Self Words

[gjo123]

There was a quotation today in the local paper made by General R.E. Lee at the end of the Civil War to the Army of Northern Virginia 0n April 10, 1865. In the quotation he says, "With an increasing admiration of your constancy and devotionto your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and gererous consideration of myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell."

Is it considered standard English today to use "myself" in a sentence prior to the placement of "I." Is it ever standard English to use a "self" word without the non-self pronoun word to which the "self" word is harkening back to?

[Tdol]

It's commonly used, but purists don't like it, and there's no real need for it here.

[gjo123]

As an alternate, would a purist then say, ". . .of me. . ."?

[BobK]

People use it when they're not sure whether prescriptivists may disapprove of either I or me. But they can't win, because they end up upsetting the very people they're trying to appease.

b