ells beef (gross) to the butchers at from 45 to 55 cents,
is one of his agents, employed by Major Ruffin, to purchase beef for the
army! The schedule price is from 16 to 20 cents, and he pays no more,
for the government--and if he buys for himself, it is not likely he pays
more--and so we have a government agent a speculator in meat, and
co-operating with speculators! Will Mr. Secretary Seddon permit this?

OCTOBER 13TH.--Gen. Lee's cavalry are picking up some prisoners, several
hundreds having already been sent to Richmond. It is said the advance of
his army has been delayed several weeks for want of commissary stores,
while Commissary-General Northrop's or Major Ruffin's agent Moffitt, it
is alleged, has been selling beef (gross) to the butchers at 50 cents
per pound, after buying or impressing at from 16 to 20 cents.

Gen. Lee writes that a scout (from Washington?) informs him that Gen.
Gilmore has been ordered to take Charleston at all hazards, and, failing
in the attempt, to make a flank movement and seize upon Branchville;
which he (Gen. Lee) deems an unlikely feat.

What a change! The young professors and tutors who shouldered their pens
and became clerks in the departments are now resigning, and seeking
employment in country schools remote from the horrid sounds of war so
prevalent in the vicinity of the Capitol, and since they were ordered to
volunteer in the local companies, which will probably have some sharp
practice in the field. They are intent, however, on "teaching the young
_idea_ how to shoot." The young chiefs of bureaus, being fixed "for
life," did not _volunteer_.

OCTOBER 14TH.--A letter from Gen. Lee to the Secretary of War, dated
11th inst. at Madison C. H., complains of the injury done by the
newspapers of Richmond, which contain early accounts of his movements,
and are taken quickly (by flag of truce? or Gen. Winder's corps of
rogues and cut-throats?) to the enemy. He says he is endeavoring to
strike at Meade, and has already captured, this week, some 600 of the
enemy (cavalry), including that number of horses. The Secretary sent the
requisite notice to the editors.

Gen. Gilmer, at Charleston, suggests the removal of the guns on the
boats in that harbor to land batteries, to be commanded by officers of
the navy.

An order has been sent to Gen. S. Jones, West Virginia, for the 8th and
14th Regiments Virginia Cavalry.

OCTOBER 15TH.--To-day, at 12 M., I saw a common leatherwing bat flying