ddon. It may be lucrative to those immediately
interested; but if not abated, will be the death of the Confederate
States Government--as I have told them all repeatedly.

And the "Bureau of Conscription" still exists, and seems destined to "be
in at the death."

I paid Lieut. Parker just $30.75 for a load of coal; selling at $75.

I saw selling at auction, to-day, second-hand shirts at $40 each, and
blankets at $75. A bedstead, such as I have bought for $10, brought
$700. But $50 in Confederate States paper are really worth only $1 in
specie.

Jos. R. Anderson & Co. writes that unless their hands are sent in from
the trenches, they cannot fill orders for ordnance stores; and Gen.
Gorgas (he has been promoted) approves it, saying it is known that a
number of these hands intend to desert the first opportunity.

The last call for the clerks to return to the trenches was responded to
by not a man of Capt. Manico's company, War Department proper.

DECEMBER 31ST.--The last day of the year. Snowing and wet.

Gen. H. Cobb writes that the existing Conscription Bureau is a failure
so far as Georgia, Alabama, etc. are concerned, and can never put the
men in the field.

Wm. Johnston, president of the Charlotte (N. C.) and South Carolina
Railroad, suggests the construction, immediately, of a railroad from
Columbia, S. C, to Augusta, Ga., which might be easily accomplished by
April or May. It would take that length of time for the government to
"consider of it." It will lose two railroads before it will order the
building of one.

There is supposed to be a conspiracy on foot to transfer some of the
powers of the Executive to Gen. Lee. It can only be done by revolution,
and the overthrow of the Constitution. Nevertheless, it is believed many
executive officers, some high in position, favor the scheme.

To-morrow Gen. Lee's army is to be feasted with turkeys, etc.
contributed by the country, if the enemy will permit them to dine
without molestation. The enemy are kept fully informed of everything
transpiring here, thanks to the vigilance of the Provost Marshal,
detectives, etc. etc.

Gen. Cobb writes that he is arresting the men who remained in Atlanta
during its occupation by Sherman, and subjecting themselves to
suspicion, etc. Better march the men we have against Sherman now, who is
still in Georgia!

Gen. Lee writes that Grant is concentrating (probably for an attack on
Richmond), bringing another corps from the Vall