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engineer, or understand the reason why piles were driven and cofferdams made at acute angles to the shore; nor did they understand that the flow of the waters being retarded in these angles, sediment was deposited, land made, and the river, in consequence, forced back and confined to its channels on the
side.
While thus professionally engaged it occurred to him that he would like to possess a seal with the family's Coat of Arms, and he writes to an Alexandria cousin about it:
My Dear
Cassius and
Cousin: I believe I once spoke to you on the subject of getting for me the Crest, Coat of Arms, etc., of the
Lee family, and which, sure enough, you never did. My object in making the request is for the purpose of having a seal cut with the impression of said Coat, which I think is due from a man of my large family to his posterity, and which I have thought, perhaps foolishly enough, might as well be right as wrong.
If, therefore, you can assist me in this laudable enterprise I shall be much obliged, and by enveloping it securely, directed to me at this place, and sending it either by mail or some safe hand to the
Engineer Office,
Washington City, without any word or further direction, it will come safely to hand.
I once saw in the hands of Cousin Edmund, for the only time in my life, our family tree, and as I begin in my old age to feel a little curiosity relative to my forefathers, their origin, whereabouts, etc., any information you can give me will increase the obligation.
So sit down one of these hot evenings and write it off for me, or at any rate the substance, and tell my Cousin Phillippa not to let you forget it. I wish you would at the same time undeceive her on a certain point, for, as I understand, she is laboring under a grievous error.
Tell her that it is the farthest from my wish to detract from any of the little
Lees, but as to her little boy being equal to
Mr. Rooney,
1 it is a thing not even to be supposed, much less believed, although we live in a credulous country, where people stick at nothing from a coon story to a sea serpent.
You must remember us particularly to her, to Uncle Edmund, Cousins Sally,
Hannah, and all the Lloyds.
I believe I can tell you nothing here that would interest you, except that we are all well, although my dame has been a little complaining for a day or two.
The elections are all over, the “Van-ites” have carried the day in the
State, although the
Whigs in this district carried their entire ticket, and you will have the
