Ft. Monroe 26th June 1834 Delectable Jack Thine assertion of May, which I have now before me, was an onction to my bosom, & verily it is well that it is so plainly laid down, that thy friends are never forgotten for I assure you My Child it looks peskily like it, It might seem proper for me to relate what has made me so dilatory in replying to this same, But a gentlemen of your French literature cannot be ignorant of the adage "ne faut point parler de corde dans la maison d'un pendu" & therefore will be silent. I am truly glad that you have escaped Ft. Jackson & are quietly & comfortably located at Augusta, to be sure it might have been bettered by remaining at S-, but let us dispense nothing My Child. God Grant that you were here, that is if you wish it for I think we could make some fine times! Here is our J. E. Johnston, who has been lately accused of Blushing, & should it be possible to identify it, it would be as rare as the large diamond of the Queen of Portugal for there would be no other in the world. Here too is the (sit) Greaves, Ringgold, McClelland, [illegible] Talcott &c &c too numerous to mention. [2] As for the daughters of Eve, in this country they are framed in the very poetry of nature & would make your lips water & fingers tingle. They are beginning to assemble to put their beautiful limbs in this salt water & among the rest we expect some friends of ours, what say you to the Misses Mason? But not so fast for our Sister Nanie has gone on to N. York with Miss Matilda Macomb, on a visit to Mrs. Stanton (Miss Alexandrine) But Miss Teaco has promised us a visit & for your sake I hope she is a lady of her word, is which case she will ever forget you. The point is in mourning for the loss of our good Colonel, who however cheer us on his departure with the expectation of his speedy return, predicated on the reluctance of Genl. Walker Armstead to relinquish his agricultural pursuits. He having been lately clawed off till October. Col Fanning is now in command & he & his dame have taken possession of the big House. The population of the Point has been encreased by one little Huger boy, & I take it upon myself to predict the arrival of a small French. It may be - a girl. Promising boys hereafter Ned French is still in Charleston, but we have heard that the order for his transfer to this Post is out - [3] Why did you not mention the name of Farley's Dulcinea that I might have plagued him, for here he plays the unconsolable (For the loss of Miss Cathrine Wirt). Frances himself is his casemate by the side of Constantine Smyth & they may at any time be found in a corner of one or the others rooms reenacting the Sorrows of werter.- It is reported that 2 Comis from here with a full train of Field Artillery will take a jaunt over the Alleghany for the purpose of testing the carriages, Today we received the intelligence of Mr. Stevensons nomination to England & Mr. Taneys to the Treasury Dept. having been rej[ected] by the Senate, Mr. Fordyth is spoken to succeed Mr. McClane, Mr Woodbury to take Cass place & J. Fennimore Cooper to be Secy of the Navy, This last having come out in a political pamphlet showing what [strikeout] [inserted: he knows], - But I forget I never mention Politics, thinking that you see all the Slang Whang in the papers, &c care & believe as much as I do - Dick Tilghman is still on the Cumberland road. Tom K. has been relieved, I have not heard from him since, but expect from his sentiments expressed on former occasions, it was at his request, Joe told me yesterday he had written to you, The Boy is so [text loss] up these tale days with Miss Mattie Starke [4] that though pretending to be philosophical, is rather nervous. - MacKay did I depend upon you My Friend for tidings of your kind family I should perish, but thank God I have other resources, - When you write do say for me all that is good & clever & tell them that I am famishing for the sight of them, The idea alone thrills though my heart like neigh of my blooded stallion now does though my ears - Touching your promotional speculations, God grant you were a 1st now. Do not wait for me, for there is no prospect. - You are aware that my assists Capt Talcott & King are at the west on duty & that I am comd Enginr & alone - Mrs. Lee & young mass are well, they would doubtless send some messages, but I am at my labours & they are ignorant of my intentions - Renti[text loss] is in Washington & Landon Carte writes me so [text loss] up with Fat, dignity & diplomacy that his Creditors would not know him, which is as much as to say that Col. Johnston & myself have made some bad investments. We have been celebrating the death of the Good Lafayette all day. Au revoir my friend au revoir. R. E. Lee