Letter from mother at Blakely to JAW at UVA. Interesting description of the resignation of John Augustine Washington's brother, Richard Scott Blackburn Washington, from the Virginia Military Institute. Mentions considerable correspondence with Francis Henney Smith, first Superintendent of VMI: "Yesterday I received letters from Major Smith and Richard. Richard passed his exmination in Math and failed in French, was however excused on account of the impediment in his speech. He wrote to me immediatelyurging me to send on his resignation and funds to pay off his bills and bring him home. I had previously got your Uncle B to send major Smith a check for $100 and Major Smith received it from his letter to Bushrod the day Richard wrote me though Richard did not know it. The letters were dated 12th & 13th, but did not reach me until yesterday. Major Smith says he has accepted Richard's resignation, which Richard confirms in a postscript. I addressed a short letter to Major Smith today, but did not write to Richard supposing he had left Lexington and was on his way home if not indeed already ay Mount Vernon...

Also references Sr. Alexander's application to become paymaster at Harper's Ferry, and George William Washington's attempt to get a position in the "new administration" ["Poor George... is in a distressing state of expectation of obtaining a place under the new administration; his wishes are high, his necessities great, his habits (I fear from what I learned when at Mount Vernon) are bad and his health very infirm."