Leesg August 30th 1825
Dear Sir,1
I am authorized and requested, by the Board of Managers of the Loudon Colonization Society of Loudon,2 to ask of you, your consent, to be elected, President of it; and to invite your attendance, if convenient to you, at a Meeting of that Society, to be held, at Leesburg, on the 2d Monday of September, at 10 O’clock A.M.
Your compliance, if consistent with views, would be a highly gratifying circumstance, to the whole Society; and your attendance would ensure us, a large Meeting. If I may have the honor of announcing your willingness to act as President, and to be present at the above-mentioned Meeting, I would be happy to learn your will, by Saturday next, that I may give notice of your intention.
I take the liberty of sending to you, a copy of our village paper, containing an account of the reception of Genl. Lafayette.
I am, Dear Sir, with high respect, your Obedient Servant,
Richard Henry Lee.
Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, Box 6, M2009.172
Uploaded by Caitlin Connelly, 2016 June 10
1. James Monroe (1758-1831), President of the United States from 1817 to 1825. After leaving office he returned to his home at Oak Hill in Loudon County, Virginia, and accepted the position of President of the Loudon chapter of the American Colonization Society. He served in this position from 1825 until his death in 1831. He was preceeded by John Mines and succeeded by John Stubblefield.
2. A chapter of the American Colonization Society, whose goal was to transport freed slaves to Liberia. The Loudon chapter was founded by Ludwell Lee of Belmont and the Reverend John Mines of the Leesburg Presbyterian Church, and many Quakers, Presbyterians, and Methodists in Leesburg were active members.
