Richmond 2 May ‘65
I have just recd dearest Markie your letter of the 26th Ulto: Your constant kindness & sympathy in every change & circumstance of life is very cheering & Comforting. I know you Sorrow for us, but you must not be too much distressed. We must be resigned to necessity, & Commit ourselves in adversity to the will of a merciful God as cheerfully as in prosperity. All is done for our good & our faith must continue unshaken. I am glad to be able to communicate with you again & delighted to hear that you are all well. I must leave to your cousins the narration of domestic affairs & the accounts of individual members of the family. I am thankful that we are all well & have such abundant cause for gratitude to the Giver of all good. I hope next week to get your Cousin M. & the girls somewhere in the country & to enjoy with them a little quiet. I wish we could have you with us for I trust in time to be able to procure an humble home somewhere. Remember me particularly to every member of your family – Cousins W. J. B. &c &c &c –
May God bless & prosper you all, & give you every happiness here & hereafter is the earnest prayer
of your affectionate
Cousin
R E Lee
Source: 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 October 2
