18 December (Note: Handwriting for the date is questionable. It may not be William Clark’s) rose, Breakfast I spoke to a taylor to make me some cloths, took my lodging at Mr. O Neels Rooming house (1)(2) at 10 dol. Pr Week and went to see the Secretary of War (3) had a long talk abt. gov. Lewis, pointed out his intentions, & views for his protest, Declaired (declared) the gov. had not lost the confidence of the gov. (Note at the bottom of page): Hask 1.25. post S. $3.75. hand for Letters
Sources
(1) https://doc.genealogyvillage.com/hotels_of_washington_dc_prior_1814.html (No page numbers but near end of document)
(2) Bryan, W. B.,
Hotels of Washington DC Prior to 1814, American History and Genealogy Project- District of Columbia , Read before the Society March 9, 1903. (3) http://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/washington/the-war-effort/war-effort-war-department/#:~:text=The%20War%20Department%2C%20located%20where,destination%20for%20President%20Lincoln’s%20perambulations. Editorial Note: A second page dated, 18 December 1809, has similar information but in greater detail. Apparently, William wanted to amplify on that day’s events and the meeting with Secretary William Eustis. After concern for his family, including Scott, Chloe, and Rachel, Willam had three missions in Washington. One , settlement of his rejected bill-of-exchange, Two , settle Meriwether Lewis’ rejected bill-of-change, Three , secure the expedition journals. Clark’s meeting with the Secretary of War would start the process of justifying the rejected bill-of-exchange for himself and Lewis before securing the journals. 18th Dec. 1809 Tuesday arrives at City of Washington and took my Board at Mr. W. (William) Oneals (O’Neal ) (1) at 10 Dol. for week with Mr. (John Wayles) Epps. (2) Mr (William Branch) giles (3) Mr. (Benjamin) Howard (4) Visited the Secy of War (5) as stated on the other side. Recved letters 3 Maj (or) (William) Christy. (6) 1 Judge Coburn, (7) 1 Col. Edgar (8) . 1 W .(illiam) Morrison. (9) 1 Bro (ther) Jon (athan) (10) . 1 John Croghan . (11) Dr. Hale (12) Statement inclosed in a record of Mr. W(illiam) Pope (13) and one from my Angel (14) which. Concerned me much to find that She was uneasy the reports of various persons but as I feel the rectitude of my own conduct, I fear nothing that can be paid by malignant packs. For the transactions after this I shall enter in another Book. Comence today (See Book 6). The entry “See Book 6” is in an unknown handwriting). The O’Neal House/Hotel was on I Street between 20 th and 21th Streets, a short walk from the War Department and todays Eisenhower Executive Office Building, formerly the State, War and Navy Building, at 1650 17rh Street, NW, Washington, D.C. Hotels of Washington Prior to 1814, Wehelmus B. Bryan. (15)
Sources
(1) https://doc.genealogyvillage.com/hotels_of_washington_dc_prior_1814.html (No page numbers but near end of the document)
(2) Possible,
https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/eppes-john-wayles-1772-1823/
(3) Possible,
https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/G/GILES,-William-Branch-(G000183)/ (4) https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/H/HOWARD,-Benjamin-(H000834)/ (5) https://history.army.mil/books/sw-sa/Eustis.htm (6) https://dynamic.stlouis-mo.gov/history/peopledetail.cfm?Master_ID=1646 (7) http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/state/history/terr/pet11.txt
(8) Jackson, Donald,
Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and related documents , University of Illinois Press, Urbana, 1978, Page 486-notes. (John Edgar- Kaskaskia merchant, trader and judge.) (9) http://www.mtmen.org/mtman/html/mfc/artassoc.html (see partners in the St. Louis Missouri Fur Co.)
(10) Holmberg, James J.,
Dear Brother: Letters from William Clark to Jonathan Clark , Yale university Press, New Haven, 2002
(11) Potts, Gwynne T. & Thomas, Samuel W.,
George Rogers Clark: Military Leader in the Pioneer West & Locust Grove: The Croghan Homestead Honoring Him, Historic Locust Grove, Inc, . China, 2006, page 95; https://locustgrovelouisville.wordpress.com/tag/dr-john-croghan/
(12) Unidentified
(13) https://www.kygenweb.net/history/ff_louisville/c6.htm (The Pope Family. Chapter VI. # 69)
(14) Julia Hancock Clark, William Clark’s wife.