you see that altogether
you have only six hours, and you rest more than half an hour
at the Relay House. From Knoxville our carriage brings you
to "Needwood" in less than an hour. If there is any
gentleman you would like to come as an escort Mr. G. and
myself will be most happy to see him. Dr. Jones, you know,
does intend to travel about a little and said he would come
to see us; perhaps he will come with you, or Mr. Hibbard I
should be most happy to see--anyone in short whom you choose
to bring will be most welcome. Tell Mr. Hibbard I read his
speech and admired it as I presume everyone does. Good-bye,
dear Miss Campbell. I hope you will aid me in persuading
Mrs. Eames to come with you. My warmest regards to Mrs.
Campbell and your sisters, in which my sister [Mrs. Eugene
H. Lynch] and Mr. Gouverneur unite.

Believe me, yours most truly,

M. D. GOUVERNEUR.

Needwood, May 22nd, 1854.

I accepted the invitation and, while I was Mrs. Gouverneur's guest, my
sister Margaret was visiting one of the adjoining places at the home of
Colonel John Lee, whose wife's maiden name was Harriet Carroll. She was
a granddaughter of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and their home was the
former residence of another ancestor, Governor Thomas Sim Lee of
Maryland. During my visit at Needwood I renewed the acquaintance of my
future husband, which I had formed a number of years before at the
wedding of Miss Fanny Monroe and Douglas Robinson, of which I have
previously spoken. It is unnecessary to refer to his appearance, which I
have already described, but I am sure it is not unnatural for me to add
that a year after the conclusion of the Mexican War he was brevetted for
gallantry and meritorious conduct in the battles of Contreras and
Churubusco. While his general bearing spoke well for his military
training, his mind was a storehouse of information which I learned to
appreciate more and more as the years rolled by. But of all his fine
characteristics I valued and revered him most for his fine sense of
honor and sterling integrity. Like his mother, Mr. Gouverneur was
literary in his tastes and occasionally gave vent to his feelings in
verse. In 1852 Oak Hill, the stately old Monroe place in Virginia where
he had spent much of his early life, was about to pass out of the
family. He was naturally much distressed over the sale of the home so
in