These bribe their way through!_

Col. Gorgas gave notice to-day that our supply of saltpeter will be
exhausted in January, unless we can import a large quantity.

Another blue day!

NOVEMBER 11TH.--No news. I saw, to-day, Gen. Lee's letter of the 7th
instant, simply announcing the capture of Hoke's and Haye's brigades.
They were on the north side of the river, guarding the _pont de tete_.
There is no excuse, no palliation. He said it was likely Meade's entire
army would cross. This had been sent by the Secretary to the President,
who indorsed upon it as follows: "If it be possible to reinforce, it
should be done promptly. Can any militia or local defense men be made
available?--J. D."

Gen. Whiting writes that he has refused to permit Mr. Crenshaw's
correspondence with Collie & Co. to pass uninspected, from a knowledge
of the nature of previous correspondence seen by him.

The Northern papers state that Mr. Seward has authorized them to publish
the fact that the French Government has seized the Confederate rams
building in the ports of France.

I have written Custis Lee, the President's aid, that but one alternative
now remains: for the President, or some _one_ else, to assume all power,
temporarily, and crush the speculators. This I think is the only chance
of independence. I may be mistaken--but we shall see.

Capt. Warner, who feeds the 13,000 prisoners here, when he has the means
of doing so, says Col. Northrop, the Commissary, does not respond to his
requisitions for meat. He fears the prisoners will take or destroy the
city, and talks of sending his family out of it.

I condemned the reign of martial law in this city, in 1862, as it was
not then necessary, and because its execution was intrusted to improper
and obnoxious men. But now I am inclined to think it necessary not only
here, but everywhere in the Confederacy. Many farmers refuse to get out
their grain, or to sell their meat, because they say they have enough
Confederate money! money for the redemption of which their last negro
and last acre are responsible. So, if they be permitted to maintain this
position, neither the army nor the non-producing class of the population
can be subsisted; and, of course, all classes must be involved in a
common ruin. A Dictator might prevent the people from destroying
themselves, and it seems that nothing short of extreme measures can
prevent it. But, again, suppose the Federal Government were to propose a
sweepin