就讀中學時，我們總會有機會學到寫信，老師亦會花上很多時間來教我們書信的格式，但是不一定會教我們寫信的技巧 – 特別是正規場合的寫信技巧。寫信需要技巧，是因為內容的表達方式會影響讀者對內文的理解；信紙上的文字亦盛載著寫信人的情感，所以收信人讀後，他們的情緒很多時都會受之影響。我們要學習寫信的技巧，就是要在寫信時除了可以清楚表達正文，亦可以盡可能令信中的態度保持正面，以免引起不必要的誤會。
今次，我打算介紹一位美國將軍寫給「總統」的一封辭職信 - 不過，我倒覺得他這封信是要為自己辯護，多於請求辭職。我們可以透過這一封信來學習羅拔‧李的寫信技巧，看看他是如何將自辯內容包裝在所謂的辭職信裡，同時間又可以保持大方得體。
背景
羅拔‧愛德華‧李(Robert
Edward Lee)是美國內戰(the American Civil War, 1861-65年)期間的一位美國將軍，指揮南方的叛軍與北方抗衡。
在1863年，為了將戰亂帶離家鄉維珍尼亞州，羅拔‧李決定揮軍北上。他亦並希望能夠再一次擊敗北軍，從而爭取英、法兩國對美利堅聯盟國的支持，迫使林肯知難而退。然而，他的軍隊在蓋茨堡戰役(the Battle of Gettysburg)中吃了敗仗，共付出了超過二萬人的傷亡代價。
兵敗蓋茨堡，令羅拔‧李感到非常失望。雖然知道他的一些部下亦有犯錯，也有些人並沒有盡其職務，羅拔‧李始終覺得自己要負上最大的責任。及後，他打聽到民間報章對他的批評非常強烈，於是在8月8日(戰敗後約一個月)去信美利堅聯盟國的總統傑佛遜·戴維斯(Jefferson Davis)，表示其辭職的決定。
辭職信內文
·
第一段
該信約七百字長，羅拔‧李先表達了部下急需物資，以及約略交待軍中情況：
I am extremely obliged to you for the
attention given to the wants of this army, and the efforts made to supply them.
Our absentees are returning…
羅拔‧李接著指出南方人(特別是軍人)應該及時振作，從失敗中學習：
We must expect reverses, even defeats. They
are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence, to call forth greater energies, and
to prevent our falling into greater disasters.
同樣，羅拔‧李都希望南方的居民可以保持團結：
Our people have only to be true and united,
to bear manfully the misfortunes incident to war, and all will come right in
the end.
他說，戰爭結束後，一切都會好轉。
我們可以視第一段為整封信的緩衝(buffer)。羅拔‧李交待了軍中情勢後，不但沒有帶出正題，反而特別寫了一些激勵他人的字句。我們不要忘記，他之所以要寫這一封信就是要表明他辭職的決定，而這一個決定是相當負面的；為了減輕收信人讀信後，可能會受到負面情緒的影響，我們可以在第一段寫一些正面的字句；即使這些字句與正題無關亦不要緊。
·
第二段
在第二段，羅拔‧李開始慢慢地道出他的心願。不過，他並非直接說「我打算辭職」。我們可以先看看他是怎樣表達：
I know how prone we are to censure, and how
ready to blame others for the non-fulfilment of our expectations. This is
unbecoming in a generous people, and I grieve to see its expression.
首先，羅拔‧李表明自己不希望責怪其他人，因為他覺得這是不負責任的行為。這一句說話的背後目的是要讓總統明白到，他並不是打算逃避責任；他之後會提及到的辭職一事，亦不會是希望逃避責任。
這時，羅拔‧李說，在一般情況下，當一名將軍戰敗，並失去部下以至平民對他的信心後，解決方法是「炒佢魷魚」：
The general remedy for the want of success
in a military commander is his removal.
然後他再指出這一個做法是合情合理的，否則災難將至：
This is natural, and in many instances
proper. For, no matter what may be the ability of the officer, if he loses the
confidence of his troops, disaster must sooner or later ensue.
羅拔‧李並沒有在第二段直接道出他想辭職的希望，反而先來一個「事先聲明」，表示自己不是打算逃避責任，再指出「炒魷魚」是可以解決到他所遇到的情況。羅拔‧李是用這一段來為下一段的內容鋪路；他用了間接的方式來表達自己做不下去 - 總統沒有「炒佢魷魚」，所以他自行提出辭職的要求。最後，他亦說明自己辭職是對軍隊有利。
·
第三段
羅拔‧李說已經多次考慮過辭職一事，並開始提出他的理由，說服總統接受他的辭職。
從報章的批評可以見得輿論對羅拔‧李的不滿，但是他的部下不願意如實報告軍中對他的不滿達到甚麼程度。不過，即使如此，他認為自己應該假設這是一個事實：
I have seen and heard of expressions of
discontent in the public journals at the result of the expedition... It is
fair, however, to suppose that it does exist...
他又以健康為由，說自己無法在戰場上親自監督部下，又說自己遲鈍了，沒有好好「利用」部下獲得的情報，以致被誤導：
I sensibly feel the growing failure of my
bodily strength... I am becoming more and more incapable of exertion, and
am thus prevented from making the personal examinations and giving the personal
supervision to the operations in the field which I feel to be necessary. I am
so dull that in making use of the eyes of others I am frequently misled.
最後，羅拔‧李費了不少筆墨，大談一個比他更稱職的將軍可以怎樣做得更好、怎樣獲得最後的勝利，並重申自己辭職有理。
雖然我們並不能知道羅拔‧李是否真的打算辭職，但是我們不難看到，他的這一封辭職信其實也是想為自己辯護。表面上，羅拔‧李強調自己失去了別人對他的信心，實際上卻是暗示報章對他的批評並不公道；表面上，他投訴自己健康差了，又責備自己無法監督部下及「利用」部下獲得的情報，實際上卻是想表明這些都不是他可以控制到的因素。
·
第四段
不過，要留意的是，羅拔‧李同時間也沒有責怪他的部下，更讚揚了他們一番：
I have no complaints to make of anyone but
myself. I have received nothing but kindness from those above me, and the
most considerate attention from my comrades and companions in arms.
當然都「唔少得老細」：
To your Excellency I am specially indebted
for uniform kindness and consideration. You have done everything in your power
to aid me in the work committed to my charge, without omitting anything to
promote the general welfare. I pray that your efforts may at length be crowned
with success, and that you may long live to enjoy the thanks of a grateful
people.
前一段說了自己的目的後，難免會令收信人不安(除非收信人巴不得寫信人即時辭職)，所以羅拔‧李在最後一段寫了很多無關痛癢的讚美說話，希望可以減輕收信人的負面情緒。
總言而之，寫辭職信要保持禮貌、得體，雙方才可以順利進行討論。以下是羅拔‧李的辭職信的概要：
- 緩衝：交待軍中情況及無關痛癢的正面字句
- 「事先聲明」及一般情況下的處理手法
- 提出辭職、其理由，以及更好人選可以帶來的希望(正面字句)
- 讚美說話
大家不妨想想：其實羅拔‧李到底是否真的想辭職呢﹖
最後，羅拔‧李的辭職要求不獲接納。他繼續帶著軍人在戰爭的最後兩年且戰且退，以僅有的人力物力抵抗北軍的攻擊... 一度有七萬到人的大軍，最後在投降時只剩下一萬多人。
到底是出身於貴族家庭，除了羅拔‧李的寫信技巧外，他的文筆都值得我們學習。不過，限於篇幅，這裡不多介紹了。以下附上他的辭職信的全文：
MR. PRESIDENT:
Your letters of July 28th and August
6th have been received, and I have waited for a leisure hour to reply, but
I fear that will never come. I am extremely obliged to you for the attention
given to the wants of this army, and the efforts made to supply them. Our
absentees are returning, and I hope the earnest and beautiful appeal made to
the country in your proclamation may stir up the whole people, and that they
may see their duty and perform it. Nothing is wanted but that their fortitude
should equal their bravery, to insure the success of our cause. We must
expect reverses, even defeats. They are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence,
to call forth greater energies, and to prevent our falling into greater
disasters. Our people have only to be true and united, to bear manfully
the misfortunes incident to war, and all will come right in the end.
I know how prone we are to censure, and how
ready to blame others for the non-fulfilment of our expectations. This is
unbecoming in a generous people, and I grieve to see its expression. The
general remedy for the want of success in a military commander is his removal.
This is natural, and in many instances proper. For, no matter what may be the
ability of the officer, if he loses the confidence of his troops, disaster must
sooner or later ensue.
I have been prompted by these reflections
more than once, since my return from Pennsylvania, to propose to your
Excellency the propriety of selecting another commander for this army. I
have seen and heard of expressions of discontent in the public journals at the
result of the expedition. I do not know how far this feeling extends in
the army. My brother officers have been too kind to report it, and so far the
troops have been too generous to exhibit it. It is fair, however, to
suppose that it does exist, and success is so necessary to us that nothing
should be risked to secure it. I therefore, in all sincerity, request your
Excellency to take measures to supply my place. I do this with the more
earnestness because no one is more aware than myself of my inability for
the duties of my position. I cannot even accomplish what I myself desire. How
can I fulfil the expectations of others? In addition, I sensibly feel
the growing failure of my bodily strength. I have not yet recovered from
the attack I experienced the past spring. I am becoming more and more incapable
of exertion, and am thus prevented from making the personal examinations and
giving the personal supervision to the operations in the field which I feel to
be necessary. I am so dull that in making use of the eyes of others I am
frequently misled. Everything, therefore, points to the advantages to be
derived from a new commander, and I the more anxiously urge the matter upon
your Excellency, from my belief that a younger and abler man than myself can
readily be obtained. I know that he will have as gallant and brave an army as
ever existed to second his efforts, and it would be the happiest day of my life
to see at its head a worthy leader; one that would accomplish more than I could
perform, and all that I have wished. I hope your Excellency will attribute
my request to the true reason, the desire to serve my country, and to do all in
my power to insure the success of her righteous cause.
I have no complaints to make of anyone but
myself. I have received nothing but kindness from those above me, and the
most considerate attention from my comrades and companions in arms. To your
Excellency I am specially indebted for uniform kindness and consideration. You
have done everything in your power to aid me in the work committed to my
charge, without omitting anything to promote the general welfare. I pray that
your efforts may at length be crowned with success, and that you may long live
to enjoy the thanks of a grateful people.
With sentiments of great esteem, I am very
respectfully and truly yours,
R. E. LEE, General:
To His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President of the Confederate States
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