Fairfax County Virginia
May 23 1810
Sir,
At the request of the author of a work entitled “Memoirs of the War in the Southern department of the United States by an officer of the Southern Army” I find accompanying this letter six copies of the proposals for printing them, which I hope you will distribute in the best manner to procure numerous subscriptions, the work is worthy of all that is said in the prospectus and justice is rendered to the great chief, to whom the State of Rhode Island gave birth, who deservedly holds the second rank amongst the heroes of our Revolution.
The name of the Author will be readily guessed tho’ for obvious reasons it is deemed at this time improper to announce it.
You will excuse this address on account of the subject, and believe me to be with great consideration
Yr obt sert
Richard Bland Lee
(verso)
Fairfax C House
23d May 1810
William Goddard Esq
Near Providence
Rhode-Island
Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, M2009.118
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2016 May 20