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Rh property? When peace comes—which God grant may be soon!—I can relieve you of taxes. Kiss my Maria for me.

Your friend always,

2em

I snatched time Saturday night to run up to Fredericksburg to see my family, who are all there except Betty, who is still in Washington—Dick, who is here—and Dave, who is at the University.

I asked John Herndon to make a deed in your favour of all my Minnesota property. If I retain it, it will, I fear, be confiscated; so if I am to lose it, I would rather you should have it than the State. . . . The mails here are so very uncertain now that I am afraid to trust anything like money through them. . . . I reckon you can reach me through Maury Bros., N. Y., should the terrible war, which now appears to be imminent, prove a reality. Of the funds in your hands, you might as well reserve say $60 for taxes next year. . . . Now, my friend, act as though you were acting for yourself. . . . My most affectionate love and solicitude for Maria, and love also to all of your dear household.

My friend, yours truly,

2em

Yours of the 8th, with enclosures, came to hand last night. It gives expression to those deep and abiding sentiments of friendship and affection which I knew were in your heart. Nevertheless, your utterance of them is very gratifying. These are difficulties which you and I have had no part in making, and the estrangements which they are destined to create have no business to come between you and me, or yours and mine. . . . The President refuses to accept my resignation. The object of this will be plain enough to you. But in such a cause the halter has no more