| Sir, I cannot but
feel gratified by the flattering terms in which
yo speak of the hasty and imperfect essays of
mine published in your paper, on the topography
of this territory; but I have read with regret,
in the same paragraph, a statement of my having
set out on a journey to the westward, with the
intention of visiting the city of Mexico, and of
publishing the result of my travels, on my return
to my own country. It is true, I have more than
once expressed an opinion that such a tour, in
case of the independence of the Mexican colonies,
and of the amicable intercourse between them and
the United Sates, would be highly interesting;
but having devoted myself to a different pursuit,
and besides feeling deficient in the
qualifications which a person undertaking such a
tour ought to possess, I never had any serious
thought of it. You will forgive me for troubling
you upon a subject which can be of no public
interest, but which if passed by in silence,
would place me in a disagreeable embarrassment,
with respect to my acquaintances, who may suppose
that I have left the United States.
An
excursion which I made up the Missouri, has
doubtless given rise to the idea. It had been my
intention to have descended the Mississippi last
spring, in order to settle myself in my
profession in the lower country, but
circumstances preventing, I postponed it until
fall, and in the mean time, I was induced to
accompany Mr. Manuel Lisa to the Mandan villages,
from whence I returned a few days ago, in company
with Mr. Bradbury, who had ascended the river for
the purpose of pursuing his researches on the
natural history of the country.
With sentiments of
respect,
I am yours, & c.
H.M. Brackenridge
|
From:
Henry M. Brackenridge to Joseph Charless, Editor
of the Louisiana Gazette
Born in Pittsburg in 1786,
Henry Marie Brackenridge studied French, German,
Spanish and Italian. He was admitted to the
Pennsylvania bar in 1806 and for a short time
practiced law. He came to St. Louis in about 1810
and the following year accompanied Manuel Lisa
and the Missouri Fur Company ascending the
Missouri River. He kept a journal on the journey
which was later published in 1814 as "Views
of Lousiana together with a Journal of a Voyage
up the Missouri River." 
Henry's father, Hugh
Henry Brackenridge, was also a writer. Born in
Scotland in 1748, he came to Pennsylvania and
attended Princeton, graduating in 1771 in the
same class as James Madison.
