West Point 12 Feby 1855
My dearest Markie
I cannot close Fitzhugh’s letter without thanking you for your remembrance, which though brief was sweet to me. The presence of our sons I hope will aid you in your pious care of our venerated father; though I fear it will not add either to the quiet or ease of the establishment. It however reconciles us in a measure more to his & their separation from us, & gives us the hope that they will be to each other a mutual comfort & benefit. We are very glad that our Aunt & Uncle Webster have been with you, as they must have been a substantial acquisition to your society, though it seems to have been short lived, & we hope soon to be repeated. Mary & the children unite with me in much love to you & all at Tudor. I hope Cousin Brit & all with her are well, & that you receive regular & pleasing accounts from Lolo & Bunny.
I have thought several times of late of your friends over the water, & in my repersual of Suchets memoirs1 the affairs of Barcelona have claimed more than their former interest.
This is shopping day for my young friends & I must now attend to their wants
Very truly your Cousin
R E Lee
1. Louis-Gabriel Suchet (1770-1826), one of Napoleon’s generals. He died in 1826, but his Memoirs of the War in Spain was published in 1829.
Source: Digital scan of original letter, Letters of Robert E. Lee to Martha Custis Williams, 1844-1870, Huntington Library, San Marino, California
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2017 September 15
