eat with this government, under existing circumstances. The
President and his cabinet could not be expected to listen to such
proposals as they might be authorized to tender.

Butler's canal is said to be completed, and probably operations will
soon be recommenced in this vicinity.

Congress seems to be doing little or nothing; but before it adjourns it
is supposed it will, as usual, pass the measures dictated by the
President. How insignificant a legislative body becomes when it is not
independent. The Confederate States Congress will not live in history,
for it never really existed at all, but has always been merely a body of
subservient men, registering the decrees of the Executive. Even Mr.
Miles, of South Carolina, before introducing a bill, sends it to this
department for approval or rejection.

Detailed soldiers here are restricted in their rations this month to 31
pounds of meal, 21 pounds of salt beef, etc. The commissary agent, Mr.
Wilson, thinks no more "beef shanks" can be sold. I have been living on
them!

An order has been issued that all detailed men in the bureaus
(able-bodied) must go into Gen. Lee's army; and the local defense troops
will not be called out again except in the last necessity, and then only
during the emergency. I have not seen it, but believe Gen. Lee has some
such understanding with the President.

Mayor Arnold, and other rich citizens of Savannah, have held a meeting
(Union), and called upon Gov. Brown to assemble a State Convention, etc.

Mr. Hunter followed Judge Campbell into his office this morning (a
second visit), as if there were "any more news." The judge gravely
beckoned him into the office. I was out; so there must be news, when Mr.
H. (so fat) is on the _qui vive_.

Gen. Beauregard has been ordered to the West to take command of Hood's
army.

The Secretary of War has ordered Col. Bayne to have as much cotton as
possible _east_ of Branchville, S. C.

The farmers down the river report that Grant is sending off large bodies
of troops--so the Secretary says in a letter to _Gen. Lee_.

JANUARY 8TH.--Bright and cold. Snowed yesterday, and windy.

Gen. Whiting writes that he had only 400 men in Fort Fisher, and it was
a miracle that it was not taken. He looked for it, and a determined
effort would have carried it. He says there is no reason to suppose the
attempt has been abandoned, and it must fall if a sufficient force be
not sent thither.

If the enemy are appris