To the Honorable Benjamin Franklin Esquire president of the executive council of Pennsylvania, the memorial of John Churchman respectfully sheweth.

That he haveing made Geography, and the improvement of inland Navigation, one principal part of his studies; that he hath considered the great extent of the River Missisipi and Ohio, and the many settlements so rapidly made and making on their Waters, and the uncertainty of a free Trade into the Gulph of Mexico, that as the River Susquehanna is by nature navigable for flat boats to pass, from Middletown up the Western branch, to near the fountain head, that the navigable part of this River is much higher than any other East of Alligany Mountain; to the navigation of the Lakes and River Ohio; he apprehends a considerable part of the Trade to that extensive country must on account of the shortness of the portage centre in this channel; he proposes with the approbation of the President to explore that country to find out the shortest portage as well as the greatest convenience for an improved inland Navigation, and as part of the Lands are unappropriated he would be willing to undertake the laborious part of the task of locating them to the best advantage; he hopes if the president and his friends and connections are concerned in taking up the Lands, it will be a fresh instance of promoting the public interest, in which his Government is so eminently distinguished, as well by the sales of the public Lands, as by encouraging Trade and commerce in the most convenient channel. Notwithstanding the subscriber is informed that the common method of locating Lands so far Westward is to rate the trouble of discovering equal to half the prime cost; Office fees and expence of Surveying; he submits the matter how much lower, to the well known generosity of those   whom he proposes to be concerned.