[By A. J. Hill, of St. Paul; at the request of the Minnesota Historical
Society.]
§ 1. INTRODUCTORY.
Though narratives of the fortunes of early explorers of a country cannot,
in general, throw any light upon its history, apart from their travels
in the region itself, yet such recitals or biographies may still be
useful in enabling us to form juster opinions of the accounts given by
the travelers of their discoveries, from the knowledge afforded as to
character, attainments and position.
Of the subject of this article, till within a few years, nothing was
known to us, Minnesotians, beyond the little to be gleaned from his
own books of travel and from the narrative of the expedition of Major
Long; and even these works are so out of date that the name of Beltrami
is unfamiliar to our ears. His life is like the bridge in the vision
of Mirza—we see but the middle of it—the beginning and end are hid in
obscurity. The recent publication, in Italy, of biographical notices
of this traveler, has furnished the means of supplying the deficiency
of information concerning him; and at the request of the Historical
Society of Minnesota, the present memoir has been compiled, as a fitting
contribution to its “Collections.”
§ 2. PUBLISHED KNOWLEDGE OF BELTRAMI BEFORE HIS DEATH.
No doubt, at the time our traveler visited the United States, more or
less was said concerning him in the journals of the day; and that he
was violently assailed by writers of that time is shown in his own
books; but such accounts, appearing in fleeting papers, are now entirely
inaccessible, and indeed would be of but little interest or value if they
could be found.
Hitherto, therefore, our knowledge of Beltrami was derived from three
books only, which were:
1. A work, published by himself at New Orleans in 1824, entitled “La
Decouverte des Sources du Mississippi et de la Riviere Sanglante,” one
vol., 8vo pp. 328. 2. “Keating’s Narrative of Long’s Expedition to the
Sources of the St. Peter’s River, &c.,” Philadelphia, 1824; and 3. “A
Pilgrimage in Europe and America, leading to the Discovery of the Sources
of the Mississippi and Bloody River, with a description of the whole
course of the former, and of the Ohio. By J. C. Beltrami, Esq., formerly
judge of a royal court in the ex-kingdom of Italy.” London, 1828; 2
volumes. 8vo., pp. 1093.
The first of these is a narrative simply of his tour in the west,
from Pittsburg to the head waters of the Mississippi, and thence to
New Orleans, written in French, and in the form of letters addressed
to a friend, the Countess _Compagnoni_ born _Passeri_. Major Long’s
book contains but one or two references to Beltrami, and those of a
depreciating character. The exact nature of the disagreement between the
two gentlemen is not known, nor would it be right to exhume and display
it, if it could be done. All familiar with the history of “expeditions”
must have noticed how often coolness or rupture have occurred between
leading men of such parties, arising from arrogance, jealousy, or
incompatibility of temper. The “Pilgrimage” of Beltrami gives an account
of his European travels previous to his coming to the United States, and
then embodies his former work which he seems merely to have translated
into English, without other alterations than a few verbal changes.
A synopsis of the personal history found in the above works is as follows:
He had been an official of the ex-kingdom of Italy, and was sent into
exile without trial—traveled in France, Germany, and England, in
1821-2—went to the United States in 1823, and descended the Ohio river
to its mouth; thence, in company with Major Taliaferro, embarked for
the Upper Mississippi—reached Fort St. Anthony (Snelling) May 20, 1823,
whence he had expected to accompany Major T. up the river St Peter—at
that time unexplored—with the intention of proceeding further, toward
the sources of the Mississippi, also unknown. But circumstances did not
admit of that, and he was on the point of changing his direction for the
south, by traversing by land, the wild tracts lying between the Fort and
Council Bluffs, when Major Long and his party unexpectedly arrived. He
accompanied this expedition, which left the Fort on the 7th of July, as
far as Pembina, where he quitted it, on the 9th of August, and with a
_bois brule_ and the two Chippewas only, for companions, plunged into the
wilderness lying to the south east, and struck “Robber’s” (Thief) river
near its confluence with Red Lake River (which he calls “Bloody River,”
and insists that it is the true Red River.) He then followed the course
of the latter stream to Red Lake, whence, after visiting its south shore,
he ascended the river of the Grand Portage to its sources at a small lake
on a hill where he arrived on the 28th, and which, on “the theory of the
ancient geographers, that the sources of a river which are most in a
right line with its mouth, should be considered as its principal sources,
and particularly when they issue from a Cardinal point and flow to the
one directly opposite,” he maintained to be the head of the Red River of
the North. This lake he also described as supplying the most northern
sources of the Mississippi; and on that ground, and also that they had
been previously unknown, rested his claims as a geographical discoverer.
He named the lake “Julia,” from a dear friend of his, deceased, [Moroni
says, “after the woman of his heart;”] and the stream issuing southwardly
from it, the “Julian sources of the Mississippi.” The present Itasca
Lake he referred to as called by the Indians “Bitch Lake,” (Lac la
Biche—“Elk” Lake,) and as being most probably the “western sources of
the Mississippi[1].” After ascending Leech Lake River, and visiting the
lake itself, he returned by the Mississippi to the Fort, (Fort Snelling)
arriving there the 30th of September, and thence descended to New
Orleans, where, in the spring of 1824, he published the French account of
his travels.
He now disappears from our view.
[1] See hydrographical discussion by Col. Whittlesey, appended
to this memoir.
§ 3. BIOGRAPHICAL FACTS FROM RECENT ITALIAN SOURCES.
Gabriele Rosa, of Bergamo, Lombardy, an author of note, furnished to the
_Review_ of Venice, (Revista Veneta) a couple of papers on this traveler,
which appeared April 20 and 27, 1856, and were reprinted, at Bergamo, in
1861, under the title, “Of the Life and Writings of Constantine Beltrami
of Bergamo, Discoverer of the Sources of the Mississippi;” (Della vita
e degli scritti di Costantino Beltrami da Bergamo, scopritore delle
fonti del Mississippi)—a pamphlet of 34 pages octavo. On being applied
to, through the post, the author courteously sent several copies of his
little work to the United States—to the writer of this paper—besides
furnishing, in his letters, information in reply to inquiries.
In consequence of this correspondence, which took place in 1863-4,
the municipality of the same city formed the plan of publishing, and
dedicating to the Historical Society of Minnesota, a work which should
be a proper memorial of him who was their countryman and so deserving of
honor. This book was brought out in the beginning of 1865 and is entitled
“Costantino Beltrami da Bergamo—Notizie e lettere pubblicate per cura
del municipio di Bergamo e dedicate alla societa storica di Minnesota.”
It is a small but handsome quarto of 134 pages and contains: 1. As a
frontispiece, a photograph from the full length portrait of Beltrami,
painted by Professor Enrico Scuri, and presented to the public. 2. An
elegant dedicatory preface, addressed to the Society, and signed by
the members of the city council. 3. The papers of Signore Rosa, before
mentioned. 4. A lecture on the same subject as the preceding, delivered
by Count Pietro Moroni, in 1856, before the Athenæum of Bergamo, and 5.
Letters from Chateaubriand and other eminent men, addressed to him, also
one from his own pen.
From these sources, our knowledge of Beltrami has been perfected, and the
facts so obtained are now given—mostly in the form of a close translation.
J. C. Beltrami (Giacomo Costantino B.) was born at Bergamo, in 1779,
his parents being Giambattista Beltrami of that city, and Catterina
Carozzi of Pontita. His father was a man of fine presence, and of note
from his position as custom-house officer of the Venetian republic,
and also by reason of his courteous manners. There were ten children,
of whom our hero, Constantine, was the youngest. It appears that there
was a tradition in the family of its being derived from _Beltrand des
Goths_, who fled from Paris at the time of St. Bartholomew in 1572,
and took refuge at Bergamo under the sheltering wing of the Venetian
republic—model in those times of political and religions toleration.
Constantine was bred to the law; and although he possessed a restless
spirit, desirous of adventure, and that when he was just ten years
old the great public commotions that afterwards shook all Europe were
beginning, yet his natural talent prompted him to the acquisition of the
Latin and Greek literature, to which afterwards, from his experience
in public affairs, was added a rich store of geographical knowledge,
and, finally, a familiarity with the modern languages. The courage and
adventurous will that shone in him at forty-four impelled him, in his
youthful vigor, to abandon the paternal house for military affairs;
and being brought to the notice of men high in office, friends of the
family, and shortly opening the way by his own abilities, he became
vice-inspector of the armies; but, disgusted with occupations so far
below his higher aspirations, he returned to civil pursuits. At the age
of twenty-eight, in 1807, he became chancellor of the French departments
of the Stura and the Tanaro, and soon after judge of the court at
Udine. There, by his fine intellect and untiring zeal, he gained the
praises of his superiors who testified to him their high satisfaction,
as appears by many of their letters. Such expressions of approval were
confirmed by his appointment as judge of the civil and criminal court
of Macerata. In 1812, being afflicted with a severe disease, and having
received permission, he left his post for a time, and visited Florence,
where he formed relations with the Duke of Monteleone, and with the
Countess of Albany—the friend of Alfieri and Foscolo—who afterwards, in
time of danger, protected him by her counsels and influence. For the
extraordinary activity shown by him in certain important matters the
supreme judge, minister of justice, in a letter addressed to him in 1813,
praised his zeal and acquirements, prophesying his promotion to the chair
of the president of the court of Forli, for which the prince viceroy had
proposed him for the imperial sanction of France. However, the cloud
that shortly rose and darkened the political horizon of the Empire, and
of the Italian kingdom, hindered any further transmission of names.
From Florence he was hurriedly recalled by Poerio—at that time minister
extraordinary of the King of the Two Sicilies, for the southern Italian
departments. When the Austrians occupied the Marches, he retired to his
estates at Filotrano, not far from Macerata, whence, from 1816 to 1819,
he made excursions to Naples, Rome, and Florence. It appears that in some
way he became involved in carbonarism; for in 1821, although sick, and
hardly able to stand upon his feet, he had to leave the Romagna and go
into exile.
Immediately after his travels in the region of the Upper Mississippi, he
embarked at New Orleans, in 1824, for Mexico, and traversed that country
from ocean to ocean. He returned from the United States to London in
1826 or 1827. The revolution of July called him to Paris, where we soon
find him in amicable epistolary relations with the Count D’Apony, the
Austrian embassador, to whom, in a letter written on the 10th of August,
1830, a few days after the revolution, he offered his services towards
ameliorating the condition of his native country. At the same time, he
carried on a correspondence with Benjamin Constant, with Lafayette and
Lafitte. He participated in the theories of the Napoleonists of his time,
and aspired for the elevation of the nations, and especially for that of
Italy. In 1834, the Scientific Congress at Stuttgard being in session,
Beltrami was sent to it to represent the Historical Institute of France,
accredited therefore by the perpetual secretary, Mons. de Monglave, who
did not hesitate to style him one of the most honorable and distinguished
of that scientific association. Shortly after, he went to Heidelberg,
where he acquired a small landed estate which he lived on for two years.
In 1837 we find him at Vienna; then, shortly, at Home, and so—now here,
now there—he lived till 1850, when, finding himself bowed down by the
weight of years, he returned to his property at Filotrano, where, amongst
his early friends, he placidly passed the remainder of life, and where,
in February, 1855, he died, having completed his seventy-fifth year.
Beltrami was a man of frank and sincere soul—an enemy of all flattery,
and capable of unparalleled self denial. In proof of the latter, it is
related that although he suspected that the cases of articles sent by him
from America had been opened and plundered on their arrival at Florence,
yet, to avoid the bitterness of certainty of such fact, he would never
consent to their being examined during his lifetime, desiring that it
should only be done by his heirs,—as so happened.
In the desire to be more generally read, he wrote everything in foreign
languages, for which indeed he can hardly be blamed, having to print
his works out of Italy. A complete list of his published writings is as
follows:
1. _Deux mots sur des promenades de Paris et Liverpool._
Philad’a., 1823.
2. _La Decouverte des Sources du Mississippi, &c._ New Orleans,
1824. (Previously mentioned).
3. _A Pilgrimage in Europe and America, &c._ London, 1828.
(Previously mentioned).