[Col° Senfs Copy of — A Letter to the President of the US—] Copy of a Letter to his Excellency the President [General?] of the United States — Rocky Mount So Corolina May 1799 Col. Senf — Sir At last the Period seems to have arrived when I may Venture, under the present and happy form of Government, to propose a Plan I have had for Several Years in Contemplation — The Oppertunities I have had during the W. D[undecipherable] have given me a good deal of knowledge of our Sea Coast & the Advantages the Country has over many others of its Inland Communications by Water an importance in Certainty in my humble Opinion very great — I have not the least doubt of the Practicability that adequate good Inland Navigation can be effected, on Moderate Expences from the States of New York to East [Florida] — The Traveler must Exercise much Satisfaction when he Can traverse Hundreds of Miles in safety without being tossed about by the Sea or to undergo the great fatigues to Travel by Land how much greater will be the Benefits, the Inhabitants will — when they Can transport their Produces and Manufactories to any Part of the United States where it appears most out to them without any Risk, either in Peace or War times — The Desire to assist in so great and Beneficial a Plan urges me to Request humbly to be Honored with a permission from the Government, to make the Necessary Surveys for the Purpose Mentioned, and to have that Satisfaction to present the plans & Estimates of the Expences in [that] I may further be permitted to draw for a Sum of Money (or to be assisted with it) from time to time, not Exceeding five [hun]dred Pounds Sterling in all, on ac[count] to defray all the Travelling Expences from it, & to pay the Wages and Provisions for the People requisite to Assist me when Surveying — And that I may have a Recommendation to the Governors of the different States to be [fur]nished with a Boat and Guides when I have occasion for [them] — Should the Government be pleased to Approve my propositions I shall Cheerfully engage myself to furnish, twelve Months after the rec. I have received the Approbation, A Map with the Necessary plans annexed to it, with every Explanations, Remarks, and an Estimate of the Expences attending it, if no unforeseen Accident happen — I shall likewise not omit, to make all Military Observations, as far as my Capacity will Permit me, if Considered — And I promise that the whole Sum of Expences in making these Surveys Shall not exceed five Hundred Pounds Sterling, calling hire of a Boat or Guides I may be furnished with at times Requisite — An Apprehension, that the uncertain- ties of the different States, under the former Government, could stir my Wishes has hitherto prevented me to attempt to lay [the] Present Proposition Sooner before the Honourable the Congress — I hope, that my humble and well Meaning proposition may meet with kind Acceptation, and if the Execution of so great a Plan should be thought Premature I flatter myself, that I will be so far indulged to the Necessary Surveys, to prove with them, what may be Done and what I have Proposed — I have the Honor to be with Perfect Respect Sir Your Excellencyes Mo Obed^t & Mo hum[ble Servant] — Jn^o Senf Engineer of the State of S. Carolina