sed a plan of exchange of prisoners, so far as
those we hold go. We have 15,000; they, 40,000.

A letter from Mr. Underwood, of Rome, Ga., says our people fly from our
own cavalry, as they devastate the country as much as the enemy.

We have a cold rain to-day. The bill prohibiting the employment of
substitutes has passed both Houses of Congress. When the Conscription
act is enlarged, all substitutes now in the army will have to serve for
themselves, and their employers will also be liable.

DECEMBER 18TH.--Yesterday evening the battalion of clerks was to leave
for Western Virginia to meet the _raiders_. After keeping them in
waiting till midnight, the order was countermanded. It is said now that
Gen. Lee has sent three brigades after Averill and his 3000 men, and
hopes are entertained that the enemy may be captured.

It is bright and cold to-day.

DECEMBER 19TH.--Bright and cold. A resolution passed Congress, calling
on the President to report the number of men of conscript age removed
from the Quartermaster's and Commissary's Departments, in compliance
with the act of last session. The Commissary-General, in response,
refers only to _clerks_--none of whom, however, it seems have been
removed.

Capt. Alexander, an officer under Gen. Winder, in charge of Castle
Thunder (prison), has been relieved and arrested for malfeasance, etc.

Gen. C. J. McRae, charged with the investigation of the accounts of
Isaacs, Campbell & Co., London, with Major Huse, the purchasing agent of
Col. J. Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance, reports irregularities, overcharges,
etc., and recommends retention of gold and cotton in this country
belonging to I., C. & Co.

Mr. ---- informed me to-day that he signed a contract with the
Commissary-General last night to furnish meat on the Mississippi in
Tennessee, in exchange for cotton. He told me that the proposition was
made by the Federal officers, and will have their connivance, if not the
connivance of Federal functionaries in Washington, interested in the
speculation. Lieut.-Col. Ruffin prefers trading with the enemy at New
Orleans.

It is rumored that Mr. Seddon will resign, and be succeeded by Gov.
Letcher; notwithstanding Hon. James Lyons asserted in public (and it
appears in the _Examiner_ to-day) that Gov. L. told Gen. J. R. Anderson
last year, subsequent to the fall of Donelson, "he was still in favor of
the Union."

DECEMBER 20TH.--We have nothing new yet from Averill's raiders; but it