1333 F. Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. April 8th/05
Captain Robert E. Lee
Romancoke, Virginia
My dear Rob:
You do not need to be told, how deeply, I, and all my house, sympathize with you, in the loss of your loved & lovely sister Mildred. I have known her ever since the last days of the war. When she was passing from girlhood to womanhood, and never from that time, did I fail when in her presence, to feel the fascination of her mind and manners. The charms of her mental endowments was obvious to all who met her, but the warmth and constancy of her character was best known to them who knew her long & well. It was esteemed by me a great honor to be included in this category certainly she ever received from me that fondest admiration certainly she is now mourned by me with the truest grief.
I recall the days I once spent with her & yourself at Ravensworth; beautiful days, when all without & within were so bright afall. She had just returned from Europe, and was full of the new learning of the old world, which, she could, at all times, so delightfully impart. The world of politics did, indeed, wear the frown to which we were accustomed, but we were not politicians, and could forget the world, and, without a pang, bely the world forgot. The world of brutal wealth, which was, and is, the modern God, for he was always a false God. The world she lived in and lived for was the world of greatness, whereof she was by descent a citizen. In her faith to her grand ideal, she never wavered, and that ideal of Christian heroism Surely Enfolds her now. In her constancy to her friends she never faltered, and no one could better deserve unfaltering friendship from them. Surely you have now the consolation of knowing she was rich in friends and in their true affections.
With a heart full of sympathy for you & all your family
Your friend
Leigh Robinson
Source: Transcribed from photocopy of original letter, Mary Custis Lee Papers, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2018 December 20
