n future times
will be denounced as a Cabal of bandits and outlaws, making and
executing the most despotic decrees. This decision will look bad in
history, and will do no good at present. How _could_ the President
"approve" such a law?

The desertions from the Tredegar Battalion and other workshops--local
defense--amount to between one and two hundred since the 1st of
September.

NOVEMBER 3D.--Cold rain; rained all night.

Gen. Lee, urging that his regiments from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Georgia, etc. etc. be recruited from their respective States, concludes
a recent letter thus: "I hope immediate action will be taken upon this
subject, as I think our success depends much upon a speedy increase of
our armies in every possible way."

This dismal weather casts a deeper gloom upon the spirits of the
croakers. They fear Richmond cannot be long defended.

Plymouth, N. C., has been retaken by the enemy.

During this damp weather the deep and sullen sounds of cannon can be
heard at all hours, day and night. The firing is mostly from our
iron-clads.

The market was well supplied this morning with abundance of good meat,
vegetables, fruit, etc.; and I was glad to see but few making purchases.
The reason may have been that the extortionate prices repelled the
people; or it may have been the rain. I passed on.

NOVEMBER 4TH.--Rained all night; glimpses of the sun between the running
clouds this morning. Windy, and likely to be cold.

Our iron-clad "Albemarle" was blown up by a handful of the enemy at
Plymouth--surprising the water pickets (all asleep). The _manner_ of the
loss of the town, and of the counties east of it, is not known yet; but
everything was foretold by Mr. Burgyson to the cabinet then devoting
their attention to the problem how to violate the Constitution, and put
into the trenches some fifty delicate clerks, that their places might be
filled by some of their own special favorites. Mr. George Davis,
Attorney-General, the instrument selected to rend the Constitution, or
rather to remove the obstacles out of the way, is from North Carolina;
and this blow has fallen upon his own State!

We learn that gold is rising rapidly in the North, which may be
significant of President Lincoln's re-election next week.

We get no news from our armies except through the Northern papers--not
reliable just now.

Gov. Allen, of Louisiana, writes a furious letter to the Secretary of
War, who ordered the disbandme