Details
LEE, Robert E., General, C.S.A. Autograph letter signed ("R E Lee") to Ralph Leete, Lexington, Virginia, 13 February 1866. 1 page, 253 x 204mm., in ink on blue paper, written on blank page 3 of an 1866 brochure describing Washington College, page 4 with docket, slight soiling and spotting.
"I HOPE THE COUNTRY WILL YET RETAIN THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED BY YOUR FOREFATHERS"
The former commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, now President of Washington College, writes to a prospective student: "Sir, In compliance with your request of the 1st Inst. I send you a prospectus of the Course of Studies &c at Washington College, which I hope will give you all the information you desire." He continues: "I am much obliged to you for your report to the Ohio Legislature in 1859. I hope the country will yet retain the system of Gov[ernmen]t established [by] your forefathers..." The last sentence is provocative and difficult to interpret. Leete (1823-1905), an attorney in Irontown, Ohio, was active in Democratic party politics from the 1840s, and served in the Ohio legislature. His 1859 report to the legislature, sent to Lee, deplored changes in the early charter of government. The two-page prospectus for Washington College, an interesting piece of ephemera in its own right, lists the faculty (including President Lee), details the curriculum for each year of the four-year program, and notes holidays, fees and other facts. (We are grateful to Kermit Pike of Western Reserve Historical Society for information on Leete.)
"I HOPE THE COUNTRY WILL YET RETAIN THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED BY YOUR FOREFATHERS"
The former commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, now President of Washington College, writes to a prospective student: "Sir, In compliance with your request of the 1st Inst. I send you a prospectus of the Course of Studies &c at Washington College, which I hope will give you all the information you desire." He continues: "I am much obliged to you for your report to the Ohio Legislature in 1859. I hope the country will yet retain the system of Gov[ernmen]t established [by] your forefathers..." The last sentence is provocative and difficult to interpret. Leete (1823-1905), an attorney in Irontown, Ohio, was active in Democratic party politics from the 1840s, and served in the Ohio legislature. His 1859 report to the legislature, sent to Lee, deplored changes in the early charter of government. The two-page prospectus for Washington College, an interesting piece of ephemera in its own right, lists the faculty (including President Lee), details the curriculum for each year of the four-year program, and notes holidays, fees and other facts. (We are grateful to Kermit Pike of Western Reserve Historical Society for information on Leete.)