U.S. Mil. Academy West Point 24 Dec. 1853
Sir:
I regret that I am unable to comply with the request of Miss Gaston conveyed in your note of the 20th Inst; & that in consequence of the amount of demerit of her brother, am prevented from extending to him the priviledge that, in some cases, has been given to other Cadets, whose immediate relations reside in the vicinity of the Academy.
I remain very resply. your obt Servt
(Signed) R. E. Lee. Br. Col:
Supt: Mil: Acady
Superintendent's Daily Correspondence United States Military Academy
Superintendent's Letter Book No. 3, p. 81. Addressed “Robert Donaldson Esq. Sylvania Barrytown N.Y.”