Transcription: Richmond Va July 4 1863 Dear Doctor Yours of the 27th June 1863 has been received and I owe you many thanks for the kindly tenor of letter which should have been answered e'er now and to would have been but for sickness. I certainly can have no objection to you holding the resignation suspended as you propose, and would be glad if you would do so; provided doing so does no harm in the way of detriment to my Alma Mater. The city is in quite a ferment; alarm bells have been rung so often that the 'tocsin' grows quite common. The citizens laugh at it, but assembly promptly and willingly; and judging from appearances, are likely to give over northern friends a tough tussle e'er Richmond the city of Flowers be given up to the ruthless invader. Tell your lady that her old friend, Dr Jones, turned out among the rest this evening, and looked quite soldierly in his belts and musket, as he smilingly promised to bring me some of the game to be gotten on the hunt just starting: for so they call the assembling and marching to the batteries etc. Yrs sincerely M[arion] Howard Dr L[evin] S[mith] Joynes Halifax C.H. Va