-Clear and pleasant. Cannon heard down the river.

Mr. E. A. Pollard, taken by the Federals in an attempt to run the
blockade last spring, has returned, and reports that Gen. Butler has
been relieved of his command--probably for his failure to capture
Wilmington. Mr. Pollard says that during his captivity he was permitted,
on parole, to visit the Northern cities, and he thinks the Northern
conscription will ruin the war party.

But, alas! the lax policy inaugurated by Mr. Benjamin, and continued by
every succeeding Secretary of War, enables the enemy to obtain
information of all our troubles and all our vulnerable points. The
United States can get recruits under the conviction that there will be
little or no more fighting.

Some $40,000 worth of provisions, belonging to speculators, but marked
for a naval bureau and the Mining and Niter Bureau, have been seized at
Danville. This is well--if it be not too late.

A letter from Mr. Trenholm, Secretary of the Treasury, to Mr. Wagner,
Charleston, S. C. (sent over for approval), appoints him agent to
proceed to Augusta, etc., with authority to buy all the cotton for the
government, at $1 to $1.25 per pound; and then sell it for sterling
bills of exchange to certain parties, giving them permission _to remove
it within the enemy's lines_; or "better still," to have it shipped
abroad on government account by _reliable_ parties. This indicates a
purpose to die "full-handed," if the government _must_ die, and to
defeat the plans of the enemy to get the cotton. Is the Federal
_Government_ a party to this arrangement? Gold was $60 for one
yesterday. I suppose there is no change to-day.

Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary, returned to his room to-day, mine
not suiting him.

Col. Sale, Gen. Bragg's military secretary, told me to-day that the
general would probably return from Wilmington soon. His plan for filling
the ranks by renovating the whole conscription system, will, he fears,
slumber until it is too late, when ruin will overtake us! If the
President would only put Bragg at the head of the conscription
business--_and in time_--we might be saved.

JANUARY 12TH.--Bright and frosty. Gold at $66 for one yesterday, at
auction.

Major R. J. Echols, Quartermaster, Charlotte, N. C., says the fire there
destroyed 70,000 bushels of grain, a large amount of sugar, molasses,
clothing, blankets, etc. He knows not whether it was the result of
design or accident. All his papers were