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148 to duty which cannot be too frequently held up for the study and imitation of the youth of the country."

This may be a matter of small moment, but I am sure that The Times desires to be entirely accurate, especially in all historical matters. I remember that Mrs. Mary Custis Lee, who did me the kindness to read the MS. of my "Reminiscences, Anecdotes and Letters of R. E. Lee," and gave me very valuable material, and practical suggestions concerning it, said in a reference to this letter, which I had put in my original MS: "It is a very good letter, and we have not thought it worth while to publicly deny its authenticity, but General Lee did not write it, and I want nothing to go into your book which is not perfectly authentic."

In the same spirit, I take the liberty of sending The Times this communication.

Chapel Hill, N. C., December 12, 1900.