with evil, unless
the career of Sherman be checked; and in that event the BATTLE for
RICHMOND, and Virginia, and the Confederacy, will occur within a few
months--perhaps weeks. The sooner the better for us, as delay will only
serve to organize the UNION PARTY sure to spring up; for many of the
people are not only weary of the war, but they have no longer any faith
in the President, his cabinet, Congress, the commissaries,
quartermasters, enrolling officers, and most of the generals.

Judge Campbell was closeted for hours last night with Mr. Secretary
Seddon at the department. I have not recently seen Mr. Hunter.

We have news from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. My wife's aunt, Miss
Sally Parsons, is dead--over 90 years of age. The slaves are free, but
remain with their owners--on wages. The people are prosperous, getting
fine prices for abundant crops. Only a few hundred Federal troops are in
the two counties; but these, under the despotic orders of Butler, levy
heavy "war contributions" from the unoffending farmers.

FEBRUARY 6TH.--Bright and frosty. As I supposed, the peace commissioners
have returned from their fruitless errand. President Lincoln and Mr.
Seward, it appears, had nothing to propose, and would listen to nothing
but unconditional submission. The Congress of the United States has just
passed, by a two-thirds vote, an amendment to the Constitution
_abolishing slavery_.

Now the South will soon be fired up again, perhaps with a new
impulse--and WAR will rage with greater fury than ever. Mr. Stephens
will go into Georgia, and reanimate his people. Gen. Wise spoke at
length for independence at the Capitol on Saturday night amidst
applauding listeners, and Governor Smith speaks to-night.

Gen. Breckinridge is here and will take his seat to-morrow. Every effort
will be made to popularize the cause again.

Hon. Mr. Foote is at Washington, in _prison_.

Gen. Wise's brigade has sent up resolutions consenting to gradual
_emancipation_--but never to reunion with the North.

There is a more cheerful aspect on the countenances of the people in the
streets. All hope of peace with independence is extinct--and valor alone
is relied upon now for our salvation. Every one thinks the Confederacy
will at once gather up its military strength and strike such blows as
will astonish the world. There will be desperate conflicts!

Vice-President Stephens is in his seat to-day, and seems determined.

Mr. Hunter is rollin