent, "he would
have sailed down that river to the place where it is said to empty
itself, near the Straits of Anian."
By the Straits of Anian, we are to suppose, were meant some part of
Behring's Straits, separating Asia from the American continent.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25