will then pursue such of the largest streams of that river as shall lead by the shortest way and the lowest latitudes to the Pacific Ocean. ... It would seem by the latest maps as if a river called Oregon, interlocked with the Missouri for a considerable distance, and entered the Pacific Ocean not far southward of Nootka Sound. But the society are aware that these maps are not to be trusted so far as to be the ground of positive instruction to you. They therefore only mention the fact, leaving to yourself to verify it, or to follow such other as you shall find to be the real truth."
It would seem, from these instructions, as if Jefferson's knowledge of western rivers, relating to the Missouri was in 1793 no more complete, or very little more complete, than it was in 1781-2.^
Failure again. Michaux's energies were dissipated in political activities, directed by the French minister. Genet, and the exploring plan failed of execution, like that of Ledyard six years earlier.
When Jefferson returned to the project, ten years
^The instructions to Michaux were written in January, 1793. Capt. Robert Gray, who discovered the mouth of the Columbia River in May, 1792, returned to Boston in July, 1793. But there is no evidence that Jefferson learned of Gray's discovery otherwise than through Vancouver's Voyage published in 1798. Thwaites's statement, Original Journals of Lewis and Clark, I XXI. "Jefferson hoped that this stream [discovered by Gray] would be found to interlock with the Missouri "is based on the supposition that Jefferson possessed in 1793 knowledge which he could not have had at that time. Jefferson knew nothing about the Columbia, and the "Oregon "mentioned by him probably refers to Carver.
