him.

APRIL 14TH.--Bright morning--cloudy and cold the rest of the day.

No reliable war news to-day; but we are on the tip-toe of expectation of
exciting news from the Rapidan. Longstreet is certainly in
communication with Lee; and if the enemy be not present with
overwhelming numbers, which there is no reason to anticipate, a great
battle may be imminent.

Read Vice-President Stephens's speech against the suspension of the writ
of _habeas corpus_ to-day. He said independence without liberty was of
no value to him, and if he must have a master, he cared not whether he
was Northern or Southern. If we gain our independence, this speech will
_ruin_ Mr. S.; if we do not, it may save him and his friends.

APRIL 15TH.--Cloudy--slight showers. I published an article yesterday in
the _Enquirer_, addressed to the President, on the subject of supplies
for the army and the people (the government to take all the supplies in
the country), the annihilation of speculation, and the necessary
suppression of the Southern (Yankee) Express Company. This elicited the
approval of Col. Northrop, the Commissary-General, who spoke to me on
the subject. He told me the Express Company had attempted to _bribe_
him, by offering to bring his family supplies gratis, etc. He said he
had carried his point, in causing Gen. Bragg to address him according to
military etiquette. He showed me another order from Bragg (through the
Adjutant-General), to take possession of the toll meal at Crenshaw's
mills. This he says is contrary to contract, and he was going to the
Secretary to have it withdrawn. "Besides," said he, "and truly, it would
do no good. The people must eat, whether they get meal from Crenshaw or
not. If not, they will get it elsewhere, and what they do get will be so
much diverted from the commissariat."

There are rumors of the enemy accumulating a heavy force at Suffolk.

The guard at Camp Lee are going in the morning to Lee's army; their
places here to be filled by the reserve forces of boys and old men. This
indicates a battle on the Rapidan.

APRIL 16TH.--Rained all night, and in fitful showers all day.

We have more accounts (unofficial) of a victory near Shreveport, La. One
of the enemy's gun-boats has been blown up and sunk in Florida.

By late Northern arrivals we see that a Mr. Long, member of Congress,
has spoken in favor of our recognition. A resolution of expulsion was
soon after introduced.

Gen. Lee has suggested, and