in restraint, but by military force. There is much misery here, caused by a disregard of justice. Could all the corruption and consequent suffering be known, it would be a dark spot upon the annals of American history.

Tresouthick's illness progresses finely, and we have hopes of being able to take advantage of it soon.

He

has only to present himself before the surgeon a sufficient number of times, and insist that he is very sick, in order to be admitted to the hospital, as we think.

December 8.-The weather is a little more mild today, and I find my health gradually improving. The greater portion of my time is now occupied in reading "Napoleon and his Marshals." I make it a daily practice to read the Bible, and to commit a portion of St. Matthew.

There are games of amusement among us, which I sometimes participate in; the most popular are chess, checkers, dominoes, and cards. This evening I had a game of chess with Lieutenant Carter, formerly of Baltimore.

Games of all kinds are vigorously plied to pass away time. Looking into any of the large rooms, you may see a party in one corner playing chess on a Loard marked out on the floor, with chess men made of beef bones. In another corner, a group are playing checkers in the same manner, with buttons and wooden men. Others are huddled together around a set of dominoes, which they are rattling with considerable vigor.

Everywhere, and at all times, you may see the in

evitable greasy cards; and euchre, whist, and bluff, go the rounds in rapid succession.

Here a group of lawyers are holding a moot-court, with a grave judge opposite, and a panel of dulysworn jurymen sitting on the floor along the sides. Acres of valuable land have changed hands under their decisions. Horses have been adjudged to belong here and cows there, and dogs anywhere and everywhere. Nearly every man of the number has failed in business, and a large per cent. have been divorced; and lastly, judge and jury have unanimously decided, that they all be sent home without a moment's delay, times without number.

Debating clubs are settling important questions in different parts of the room, and youthful orators are constraining prison-life to give grace to their gestures and fluency to their tongues.

Finally, from some distant corner, may be heard the winning words of the gospel. An old grayhaired man, it may be, is telling an attentive company of younger men how precious the religion of Christ is to him in the midst of his sufferings. Hymns are sung, prayers are offered, and souls are refreshed.

Many are indifferent to all these things, and are sleeping on the floor.

In this way the time is passed, and in infinitely more ways, which the ingenuity of idle men will suggest.

Getting into the hospital is no easy matter, but Tresouthick is sicker than he was, and has good hopes.

December 12.-Last night Captains Anderson and Skelton made their escape by bribing the guard. Skelton had been wounded, under Grant, before Vicksburg, and captured. A few days after, he made his appearance in Libby, with a patch over his eye and a green cap drawn over his head, smoking a cigar as complacently as though nothing had happened. A ball had entered his eye and come out behind his ear. Although bright as ever, he feigned dulness, and so was retained in the hospital. Anderson was just admitted, and with all the money they could muster they bribed a guard to let them out.

This morning at roll-call two bunks were empty, but after the sergeant had gone down one tier, two men left their bunks, and went to those of Anderson and Skelton, so their absence was not observed. When the surgeon came, however, he missed Skelton at once, as he was a very noticeable man." The alarm was immediately given; but, as yet, nothing has been heard of the escaping party.

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CHAPTER V.

RETURN FROM THE HOSPITAL.

THE cunningly devised exit of Anderson and Skelton has exasperated the prison authorities terribly, and most of all because their success was due to the treachery of their own guards. A double watch is now placed over us, so that our prospect of an escape has vanished, and we must take our chances with the others in the upper rooms. It has had a decided effect on Tresouthick's "health," however. He is much better to-day, and will probably recover much faster than he got sick.

December 26.-There has been much excitement to-day concerning an exchange of prisoners. Captain Sawyer, of the First New Jersey Cavalry, has received a letter from Major Mulford, our Commissioner of Exchange, in which prospects of a general exchange of all the prisoners is mentioned. There are many conflicting opinions and warm discussions. It is ru mored that thirty officers and five hundred men are already declared exchanged. There seems to be much hilarity among the prisoners; yet I fear, as has been too often the case, we shall be disappointed. True, we cannot but feel great anxiety for our release; yet such reports have been so often in circulation that I can