ecretary of the Navy,
showing that, at the time Mr. Miles says he was promised the Brooke
guns, there _were really none on hand_. Thus Mr. Miles has been _caught_
by the President, after the lapse of twenty days! It is not denied, even
by the Secretary of the Navy, that long-range guns were on hand at the
time--but there were no Brooke guns, simply. Thus, while Charleston's
fate hangs trembling in the balance, and the guns are idle here, twenty
days are fruitlessly spent. Mr. Miles appears to be a friend of
Beauregard. Every letter that general sends to the department is sure
to put twenty clerks at work in the effort to pick flaws in his accuracy
of statement.

A report of the ordnance officers of Bragg's army shows that in the late
retreat (without a battle) from Shelbyville to Chattanooga, the army
lost some 6000 arms and between 200,000 and 300,000 cartridges!

Our naval commanders are writing that they cannot get seamen--and at
Mobile half are on the sick list.

Lee writes that his men are in good fighting condition--if he only had
enough of them. Of the three corps, one is near Fredericksburg (this
side the river), one at Orange C. H., and one at Gordonsville. I doubt
if there will be another battle for a month.

Meantime the Treasury notes continue to depreciate, and all the
necessaries of life advance in price--but they do not rise in
_proportion_.

The _Examiner_ had a famous attack on the President to-day (from the
pen, I think, of a military man, on Gen. Scott's staff, when Mr. Davis
was Secretary of War), for alleged stubbornness and disregard of the
popular voice; for appointing Pemberton, Holmes, Mallory, etc., with a
side fling at Memminger.

AUGUST 6TH.--A dispatch from Gen. Lee shows that he is still falling
back (this side the Rapidan), but gradually concentrating his forces.
There _may_ be another battle speedily--and if our army does not gain a
_great_ victory, there will be great disappointment.

There are some gun-boats in the James as high up as Aiken's Landing. Two
torpedoes, badly ignited, failed to injure either of them.

Capt. Kay, of Mobile, in conjunction with several other parties, has a
scheme for the destruction of the enemy in the Mississippi Valley. What
it is, I know not--but I know large sums of money are asked for.

After all, it appears that twenty-two transports of Grant's troops have
descended the Mississippi River--Mobile, no doubt, being their
destination.

It is no