e than anything else could; that any way we must take some place on
the main to attract attention and inspire confidence. The black
regiment may do something for our interests. General Saxton is going
to send a report of the year's work to Headquarters, and it will
doubtless be laid before Congress. Commissioners, if appointed to
investigate the matter, would probably have their notions of the
character, ability, and prospects of the "Universal Nigger" much
revised, with additions and corrections, before their investigations
were completed. You at the North know nothing about niggers, nothing
at all. When more is known of their powers and capacity and character
more attention will be paid to the cultivation of free black labor.

The next letter again focuses attention on the white
population.

FROM W. C. G.

_Nov. 29._ The wives are multiplying on St. Helena. Since Mrs. Bryant
came, two other superintendents have made their houses homes,--one our
Baptist parson, and the other a young fellow who went home shortly
before me to marry his betrothed on our salary of $50 a month. Brave
youth--in these times! One man has brought his sister and established
her as the beauty of the island; one his mother; and one an older
sister, a perfect New England housekeeper, who makes his home the
paradise of mince-pies and family bread.

FROM E. S. P.

_Dec. 10._ (At the Oaks.) I like the General[82] ever so much. He is
so simple--straightforward, and earnest, so evidently pure and
unselfish and so kind in his manner.

I rode down to Dr. Jenkins' with Mr. G., but found all the "white
folks" gone to Hilton Head. I visited the cotton-house, where about a
dozen of the people were ginning cotton. They had just packed two
bales of it, which I ripped open to inspect, and found, as I had
feared, that it wasn't half cleaned. I left a note for Mr. Bryant
telling him I didn't want to send the cotton off so and told his
driver. Mr. B. was not acquainted with the way the staple is usually
prepared for market, concerning which I had taken pains to inform
myself before leaving home, and the negroes had taken the chance to
shirk. I started off to take the tour of Ladies Island and see their
cotton. I visited about a dozen cotton-houses during the day along the
east side of the island, and rode on to Cuthbert's Point to sleep with
Joe Reed and Mr. Hull. I found them delightfully situated in a small
house on Beaufort River surrounded b