consumed. A part of Conner's
brigade on the way to South Carolina, 500 men, under Lieut.-Col.
Wallace, refused to aid in saving property, but plundered it! This
proves that the soldiers were all poor men, the rich having bought
exemptions or details!

Gen. Lee writes on the 8th instant, that the troops sailing out of James
River are, he thinks, destined for another attack on Wilmington. But
none have left the lines in front of him, etc.

Gen. Lee also writes on the 9th instant, that the commissary agents have
established "a large traffic through our lines, in North Carolina, for
supplies;" and he desires the press to say nothing on the subject.

Mr. Ould, to whom it appears the Secretary has written for his opinion
(he was editor once, and fought a duel with Jennings Wise, Mr. Seddon
being his second), gives a very bad one on the condition of affairs. He
says the people have confidence in Mr. _Seddon_, but not in President
_Davis_, and a strong reconstruction party will spring up in Virginia
rather than adopt the President's ideas about the slaves, etc.

The Chief of the Treasury Note Bureau, at Columbia, S. C., asks where he
shall fly to if the enemy approaches. It is understood one of our
generals, when appealed to by the Secretary, exclaimed: "To the devil!"

Mr. Miles introduced a resolution yesterday (in Congress) affirming that
for any State to negotiate peace is _revolutionary_. _Ill timed, because
self-evident._

Gen. Bradley T. Johnson writes from Salisbury, N. C., that because the
travel hither has been suspended by the government, the Central Railroad
Company of that State _refuse_ to send the full amount of trains for the
transportation of soldiers. It must be impressed too.

I am assured by one of the President's special detectives that Francis
P. Blair, Sr. is truly in this city. What for? A rumor spreads that
Richmond is to be evacuated.

Gen. Lee writes for the Secretary's sanction to send officers everywhere
in Virginia and North Carolina, to collect provisions and to control
railroads, etc. The Secretary is sending orders to different commanders,
and says _he_ would rather have the odium than that it should fall on
Lee! The Commissary General approves Lee's measure.

Gen. Lee's dispatch was dated last night. He says he has not _two days'_
rations for his army!

Commissary-General Northrop writes to the Secretary that the hour of
emergency is upon us, and that Gen. Lee's name may "save the c