We have no information of this letter but through the channel of the party interested in the ship, nor any proof of it more authentic than that now communicated.

If these be within the scope of the request of the Senate, the printed copies can be sent in immediately, but if translations be necessary some considerable time will be requisite for their execution.

On this subject any further desire which the Senate shall think proper to express shall be complied with.

We entered the Missouri May 14, 1804, and on the 1st of November took up our winter quarters near the Mandan towns, 1,609 miles above the mouth of the river.

Having been disappointed, after considerable preparation, in the purpose of sending an exploring party up that river in the summer of 1804, it was thought best to employ the autumn of that year in procuring a knowledge of an interesting…

The examination of the Red River itself is but now commencing.

Although nothing forbids the substance of these letters from being communicated without reserve, yet so many ill effects proceed from the publications of correspondences between ministers remaining still in office that I can not but…

I am not informed whether the positions ceded are the best which can be taken for securing their respective objects.

No doubt is entertained that the legislature deemed them such.

The Senate having advised and consented to the ratification of these several treaties and conventions, I now lay them before both Houses of Congress for the exercise of their constitutional powers as to the means of fulfilling them.

The river of Beaufort, particularly, said to be accessible to ships of very large size and capable of yielding them a protection which they can not find elsewhere but very far to the north, is from these circumstances so interesting to the…

Having received from sundry merchants at Baltimore a memorial on the same subject with those I communicated to Congress with my message of the 17th instant, I now communicate this also as a proper sequel to the former, and as making a part…

These, with my message to both Houses of the 17th instant and the documents accompanying it, fulfill the desires of the Senate as far as it can be done by any information in my possession which is authentic and not publicly known.

A convention has been entered into between the United States and the Cherokee Nation for the extinguishment of the rights of the latter, and of some unsettled claims in the country north of the river Tennessee, therein described.

This convention is now laid before the Senate for their advice and consent as to its ratification.

It is sent separately and confidentially because its publication may discourage frank communications between our ministers generally and the Governments with which they reside, and especially between the same ministers.

On the impressment of our seamen our remonstrances have never been intermitted.

The rights of a neutral to carry on commercial intercourse with every part of the dominions of a belligerent permitted by the laws of the country (with the exception of blockaded ports and contraband of war) was believed to have been…

He has therefore been instructed to urge this subject anew, to bring it more fully to the bar of reason, and to insist on rights too evident and too important to be surrendered.

The balance of remains in the Treasury.

I now render to Congress an account of the grant of $20,000 for the contingent charges of Government.

Of that sum $1,987.50 have been necessarily applied to the support of the Territorial governments of Michigan and Louisiana until an opportunity could occur of making a specific appropriation for that purpose.

Being mostly originals or sole copies, a return of them is requested at the convenience of the Senate.

We considered that concerted operations by those who have a common enemy were entirely justifiable.

Our expectation was that an intercourse should be kept up between the ex-Bashaw and the commodore.