iption and the passport business of the government since his
appointment. The President and Secretary must attach some importance to
the communication of Mr. ----, the first for sending over the letter at
this juncture--the latter, for having just called in Lieut.-Col. Melton,
A. A. G., who is assigned a position in his office, and is now
superintending the business of _passports_. This arrangement also cuts
the earth under the feet of Mr. Kean, Chief of the Bureau of War.

The raid of Sheridan has caused some speculators to send their surplus
flour into the city for sale. Some sold for $700 per barrel to-day, a
decline of $50.

D. H. London says the enemy captured the tobacco at Hamilton's Crossing
(near Fredericksburg) this morning. I doubt it, but would not deplore
it, as it belongs to speculators, sent thither for barter with the
enemy. No doubt many articles will decline in price--the owners fearing
the coming of the enemy.

The packing up of the archives goes on, with directions to be as quiet
as possible, so as "not to alarm the people." A large per cent. of the
population would behold the exodus with pleasure!

MARCH 8TH.--Damp and foggy. We have no military news yet--9 A.M.

President Lincoln's short inaugural message, or homily, or sermon, has
been received. It is filled with texts from the Bible. He says both
sides pray to the same God for aid--one upholding and the other
destroying African slavery. If slavery be an offense,--and woe shall
fall upon those by whom offenses come,--perhaps not only all the slaves
will be lost, but all the accumulated products of their labor be swept
away. In short, he "quotes Scripture for the deed" quite as fluently as
our President; and since both Presidents resort to religious
justification, it may be feared the war is about to assume a more
sanguinary aspect and a more cruel nature than ever before. God help us!
The history of man, even in the Bible, is but a series of bloody wars.
It must be thus to make us appreciate the blessings of peace, and to bow
in humble adoration of the great Father of all. The Garden of Eden could
not yield contentment to man, nor heaven satisfy all the angels.

It is said the enemy have left Fredericksburg--bought all the tobacco, I
suppose.

To-day the _State_ made distribution in this city of cotton cloth, three
yards to each member of a family, at $5.50 for 7-8 and $6.25 for 4-4
width. The State paid about $3 per yard for it, and the pr