Beschreibung:

LEE, HENRY ("LIGHT-HORSE HARRY), MAJOR GENERAL. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (H.L.") TO HIS SON CHARLES CARTER LEE (BROTHER OF ROBERT E. LEE) AT HARVARD COLLEGE, "TURKS ISLAND ON MY VOYAGE TO NEW PROVIDENCE," 8 AUGUST 1816. 2 PAGES, 4TO, 262 X 215 MM. (10 1/4 X 8 1/2 IN.), INTEGRAL ADDRESS LEAF WITH CIRCULAR PROVIDENCE DATESTAMP, NEATLY SILKED, BLANK PAGE WITH 10-LINES OF VERSE DIALOGUE BETWEEN "MINERVA & ULYSSES" (PROBABLY IN CHARLES CARTER LEE'S HAND). AFFECTIONATE AND THOUGHTFUL PARENTAL ADVICE FROM AN OLD SOLDIER TO A SON IN HIS FIRST YEAR AT HARVARD: "...I REPEAT MY LOVE & PRAYERS FOR [YOUR] HEALTH, LOVE OF VIRTUE & ADVANCEMENT IN THE ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE FROM ITS FOUNDATION[,] NOT ON THE SURFACE -- THIS LAST TURNS MAN INTO A PUPPY & THE FIRST FITS HIM FOR THE HIGHEST UTILITY & THE MOST LASTING PLEASURE...I ASKED YOU TO WRITE MONTHLY...WITH BREVITY & CLEARNESS A NARRATIVE OF Y[OU]R STUDY, RECREATION & ...THE OCCUPATIONS WHICH EMPLOY YOU IN AND OUT OF COLLEGE. NEVER MIND YOUR STYLE [,] ONLY WRITE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS QUICKLY & CLEARLY & HONESTLY. STYLE WILL COME IN DUE TIME, WITH THE MATURATION OF JUDGEMENT. ABOVE ALL THINGS EARTHLY...I ENTREAT YOU TO LOVE VIRTUE & TO ABHOR LYING & DECEPTION, ITS BITTEREST FOES. DWELL UPON THE VIRTUES AND LABORS OF THE GOOD & GREAT MEN WHICH HISTORY PRESENTS TO VIEW. ADMIRE & IMITATE THEM...YOU HAVE MY FAVORITE PRECEPTS INSTILLED FROM Y[OU]R INFANCY BY MY LIPS...NOW PRESENTED TO TO Y[OU]R MIND IN THE PURITY & ELEGANCE OF THE GRECIAN TRAGEDIAN...IT WILL AT LEAST STOP ANY TENDENCY YOU MAY HAVE TAKEN UP TO IMITATE THE LOW, VULGAR, DEGRADING USAGE TOO COMMON AMONG US...MY MISERABLE STATE OF BODY IMPROVES...." PARTS QUOTED (FROM AN EARLY SOURCE) BY CHARLES ROYSTER IN LIGHT-HORSE HARRY LEE , NOTING THAT "LEE SAW IN HIS...CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERPETUATE THE MORAL CHARACTER THAT HAD STRENGTHENED MEN AND NATIONS THROUGHOUT HISTORY. ON SUCH STRENGTH...WOULD REST THE SURVIVAL OF THE QUALITIES THAT HAD WON THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION" (-P.244).