em somewhat discouraged at the prospect of having to
wait so long for their money; but the advance paid them on shipping
the cotton (a dollar a pound of ginned cotton) will be a great help to
those who have done well.

It is an excellent thing for the property here that Mr. H.[183] is
here to keep it in repair. He is a regular trump, the best man down
here. I feel more contented at leaving the place with him than with
any one here.

If I could have a place down here all to myself, and have what help I
wanted, I think I should stay another year and try the experiment on a
little different plan. But, as Mr. Folsom said one day, when we agreed
that it would be pleasant to stay and hard to leave, "But, after all,
one must remember that one has an immortal soul."

FROM H. W.

_Jan. 11._ Mr. Soule, coming from R.'s, tells us that a salute fired
the day before was for Stanton's arrival, come to confer with Sherman.

The next paragraph suggests that the Secretary of War had
come for something besides a conference with Sherman; at any
rate, he took speedy action in one important direction.

FROM H. W.

_Jan. 18._ We stopped at Miss Towne's new school-house to see them all
in it, and found to our pleasure that General Howard was addressing
the children. General Saxton, too, was there, in his new
major-general's straps. I was very glad to see General Howard, who
has superseded General Foster here. He has a very nice face indeed,
and his one arm seemed to make quite an impression on the children.
Stanton has been investigating the conscription business, and Foster's
removal is the result, apparently, while Saxton has been promoted.

The next letters, Mr. Philbrick's last from Port Royal,
contain various pieces of Sea Island news, chiefly in
connection with his plans for the next year and his
difficulties with his laborers.

FROM E. S. P.

_Jan. 9._ I started for Coffin's Point, meeting a long procession of
the people on the way to church. More than half the number were in
sulkies or some sort of go-carts, with all sorts of animals pulling
them, mostly quadrupeds that had once been horses,--and some might
still bear that name. I had to stop and shake hands every few rods, of
course. I have spent most of the day at Fripp Point, with Mr. York.
Mr. G. had not been able to collect the rent of corn-land there, to be
paid in corn, most of the men refusing to pay. He had withheld enough
from