as guilty of indiscretions
in speech. He had seen him once only at his church. He had made
inquiries of his brethren and he could not learn that Mr. Banks was a
regular attendant at any church. Banks in reply admitted that he had
been in the church of the reverend gentleman but once, and that he was
not a regular attendant at any church. Said he: "I do not go to
church because I hear things said there which I do not approve." The
reverend gentleman was forced to join in the general laugh which was
raised at his expense.

Two extracts from General Banks' letters, written to me during the war
may give an idea of his characteristics in his maturer years.

HEADQUARTERS, CAMP AT DAMSTOWN, MD.
_October_ 15, 1861.

MY DEAR SIR:--
I received your letter of the 8th inst . . . and also one of an earlier
date.

I am very glad to hear from you. I see few people and hear little news
from home. Newspapers I have little relish for and scarcely time to
read them, if I had.

I am glad to know that you contemplate the army for a pursuit. Our
people will in the end surrender all business except that of the war,
and that which pertains to the war. Our country is in a sad condition.
It is already clear that the influence of France and England is against
us. How sadly all our anticipations in regard to the war have failed
us,--the insurrection of the blacks, the material deficiencies of the
South, their want of men, and worst of all the friendship or the
indifference of England. We have now, or shall have by and by to do
what we should have done at the start, rely upon ourselves and prepare
for our work upon a scale proportionate to its magnitude. It would
amuse you to know how far the highest civil authority is subordinated
to military direction. I do not doubt in the slightest degree the
success of the Government in the end, but it grieves me to see how
slow we have been and still are in comprehension and preparation.

This continent is just as important to England and France as it is to
us. It is hardly to be doubted that they will postpone all
international questions, and secure what has never before been offered
to them--a controlling foothold here. How many times I have spoken to
you in the old Executive Chamber of the importance to the whole world
of the possession of Mexico--and of the power it would infallibly give
to this continent, as in Europe to those who possessed it. And now
Spain, France, and England