This letter was written by Thomas H. Ellis from Richmond, Virginia on March 6, 1866 to Robert E. Lee. In the letter, Ellis writes to inform Lee that the company's general assembly has voted to move forward with granting a French company an amended charter with contents that had been requested by the French company. He goes on to express his unease at working with the French, given bad relations and lack of resources following the Civil War. He then requests Lee write to him his opinions on the topics of the canal project, as well as peace relations abroad.