think so. Many a talking abolitionist would be disgusted into
indifference, and many a hearty hater of the talk would be surprised
into interest and favor, if they lived here for six months. It's
pretty hard sometimes to find your best men lying to you, or your most
trusty people ungrateful and distrusting you,--and then again a light
breaks out where you thought there was neither fuel nor fire. The most
encouraging symptom is the clearly increasing influence which the best
of the people are acquiring,--so that there certainly is a _general_
improvement.

1864

_The land-sales of 1864, contradictory orders--Discontent
among the negroes about wages--Small-pox on the
plantations--The chattel sale--Labor contracts for the
season--Newspaper attacks on Mr. Philbrick--The raid on
Morgan Island--Mr. Philbrick's plans for the future--The
black draft--Red tape--Approach of Sherman and the battle of
Honey Hill._

FROM E. S. P.

_Jan. 3._ I don't know how low the thermometer would have stood out of
doors here. R.'s was at 19 deg.. The one in our parlor was at 28 deg. some
time after lighting the fire.

You will probably in due course of time see the tintypes of Rose and
Demus. Old Judy and Minda got theirs taken some time since, but there
has been no opportunity of sending them to you. As they went up all by
themselves, the arrangement of their toilet was original; hence a
display of jewelry rather more characteristic than tasteful.

The subject of the approaching land-sales now becomes the
all-important topic.

_Jan. 20._ There was notice given for all the people to meet at St.
Helena church on Sunday last to hear the President's new instructions
about land-sales. These new orders were obtained, as nearly as I can
learn, by Father French, who went to Washington at General Saxton's
request to urge the matter. The plan defeats that of Dr. Brisbane,
who meant to sell at auction.[151] Now, as you will see by the papers,
all the lands that were bid in by the United States are offered at
private sale, to black or white, in lots of twenty or forty acres at a
uniform price of $1.25 per acre, like Western public lands, with the
privilege of preemption, but to those only who have resided on lands
belonging to the Government for at least six months since the
occupation of the island by our forces. So this gives all the
superintendents and teachers a chance to buy as well as the negroes,