Arlington
Sept 22nd 1830
My dear Carter
Your letter of the 7th Inst. did not come to hand till yesterday though I was at the very place, to which it was directed. The reason of this was, that it was sent to Wood Stock Shenandoah County instead of Fauquier & there detained some days. As soon as I received it, I came post down here, in hopes to hear some tidings of your movements, in which however I have failed & have determined at a venture to write by the mail to night. I must therefore be as short as possible. First then, I think it is extremely necessary to arrange our affairs definitely, & if it cannot be done without our all being together in Va. I see no time better than the present. Smith is at present at Ravensworth & though I have not seen him since I received your letter, I am pretty confident that there will be nothing to call him out of our reach.
I have heard that Uncle Williams will bring his daughters up to Miss Mercer's about the 1st of next month & if you can be here then we can all be together. Should Mr. Turner's presence be necessary we will have to adjourn to Fauquier. When you propose that I should go to P. Co. you forget that in a month from this time I must be winding my way towards Cock Spur.
Strange things have happened here this Summer. Charles Henry is engaged. Marietta L. is engaged & last though not least I am engaged to Miss Mary C. Think of that Master Brooke. That is, She & her mother have given their consent. But the Father has not yet made up his mind, though it is supposed will not object. They are all well in Fauquier. Hill & Mary go down on the 1st of Oct. Shirley Carter has been very ill, has gone to the Warm Springs & is fast recovring [sic]. Cousin Marcie is a very little better & intends going to Baltimore in a few days. I write in the greatest hurry, so that knowing the state of affairs you may have it in your power to do as you think best. I would write Uncle W. & tell him your plans did I know certainly that you were coming on. Write quickly if you cannot
Your affct &c
R. E. Lee
[ Postmarked Sep. 23, this letter is addressed to C. C. Lee Esq., Counsellor at Law, No. 15 Pine St., New York.]
Source: Copy of original letter, The Papers of Robert E. Lee, 1830-1870, University of Virginia Special Collections, Charlottesville
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2018 January 3
