erman made his triumphant march through
Georgia; and the President's party will make Beauregard the scape-goat,
for staying at Charleston--for sending Hood North--which I am inclined
to think he did not do, but the government itself.

Capt. Weiniger (government clothing warehouse) employs about 4000
females on soldiers' clothes.

Some people still believe the President is dead, and that it is
attempted to conceal his death by saying he is better, etc. I saw his
indorsements on papers, to-day, dated the 15th, day before yesterday,
and it was a bold hand. I am inclined almost to believe he has not been
sick at all! His death would excite sympathy: and now his enemies are
assailing him bitterly, attributing all our misfortunes to his
incompetence, etc. etc.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18TH.--Raining.

The old dull sound of bombs down the river. Nothing further from
Savannah. It is now believed that the raiders in Western Virginia did
not attack Saltville, and that the works are safe. For two days the
speculators have been buying salt, and have put up the price to $1.50
per pound. I hope they will be losers. The State distributes salt
to-morrow: ten pounds to each member of a family, at 20 cents per pound.

The President's malady is said to be neuralgia in the head--an
evanescent affliction, and by no means considered dangerous. At least
such is the experience in my family.

It was amusing, however, to observe the change of manner of the
Secretaries and of heads of bureaus toward Vice-President Stephens, when
it was feared the President was in _extremis_. Mr. Hunter, fat as he is,
flew about right briskly.

If Savannah falls, our currency will experience another depreciation,
and the croaking reconstructionists will be bolder.

The members of the Virginia Assembly propose paying themselves $50 per
day!

Congress has not yet passed the act increasing the compensation of
members.

DECEMBER 19TH.--The darkest and most dismal day that ever dawned upon
the earth, except one. There was no light when the usual hour came
round, and later the sun refused to shine. There was fog, and afterward
rain.

Northern papers say Hood has been utterly routed, losing all his guns!

A letter from Mr. ------ to ------, dated Richmond, December 17th, 1864,
says: "I have the honor to report my success as most remarkable and
satisfactory. I have ascertained the _whole Yankee mail line, from the
gun-boats to your city, with all the agents_ save