arranging the Table, those who chose went out,
after which the elders went to the doors to call them back. "Member,
member, what you keep de church waitin' for?" and again the church was
filled, floor and gallery,--I never saw such a sight,--but the
minister's earnestness and the general seriousness of the people made
it unlike a spectacle, and a serious, most interesting occasion. Then
there was a collection taken up in the elders' hats, the people making
change while old Robert would attempt to persuade them to leave the
whole bill! Then two couples were severally married, not both at once
after Mr. Phillips' heathenish fashion, pronouncing them all husbands
and wives!

_May 16._ I found that the Court was to meet here at nine o'clock. Mr.
Soule asked me to be present, and I listened all day to the
examination of the various witnesses. It was very interesting; but it
was very sad to see how little dependence could be placed upon their
word. Men and boys took the oath one after the other and then lied as
if they had sworn to do so. Their ingenuity was wonderful, and we had
to come to the conclusion that if those who we supposed spoke the
truth had been on the other side they would have lied as badly as the
others. It has now become very important to carry the case through and
discover if possible who have perjured themselves, as they must learn
how important it is for them to speak the truth. But little additional
light was thrown by the labor of to-day, and they adjourned at night
till Thursday, at Pine Grove.

_May 19._ The court sat at Pine Grove, but though the moral certainty
was very great, it was almost impossible to convict on the evidence,
because they lied so.

A man came in great excitement to tell us that the rebels had made a
raid during the night onto Morgan Island and carried off all the
people. F. and R. immediately took the sailboat and went over to the
gunboat to let them know.

_May 22._ F. went to church to find out about the poor Morgan Island
people, and heard from Mrs. Wells that eleven people, men and women,
had been carried off by fifteen Secesh--three of Hamilton Fripp's sons
were among them. They took all the clothes, money, and eatables they
could find, and told the people that they were living well and earning
forty cents a day while their old mistress was starving and had no one
to work for her, and they thought it was time they went to take care
of her. One man escaped after his han