tary
service, so there is never an absence of reason for refusing him what
he wants. "Bricks!--without straw," has so far been the usual
fortune. Soon a gentleman is going out towards the Ogeechee to report
numbers and condition there. It seems to be a Central Asia, from the
population that swarms in for rations. Compared with those who apply,
few are allowed them. No one who can show a finger to pick with and
reports an oyster to pick, is allowed to come on the Government for
support.

Here follows the last letter from G., written three months
later, not long before he came away.

FROM W. C. G.

_Savannah, June 9._ Our business has slacked greatly, and is now
mainly kept up by recent refugees from the up-country. We have stopped
more than half the rations, and almost every family within a dozen
miles has been represented at the office and been furnished with the
proper papers. But slavery still exists in the interior and is
spending its last moments in the old abominations of whipping and
punishing. Of course it is nearly dead,--the people know they are free
and the masters have to own it,--but the ruling passion is strong in
death.

W. C. G. left the South in June; H. W. and C. P. W. had gone
several months before him. The letters written at intervals
during the next two years are mostly addressed to the latter
by F. H. and T. E. R. They report the gradually changing
conditions and increasing difficulties of plantation
superintendence.

R. SOULE, JR., TO C. P. W.

_Coffin's Point, April 29._ Mr. H. is getting on pretty smoothly,
though he has occasionally to take a dose of what Mr. York calls
"Plantation Bitters," in the shape of complaints, faithlessness, and
general rascality on the part of the "poor negroes."

E. S. P. TO W. C. G. (IN SAVANNAH)

_Boston, May 1._ You will see by the papers all about the fall in
prices. The Liverpool cotton men had lost twelve millions sterling
upon the depreciation of their cotton in store before they heard of
the fall of Richmond and Lee's surrender. There is a terrible panic
there, and some of the best firms are failing. After things have come
to an equilibrium, and the manufacturers begin to buy cotton for
spinning, there will be a demand for ours, but it may take several
months, for they haven't got to the bottom of the trouble yet.

The affairs at St. Helena seem to be progressing quietly. The chances
are that all the cotton w