he week
is fully aired on Sunday.

There is very little to tell about General Saxton, except that it is a
great pity that he does not come onto the plantations himself and
learn something, personally, of their state and their wants. He was
extremely surprised the other day when Mr. Philbrick represented to
him the necessity of making the last payment promptly; it was then
twenty days behind time. A good deal of ignorance is shown in various
ways in the orders sent from headquarters--_e. g._, the order that has
been issued concerning marketing, nothing to be sold on the
plantations except by leave of the superintendents and no boats to go
to Hilton Head or Beaufort without a "Market Pass" from the
superintendent. Until I hear that a guard is stationed [at Hilton
Head],--which I shall the day after it is done,--I shall not order men
to report to me before going over. I have no idea of making a rule I
cannot enforce.

On the whole, our work is succeeding as well as the disappointments
and hindrances[59] of the year allow us to expect. A great deal will
depend on the manner and promptness of the next payments and the
treatment of the people at harvest-time.

FROM W. C. G.

_Sept. 2._ There is one frightful contingency,--a much talked of
evacuation. Where the people will go, I know not; but possibly to
Hayti. In that case I presume the superintendents will go with
them,--I certainly shall. General Saxton, I am sorry to say, goes
to-morrow in a gunboat--for his health. It leaves us without a head
and worse--renders evacuation all the more likely. It is thought that
his presence and words prevented it several weeks ago. I doubt if he
comes back,--he is not satisfied with his work here, does not enjoy
it. It is properly the duty of a civilian, who should have military
rank merely to give him a position. Saxton and his staff understand
little or nothing of the real wants of the plantations, and though
affairs have of course been improved by his presence and authority,
very little in proportion to our hopes and our needs has been
accomplished. We need a civilian, who is a first-rate business
man,--of force, of forethought, of devoted interest in this
undertaking. But there is no use in writing this,--rather some harm.

FROM C. P. W.

_Sept. 6._ Things are in a state of suspension generally; I confess
that a decidedly azure hue has prevailed during the last week. Talk of
evacuation, General Saxton's departure, threate