the high western bank of North River, a little over a hundred miles from Richmond. The Virginia Military Institute is there, where Stonewall Jackson taught, and there is that lamented warrior's grave. There his commander now re

poses,

They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Lovely and pleasant in their lives, in their deaths they are not divided.' Lexington is the parable of the great Virginia soldiers. In that quiet scholastic retreat, in that city set upon a hill and crowned with martial trophies, they, being dead, yet speak. Richmond desires his body. It is natural that the metropolis he defended so bravely, and so long, should yearn for that mighty presence. But the removal of his remains from Lexington would obscure the final lesson of his career. At Lexington the Southern leader intrenched himself upon the battle-field of intelligence, and gathered around him the ardent youth of a new generation, and the spirits of the illustrious dead, for the redemption of his conquered country. Lexington is the capital upon the column, otherwise incomplete, of an harmonious and beautiful patriotism.

"The earthworks he erected are fast disappearing. The fields he glorified by his valor have wept away the stains of heroic blood, and are now robed as with a golden vesture in the yellow autumnal grain. The cause for which he conten led is lost. Yet the great character is immortal, and the great lssson remains. Oye, in whose service that perfect mechanism was worn out, for whom he endured sleepless nights, watchful days; for whom he planned and marched; for when he encountered exposures, and perils, and privation, and combats, until defense after defense of Nature was car ried, and the citadel of life was assailed, and the spotless sword was surrendered to the grim conqueror, revere that last legacy, so simple, as coming from the war-worn soldier: Take care of your institutions of learning. Esteem education, mental, moral, and religious, as the only bulwark of the

republic. Regard service and sacrifice, not as the means of success, but as the true glory of life. And think of manliness as attaining its noblest elevation when it bows before. the cross of Jesus Christ.

"As David composed 'The Song of the Bow,' to celebrate the glory of that warrior king who had checked the invaders of Palestine, and at last fell upon the memorable mountains of Gilboa, so will the people of this land, for countless generations, celebrate the memory of the consummate soldier who resisted the overwhelming flood of our enemies, and guarded for years the vast bulwarks of our country, until, battle-spent, he died-a nobler chief than Saul-a hero adorned with religion, and vindicating his country less by his prowess than by his pure virtues. Favored land, which has produced so rare a spirit, which encircles by its boundaries the fields of his shining valor, which has so long beheld a monument to the glory of religion in the person of her most honored son! Favored land, where the echoes of his prayers still linger, after the trumpets of his charging squadrons have died away! Favored land, where the laurels, and the standards, and the spoils of war lie low before the Mercy-Seat! Favored land, where the spirit of her greatest son is expressed in the inspired ascription of old: 'Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory!'"

CHAPTER III.

DUTY THE KEY-NOTE OF HIS LIFE.

DUTY.

Ir asked to name in a single word the controlling principle of General Lee's life, we should unhesitatingly answer, Whether as a youth meeting his obligations to his aged mother, and passing through the Military Academy without a single demerit; or serving in the United States Army; or directing the forces of his native South; or quietly working in the college at Lexington for the good of the young men of the country-duty was the star which guided him throughout his eventful career. The letter which has been so widely published, purporting to have been written by General Lee at Arlington to his son Custis at West Point, is unquestionably spurious. But the expression, "Duty is the sublimest word in the English language," did occur in a letter to his son, and it is very certain that he regulated his own life by this noble sentiment.

General Magruder related a characteristic incident, which was thus given by the Norfolk Virginian:

"After the fall of Mexico, when the American army was enjoying the ease and relaxation which it had bought by toil and blood, a brilliant assembly of officers sat over their wine, discussing the operations of the siege, and indulging hopes of a speedy return to the United States.

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"One among them rose to propose the health of the ⚫tain of engineers, who had found a way for the army within

the city; and then it was remarked that Captain Lee was absent. Magruder was dispatched to bring him to the hall, and, departing on his mission, at last found the object of his search in a remote room of the palace, busy on a map.

"Magruder accosted his friend, and reproached him for his absence.

"The earnest worker looked up from his labors with a calm, mild gaze, which we all remember, and, pointing to his instruments, shook his head.

"But,' said Magruder, in his impetuous way, 'this is mere drudgery! Make somebody else do it, and come with me.'

"No,' was the reply-'no, I am but doing my duty.'"

We give, in his own words, an incident related by exPresident Jefferson Davis, in his address at the Lee Memorial Meeting held in Richmond, November 3, 1870:

"An attempt has been made to throw a cloud upon his character because he left the army of the United States to join in the struggle for the liberty of his State. Without entering into politics, I deem it my duty to say one word in reference to this charge. Virginian born, descended from a family illustrious in the colonial history of Virginia, more illustrious still in her struggle for Independence, and most illustrious in her recent effort to maintain the great principles declared in 1776, given by Virginia to the service of the United States, he represented her in the Military Academy at West Point. He was not educated by the Federal Government, but by Virginia; for she paid her full share for the support of that institution, and was entitled to demand in return the services of her sons. Entering the army of the United States, he represented Virginia there also, and nobly performed his duty for the Union of which Virginia was a member, whether we look to his peaceful services as an engineer, or to his more notable deeds upon foreign fields of battle. He came from Mexico crowned with honors, covered by brevets, and recognized, young as he was, as one