[1873]
White House, near Fish Haul King William Cy
va
I received your letter my dear friend a few days since & am so much obliged to you for your contribution which I appreciate quite as much as if it was indeed $500, lands from the mountains & drops the ocean so I receive every sum with thankfullness I perceived that my last letter containing 2 photographs had not reached you & I want to tell you that your donation covers them entirely & that I will not receive anything more for them. I only wish they were better but my hand is rather stiff Now you mentioned Dr Pendleton I hope he met with some success in his mission to Baltimore, tho’ as he was there about 2 years since on the same, he could not expect a great deal. The sweet Spring seems now to be opening on us & the last polar wave said to be the cause of the intense cold we had a few days since has I hope spent itself. we are here immediately on the bank of the Pamunkey & in the site of the house occupied by my great grandmother Mrs Washington when she was the widow Custis for a short time after she married Genl W, The Yankees burned the house & destroyed the fence entirely during the war, but a new mansion has risen on the old foundations & my second son is quite a prosperous farmer & has a lovely wife & 2 boys whom I enjoy very much. I have heard of the safe arrival of your manuscript at Lexington & shall have the pleasure of reading it on my return. upon let me congratulate you on the green old age you enjoy & the blessings of God’s countenance which ere long you must see in all its radiance & believe me always most faithfully yrs
Mary Custis Lee
We are all going to church today at old St Peters where Genl W. was married The Revd Mr Kepler preaches there once in every 2 weeks.
Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, Box 6, M2009.407
Transcribed by Caitlin Connelly, 2016 June 9
