seding Meade. He may be ordered to take Richmond next--if he can.
Hardee is yet commanding Bragg's army.

I saw to-day a project, in Mr. Benjamin's handwriting, for a Bureau of
Export and Import.

Mr. G. A. Myers got a passport to-day for a Mr. Pappenheimer, a rich
Jew; it was "allowed" by the Assistant Secretary of War. And a Mr.
Kerchner (another Jew, I suppose) got one on the recommendation of
Col. J. Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance, to bring back stores in his
saddle-bags.

Orders to-day were given that no more supplies from the United States
should be received by the Federal prisoners here. It seems that our men
in their hands are not even allowed the visits of their friends.

DECEMBER 13TH.--Rained last night--and this morning we have warm April
weather and bright sunshine.

It is getting to be the general belief among men capable of reflection,
that no jugglery can save the Confederate States currency. As well might
one lift himself from the earth by seizing his feet, as to legislate a
remedy. Whatever scheme may be devised to increase the value of the
Confederate States paper money, the obligor is the same. For the
redemption of the currency (now worth about five cents in specie to the
dollar), every citizen, and every description of property, has been
pledged; and as the same citizens and the same property must be pledged
for the redemption of any newly created currency, there is no reason to
suppose it would not likewise run the same career of depreciation. Nor
can bonds be worth more than notes. Success in the field, only, can
appreciate either; for none will or can be paid, if we fail to achieve
independence.

The weather, this afternoon, is warm, calm, and clear; but the roads are
too soft for military operations.

I am reading the Memoirs of Bishop Doane, by his son, Rev. William
Croswell Doane. He was the great bishop truly; and his son proves an
admirable biographer. I knew the bishop personally, and much of his
personal history; and hence this work is to me, and must be to many
others, very interesting. The coming year is to be an eventful one. We
shall be able (I hope) to put 400,000 effective men in the field; and
these, well handled, might resist a million of assailants from without.
We have the center, they the circumference; let them beware of
1864--when the United States shall find herself in the throes of an
embittered Presidential contest!

DECEMBER 14TH.--We have President Lincoln's message