# CITATION: “To James Madison from Meriwether Lewis, 16 September 1809,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-01-02-0420. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison , Presidential Series, vol. 1, 1 March–30 September 1809 , ed. Robert A. Rutland, Thomas A. Mason, Robert J. Brugger, Susannah H. Jones, Jeanne K. Sisson, and Fredrika J. Teute. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1984, pp. 380–381.] URL (original): https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-01-02-0420 URL (fetched, Wayback Machine capture): https://web.archive.org/web/2024/https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-01-02-0420 DATE FETCHED: 2026-09-14 TRANSCRIPTION: scholarly edition text (Princeton, Papers of Thomas Jefferson / Madison Papers, as published on Founders Online); text below is verbatim from the fetched page, including the editors' source note and footnotes. Superscripts are flattened by the HTML-to-text conversion (e.g. 'Oct r' = Oct^r, '11 th' = 11^th). NOTE: Madison Presidential Series vol. 1; the editors' note cites Eustis to Lewis 15 July 1809 and Lewis to Eustis 18 Aug 1809 in Carter, Territorial Papers 14:285-86, 290-91. ---- VERBATIM TEXT (Founders Online page) ---- James Madison Papers Permanent Link view To James Madison from Meriwether Lewis, 16 September 1809 From Meriwether Lewis Chickasaw Bluffs , September 16th. 09 Dear Sir. I arrived here yesterday about 1 P.M. very much exhausted from the heat of the climate, but having taken medicine feel much better this morning. My appreh[en]sion from the heat of the lower country and my fear of the original papers relative to my voyage to the Pacific ocean falling into the hands of the British has induced me to change my rout and proceed by land through the state of Tennesee to the City of washington. 2 I bring with me duplicates of my vouchers for public expenditures &c which when fully explained, or reather the general view of the circumstances under which they were made I flatter myself they will recieve both sanction & approbation. Provided my health permits no time shall be lost in reaching Washington. My anxiety to pursue and to fullfill the duties incedent to the internal arrangements incedent to the government of Louisiana has prevented my writing you more frequently. 3 Inclosed I herewith transmit you a copy of the laws of the territory of Louisiana. I have the honour to be with the most sincere esteem Your Obt. and very humble Servt. 4 Meriwether Lewis. RC ( MoSHi ). This is one of the last letters written by Lewis, who died in mysterious circumstances on 11 Oct. 1 . Lewis first wrote “2 OCk” then deleted the exact time. 2 . Lewis (1774–1809), a native of Albemarle County, was en route to Washington via New Orleans when he changed his mind and headed from Chickasaw Bluffs for the Natchez Trace. After serving on the famous expedition with William Clark he was appointed governor of the upper Louisiana Territory. Some irregularities in his public accounts drew a mild rebuke from the secretary of war, who told Lewis he had discussed the matter with JM (Secretary of War to Lewis, 15 July 1809, Carter, Territorial Papers, Louisiana-Missouri , 14:285–86). Greatly embarrassed by this action, Lewis determined to carry his case and the supporting documents to Washington. “All I wish is a full and fair Investigation” (Lewis to Secretary of War, 18 Aug. 1809, ibid., 14:290–91). 3 . Lewis wrote a following sentence—“Mr. Bates is left in charge”—then deleted it. 4 . Lewis wrote his complimentary close twice, then deleted a portion. The troubled mannerisms evident in the composition of this letter support an Indian agent’s testimony that Lewis “appeared at times deranged in mind” (James Neely to Jefferson, 18 Oct. 1809, ibid., 14:333). Index Entries Permanent Link What’s this? https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-01-02-0420 Note: The annotations to this document, and any other modern editorial content, are copyright © The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved. Back to top You Are Looking At Source Project Madison Papers Title To James Madison from Meriwether Lewis, 16 September 1809 Author Lewis, Meriwether Recipient Madison, James Date 16 September 1809 Reference Cite as “To James Madison from Meriwether Lewis, 16 September 1809,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-01-02-0420. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison , Presidential Series, vol. 1, 1 March–30 September 1809 , ed. Robert A. Rutland, Thomas A. Mason, Robert J. Brugger, Susannah H. Jones, Jeanne K. Sisson, and Fredrika J. Teute. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1984, pp. 380–381.] More between these correspondents Preceding From Lewis to Madison [27 August 1809] All All correspondence between Lewis and Madison