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Whether by his own hand or anyone else's, what is the next step in the explorer-naturalist-politician's life? Two years after he died, the state finally coughed up the money it owed him to his estate, but he was on his way to D.C. to contest claims of corruption/poor governance IIRC. The theory that he was a drug (opium) addict or an alcoholic can probably be debunked, since the guy gunning for his job (Bates?) never mentions it - which is more than a little odd. He'd have no reason to not name Lewis as a druggie/drunk, which, to my mind suggests that either a) Lewis wasn't, or b) he was but Bates didn't know about it.

So, by the time Lewis gets to D.C., Jefferson's already out of office, so I'm not sure how much help he's going to be. And I'm not sure how Madison's administration would view his gubernatorial politics (if Bates has poisoned that well). Would he get his money back? What would he do if he isn't kept on as Governor of Upper Louisiana? Go into the sciences/exploring further? Take up politics? Get married and father a dozen kids? All of the above? Same questions if he's vindicated and returns as Governor.
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