*** start of the project gutenberg ebook 1236 *** first across the continent the story of the exploring expedition of lewis and clark in 1804-5-6 by noah brooks chapter i -- a great transaction in land the people of the young republic of the united states were greatly astonished, in the summer of 1803, to learn that napoleon bonaparte, then first consul of france, had sold to us the vast tract of land known as the country of louisiana. the details of this purchase were arranged in paris ...