Combinedwiththeseviews，andtobepreparedagainsttheoccupationofLouisianabyapowerfulandenterprisingpeople，itisimportantthat，settinglessvalueoninteriorextensionofpurchasesfromtheIndians，webendourwholeviewstothepurchaseandsettlementofthecountryontheMississippi，fromitsmouthtoitsnorthernregions，thatwemaybeabletopresentasstrongafrontonourwesternasonoureasternborder，andplantontheMississippiitselfthemeansofitsowndefence。Wenowownfrom31totheYazoo，andhopethissummertopurchasewhatbelongstotheChoctawsfromtheYazoouptotheirboundary，supposedtobeaboutoppositethemouthofAcanza。Wewishatthesametimetobegininyourquarter，forwhichthereisatpresentafavorableopening。TheCahokiasextinct，weareentitledtotheircountrybyourparamountsovereignty。ThePiorias，weunderstand，haveallbeendrivenofffromtheircountry，andwemightclaimitinthesameway；butasweunderstandthereisonechiefremaining，whowould，asthesurvivorofthetribe，selltheright，itisbettertogivehimsuchtermsaswillmakehimeasyforlife，andtakeaconveyancefromhim。TheKaskaskiasbeingreducedtoafewfamilies，Ipresumewemaypurchasetheirwholecountryforwhatwouldplaceeveryindividualofthemathisease，andbeasmallpricetous，——saybylayingoffforeachfamily，whenevertheywouldchooseit，asmuchrichlandastheycouldcultivate，adjacenttoeachother，enclosingthewholeinasinglefence，andgivingthemsuchanannuityinmoneyorgoodsforeveraswouldplacetheminhappiness；andwemighttakethemalsoundertheprotectionoftheUnitedStates。Thuspossessedoftherightsofthesetribes，weshouldproceedtothesettlingtheirboundarieswiththePoutewatamiesandKickapoos；claimingalldoubtfulterritory，butpayingthemapricefortherelinquishmentoftheirconcurrentclaim，andevenprevailingonthem，ifpossible，to_cede_，foraprice，suchoftheirownunquestionedterritoryaswouldgiveusaconvenientnorthernboundary。Beforebroachingthis，andwhilewearebargainingwiththeKaskaskies，themindsofthePoutewatamiesandKickapoosshouldbesoothedandconciliatedbyliberalitiesandsincereassurancesoffriendship。Perhapsbysendingawell-qualifiedcharactertostaysometimeinDecoigne’svillage，asifonotherbusiness，andtosoundhimandintroducethesubjectbydegreestohismindandthatoftheotherheadsoffamilies，inculcatinginthewayofconversation，allthoseconsiderationswhichprovetheadvantagestheywouldreceivebyacessionontheseterms，theobjectmightbemoreeasilyandeffectuallyobtainedthanbyabruptlyproposingittothemataformaltreaty。Ofthemeans，however，ofobtainingwhatwewish，youwillbethebestjudge；andIhavegivenyouthisviewofthesystemwhichwesupposewillbestpromotetheinterestsoftheIndiansandourselves，andfinallyconsolidateourwholecountrytoonenationonly；thatyoumaybeenabledthebettertoadaptyourmeanstotheobject，forthispurposewehavegivenyouageneralcommissionfortreating。Thecrisisispressing：whatevercannowbeobtainedmustbeobtainedquickly。TheoccupationofNewOrleans，hourlyexpected，bytheFrench，isalreadyfeltlikealightbreezebytheIndians。
Youknowthesentimentstheyentertainofthatnation；underthehopeoftheirprotectiontheywillimmediatelystiffenagainstcessionsoflandstous。Wehadbetter，therefore，doatoncewhatcannowbedone。
Imustrepeatthatthisletteristobeconsideredasprivateandfriendly，andisnottocontrolanyparticularinstructionswhichyoumayreceivethroughofficialchannel。Youwillalsoperceivehowsacredlyitmustbekeptwithinyourownbreast，andespeciallyhowimpropertobeunderstoodbytheIndians。Fortheirinterestsandtheirtranquillityitisbesttheyshouldseeonlythepresentageoftheirhistory。Iprayyoutoacceptassurancesofmyesteemandhighconsideration。
JESUS，SOCRATES，ANDOTHERS
_ToDr。JosephPriestley_
_Washington，Apr。9，1803_
DEARSIR，——WhileonashortvisitlatelytoMonticello，I
receivedfromyouacopyofyourcomparativeviewofSocrates&
Jesus，andIavailmyselfofthefirstmomentofleisureaftermyreturntoacknolegethepleasureIhadintheperusalofit，andthedesireitexcitedtoseeyoutakeupthesubjectonamoreextensivescale。InconsequenceofsomeconversationwithDr。Rush，intheyear1798-99，IhadpromisedsomedaytowritehimalettergivinghimmyviewoftheChristiansystem。Ihavereflectedoftenonitsince，&evensketchedtheoutlinesinmyownmind。Ishouldfirsttakeageneralviewofthemoraldoctrinesofthemostremarkableoftheantientphilosophers，ofwhoseethicswehavesufficientinformationtomakeanestimate，sayofPythagoras，Epicurus，Epictetus，Socrates，Cicero，Seneca，Antoninus。Ishoulddojusticetothebranchesofmoralitytheyhavetreatedwell；butpointouttheimportanceofthoseinwhichtheyaredeficient。IshouldthentakeaviewofthedeismandethicsoftheJews，andshowinwhatadegradedstatetheywere，andthenecessitytheypresentedofareformation。Ishouldproceedtoaviewofthelife，character，&
doctrinesofJesus，whosensibleofincorrectnessoftheirideasoftheDeity，andofmorality，endeavoredtobringthemtotheprinciplesofapuredeism，andjusternotionsoftheattributesofGod，toreformtheirmoraldoctrinestothestandardofreason，justice&philanthropy，andtoinculcatethebeliefofafuturestate。Thisviewwouldpurposelyomitthequestionofhisdivinity，&evenhisinspiration。Todohimjustice，itwouldbenecessarytoremarkthedisadvantageshisdoctrineshavetoencounter，nothavingbeencommittedtowritingbyhimself，butbythemostunletteredofmen，bymemory，longaftertheyhadheardthemfromhim；whenmuchwasforgotten，muchmisunderstood，&presentedinveryparadoxicalshapes。Yetsucharethefragmentsremainingastoshowamasterworkman，andthathissystemofmoralitywasthemostbenevolent&
sublimeprobablythathasbeenevertaught，andconsequentlymoreperfectthanthoseofanyoftheantientphilosophers。Hischaracter&doctrineshavereceivedstillgreaterinjuryfromthosewhopretendtobehisspecialdisciples，andwhohavedisfiguredandsophisticatedhisactions&precepts，fromviewsofpersonalinterest，soastoinducetheunthinkingpartofmankindtothrowoffthewholesystemindisgust，andtopasssentenceasanimpostoronthemostinnocent，themostbenevolent，themosteloquentandsublimecharacterthateverhasbeenexhibitedtoman。Thisistheoutline；
butIhavenotthetime，&stilllesstheinformationwhichthesubjectneeds。Itwillthereforerestwithmeincontemplationonly。
Youarethepersonwhoofallotherswoulddoitbest，andmostpromptly。Youhaveallthematerialsathand，andyouputtogetherwithease。Iwishyoucouldbeinducedtoextendyourlateworktothewholesubject。Ihavenotheardparticularlywhatisthestateofyourhealth；butasithasbeenequaltothejourneytoPhiladelphia，perhapsitmightencouragethecuriosityyoumustfeeltoseeforoncethisplace，whichnaturehasformedonabeautifulscale，andcircumstancesdestineforagreatone。Asyetwearebutaclusterofvillages；wecannotofferyouthelearnedsocietyofPhiladelphia；butyouwillhavethatofafewcharacterswhomyouesteem，&abed&heartywelcomewithonewhowillrejoiceineveryopportunityoftestifyingtoyouhishighveneration&affectionateattachment。
THEMORALSOFJESUS
_ToDr。BenjaminRush，withaSyllabus_
_Washington，Apr。21，1803_
DEARSIR，——Insomeofthedelightfulconversationswithyou，intheeveningsof1798-99，andwhichservedasananodynetotheafflictionsofthecrisisthroughwhichourcountrywasthenlaboring，theChristianreligionwassometimesourtopic；andIthenpromisedyou，thatonedayorother，Iwouldgiveyoumyviewsofit。
Theyaretheresultofalifeofinquiry&reflection，andverydifferentfromthatanti-Christiansystemimputedtomebythosewhoknownothingofmyopinions。TothecorruptionsofChristianityIamindeedopposed；butnottothegenuinepreceptsofJesushimself。I
amaChristian，intheonlysensehewishedanyonetobe；sincerelyattachedtohisdoctrines，inpreferencetoallothers；ascribingtohimselfevery_human_excellence；&believingheneverclaimedanyother。Attheshortintervalssincetheseconversations，whenI
couldjustifiablyabstractmymindfrompublicaffairs，thesubjecthasbeenundermycontemplation。ButthemoreIconsideredit，themoreitexpandedbeyondthemeasureofeithermytimeorinformation。
InthemomentofmylatedeparturefromMonticello，IreceivedfromDoctrPriestley，hislittletreatiseof”Socrates&Jesuscompared。”
ThisbeingasectionofthegeneralviewIhadtakenofthefield，itbecameasubjectofreflectionwhileontheroad，andunoccupiedotherwise。Theresultwas，toarrangeinmymindasyllabus，oroutlineofsuchanestimateofthecomparativemeritsofChristianity，asIwishedtoseeexecutedbysomeoneofmoreleisureandinformationforthetask，thanmyself。ThisInowsendyou，astheonlydischargeofmypromiseIcanprobablyeverexecute。Andinconfidingittoyou，Iknowitwillnotbeexposedtothemalignantperversionsofthosewhomakeeverywordfrommeatextfornewmisrepresentations&calumnies。Iammoreoveraversetothecommunicationofmyreligioustenetstothepublic；becauseitwouldcountenancethepresumptionofthosewhohaveendeavoredtodrawthembeforethattribunal，andtoseducepublicopiniontoerectitselfintothatinquisitionovertherightsofconscience，whichthelawshavesojustlyproscribed。Itbehoveseverymanwhovalueslibertyofconscienceforhimself，toresistinvasionsofitinthecaseofothers；ortheircasemay，bychangeofcircumstances，becomehisown。Itbehoveshim，too，inhisowncase，togivenoexampleofconcession，betrayingthecommonrightofindependentopinion，byansweringquestionsoffaith，whichthelawshaveleftbetweenGod&
himself。Acceptmyaffectionatesalutations。
SYLLABUSOFANESTIMATEOFTHEMERITOFTHEDOCTRINESOFJESUS，COMPAREDWITHTHOSEOFOTHERS
_April，1803_
InacomparativeviewoftheEthicsoftheenlightenednationsofantiquity，oftheJewsandofJesus，nonoticeshouldbetakenofthecorruptionsofreasonamongtheancients，towit，theidolatry&
superstitionofthevulgar，norofthecorruptionsofChristianitybythelearnedamongitsprofessors。
Letajustviewbetakenofthemoralprinciplesinculcatedbythemostesteemedofthesectsofancientphilosophy，oroftheirindividuals；particularlyPythagoras，Socrates，Epicurus，Cicero，Epictetus，Seneca，Antoninus。
I。PHILOSOPHERS。1。Theirpreceptsrelatedchieflytoourselves，andthegovernmentofthosepassionswhich，unrestrained，woulddisturbourtranquillityofmind。Inthisbranchofphilosophytheywerereallygreat。
2。Indevelopingourdutiestoothers，theywereshortanddefective。Theyembraced，indeed，thecirclesofkindred&friends，andinculcatedpatriotism，ortheloveofourcountryintheaggregate，asaprimaryobligation：towardourneighbors&countrymentheytaughtjustice，butscarcelyviewedthemaswithinthecircleofbenevolence。Stilllesshavetheyinculcatedpeace，charity&lovetoourfellowmen，orembracedwithbenevolencethewholefamilyofmankind。
II。JEWS。1。TheirsystemwasDeism；thatis，thebeliefofoneonlyGod。Buttheirideasofhim&ofhisattributesweredegrading&injurious。
2。TheirEthicswerenotonlyimperfect，butoftenirreconcilablewiththesounddictatesofreason&morality，astheyrespectintercoursewiththosearoundus；&repulsive&anti-social，asrespectingothernations。Theyneededreformation，therefore，inaneminentdegree。
III。JESUS。InthisstateofthingsamongtheJews，Jesusappeared。Hisparentagewasobscure；hisconditionpoor；hiseducationnull；hisnaturalendowmentsgreat；hislifecorrectandinnocent：hewasmeek，benevolent，patient，firm，disinterested，&ofthesublimesteloquence。
Thedisadvantagesunderwhichhisdoctrinesappearareremarkable。
1。LikeSocrates&Epictetus，hewrotenothinghimself。
2。Buthehadnot，likethem，aXenophonoranArriantowriteforhim。Onthecontrary，allthelearnedofhiscountry，entrenchedinitspowerandriches，wereopposedtohim，lesthislaborsshouldunderminetheiradvantages；andthecommittingtowritinghislife&
doctrinesfellonthemostunlettered&ignorantmen；whowrote，too，frommemory，¬tilllongafterthetransactionshadpassed。
3。Accordingtotheordinaryfateofthosewhoattempttoenlightenandreformmankind，hefellanearlyvictimtothejealousy&combinationofthealtarandthethrone，atabout33。yearsofage，hisreasonhavingnotyetattainedthe_maximum_ofitsenergy，northecourseofhispreaching，whichwasbutof3。yearsatmost，presentedoccasionsfordevelopingacompletesystemofmorals。
4。Hencethedoctrineswhichhereallydeliveredweredefectiveasawhole，andfragmentsonlyofwhathediddeliverhavecometousmutilated，misstated，&oftenunintelligible。
5。Theyhavebeenstillmoredisfiguredbythecorruptionsofschismatisingfollowers，whohavefoundaninterestinsophisticating&pervertingthesimpledoctrineshetaughtbyengraftingonthemthemysticismsofaGreciansophist，fritteringthemintosubtleties，&
obscuringthemwithjargon，untiltheyhavecausedgoodmentorejectthewholeindisgust，&toviewJesushimselfasanimpostor。
Notwithstandingthesedisadvantages，asystemofmoralsispresentedtous，which，iffilledupinthetruestyleandspiritoftherichfragmentsheleftus，wouldbethemostperfectandsublimethathaseverbeentaughtbyman。
ThequestionofhisbeingamemberoftheGodhead，orindirectcommunicationwithit，claimedforhimbysomeofhisfollowers，anddeniedbyothers，isforeigntothepresentview，whichismerelyanestimateoftheintrinsicmeritofhisdoctrines。
1。HecorrectedtheDeismoftheJews，confirmingthemintheirbeliefofoneonlyGod，andgivingthemjusternotionsofhisattributesandgovernment。
2。Hismoraldoctrines，relatingtokindred&friends，weremorepure&perfectthanthoseofthemostcorrectofthephilosophers，andgreatlymoresothanthoseoftheJews；andtheywentfarbeyondbothininculcatinguniversalphilanthropy，notonlytokindredandfriends，toneighborsandcountrymen，buttoallmankind，gatheringallintoonefamily，underthebondsoflove，charity，peace，commonwantsandcommonaids。AdevelopmentofthisheadwillevincethepeculiarsuperiorityofthesystemofJesusoverallothers。
3。Thepreceptsofphilosophy，&oftheHebrewcode，laidholdofactionsonly。Hepushedhisscrutiniesintotheheartofman；
erectedhistribunalintheregionofhisthoughts，andpurifiedthewatersatthefountainhead。
4。Hetaught，emphatically，thedoctrinesofafuturestate，whichwaseitherdoubted，ordisbelievedbytheJews；andwieldeditwithefficacy，asanimportantincentive，supplementarytotheothermotivestomoralconduct。
EXPEDITIONTOTHEPACIFIC
_InstructionstoCaptainLewis_
_June20，1803_