Philadelphia, October 8, 1858

Dear cousin,

I am so glad at receiving a letter from you at last. That I intended being very magnanimous and answer it immediately, but sadly let the ... slowly. I will just tell you have I have been occupied for the last six weeks. In the first place I did not get any letter from you before leaving home but was not very inspired at seeing the Georgia postmark as Uncle John. John by the way spent three or four weeks in Ohio this summer, told me you thought of going to Augusta. How do you like the city and the Southern life? Is your horror of shaving mollified any or did you have that holy horror generally attributed to the Ohioans? You must give me the benefit of your observations. Did the Southerners go off into ... upon the successful laying of Atlantic cable? Are Philadelphians, or not, generally noted for our demonstrative qualities, but I think we were a little bit too fast that time. The day was left as a holiday, stores were closed, and every one seemed to consider it his and her bounden duty to walk the streets to see and be seen. A meeting was held in Joyne's Hall (one of our public buildings) at which I was present. The Hall was beautifully decorated with flags. The stars and stripes were to be seen in every conceivable place. Speeches were given that should have been heard to be appreciated. I wish you could have been there. I am sure you would have enjoyed it. The illumination in the evening was confined mostly to stores and public buildings. One private house struck me as remarkably beautiful. It is I think the handsomest house in the city. Instead of the glazing, gaslight candlelabras were placed through the house, shedding a soft mellow light and under windows were placed the warmest plants that money and good taste could procure. The lights glimmered through the house like so many stars. The hall door was thrown open and one of the largest specimens of the Victoria Regia I ever saw was placed in the front hall. It was a beautiful light, and I thought at the time that I would never tire of seeing and living among flowers. Not two weeks after I had the opportunity of testing my desire, and I never wearied of anything as I did of that. I was attending a plant and floral fair for a week from morning until night. I was there and then resolved it would be my last attempt at any thing of the kind.

I hope your ... neighbors have quieted down, or if not, may I hope you are accustomed to it by this time? Do write soon and tell me all. You see I am a great question asker, a legacy I was left as ladies you know by our first Mother, and I have my full share of it. All wish to be remembered to you in your Patmos(?).

Rachel(?)

Lee and Jefferson Davis

In volume 1 of Freeman's biography, "R.E. Lee," Freeman writes about Robert E. Lee's relationship with Jefferson Davis when Lee was superintendent of West Point, and Davis was Secretary of War:

The incoming secretary was Jefferson Davis. From the very hour that Davis assumed office, reversals of the superintendent of the military academy virtually ceased. Himself a West Pointer, the secretary understood that discipline at the academy could be no stronger than the faith of the War Department in the discretion of the superintendent. Lee's troubles were accordingly reduced. On the foundation of old friendship, new confidence and respect between himself and Davis were built up so stoutly in two years that all the strains of the War between the States could not overthrow them.