steamer, which, judging from the distance between us, would in less than ten minutes be alongside. Ten minutes, however, passed in fruitless expectation; then followed twenty more of hope deferred; when Major Mulford, who began to grow very impatient, went on shore to inquire the reason of her remaining as she did-he even sent a boat to her to ascertain the reason of her detention. Major Mulford was so confident that he had seen her that the Confederate officer commanding the "Point" telegraphed the news to Richmond. Judge of our great surprise, when the telegraphic reply, brought to us on board shortly afterward, announced "that the Confederate flag-of-truce boat had left Richmond exactly at the hour we had seen her." As Richmond was more than twelve hours distant from us at the then rate of travel over that route, we could only consider that we had been deceived by a "mirage." How often must such phenomena have given rise to stories of phantom ships!

A French corvette, which had been up the river to Richmond, lay at anchor near us. This evening, in acceptance of an invitation from Major Mulford, the French captain and his lieutenant came on board to spend the evening with us; and we enjoyed their visit heartily. The next morning, when I awoke, I found that the flag-of-truce boat had arrived during the night. Captain Hatch, the Confederate exchange officer, presently came on board. We were introduced to him, and very soon afterward were, with our luggage, safely ensconsed in the snug little cabin of the Here, under my own country's flag, I felt free and comparatively happy. On our way up the river to Richmond we had to pass the obstructions situated between Chapin's and Drury's Bluffs. These places take their name from the bold appearance that the shore here presents. The obstructions designel to im

pede a hostile squadron became accidentally hurtful to our Confederate vessel. She ran foul of them, and it was found utterly impossible to continue the voyage.

At Drury's Bluff, therefore, we went on board a tug, in which we proceeded to Richmond. When we arrived, at eight P. M., I went immediately to the Spottswood House, and, tired and worn out with the fatigues of my journey, I retired to rest, refusing to see any one that evening.

THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT DAVIS.

THE Richmond Dispatch gives the following account of the inauguration of President Davis, in February, 1862:

On Saturday, in the presence of an immense concourse of people, Jefferson Davis was inaugurated President of the permanent government of the Confederate States. The day was an inclement one, and exceedingly unfavorable for the exercises incident to an occasion so interesting. Notwithstanding the disagreeable weather, thousands were present to witness the accession to power of a president selected in the hour of strife, and amid the intensest struggle for constitu tional freedom.

At half past eleven o'clock the two houses of Congress convened in their respective halls, and shortly after repaired to the hall of the House of Delegates of Virginia, the use of which for the occasion had been courteously tendered by the members of the legislature. The galleries were exclusively allotted to ladies, a large number of whom had gathered to participate in the proceedings, and to add encouragement by their presence and their smiles.

At a quarter before twelve o'clock, the President and Vice President elect, accompanied by the joint committee of arrangements, entered the hall, and were received by the assembly standing Every available point in and about the capitol was jammed, and the whole crowd evinced a painful eagerness to so the distinguished chief magistrate, and to bear what he ht have to utter in his first inaugural address. The arran oments made for the preservation of order were complete, and successfully prevented any attempt to interfere with the regular programme of the committee. There was but one thing to mar the interest of the occasion, and that was the inclemency of the weather, heavy rains continuing to descend unceasingly throughout the entire day.

During the preliminaries to the formation of the procession, under the direction of the chief marshal, Colonel Dimmock, and his aids, the President occupied the speaker's chair in the House of Delegates, the Vice President elect that on the left of the President, and the President of the Senate that on his right, and the Speaker of the House that on the left of the Vice President.

At half past twelve o'clock the procession moved from the hall by the eastern door of the capitol, to the statue of Washington, on the public square, in the following order, to wit: 1. The chief marshal.

2. The band.

3. Six members of the committee of arrangements, including their respective chairmen.

4. The President elect, attended by the President of the Senate.

5. The Vice President elect, attended by the Speaker of he House of Representatives.

6. The members of the cabinet.

7. The officiating Clergyman and the Judge of the Cou federate court at Richmond.

8. The Senate of the Confederate States, with its officers in column of fours.

9. The House of Representatives, with its officers, in co umn of fours.

10. The Governors of Virginia, and other States, and Staf 11. The members of the Senate and House of Delegate: of Virginia, and their officers.

12. The Judges of the Supreme Court of Virginia, and other States, in the city of Richmond.

13. The officers of the Army and Navy.

14. The Reverend Clergy.

15. The Mayor and corporate authorities of the city of Richmond.

16. The Masons and other benevolent societies.

17. Members of the press.

18. Citizens generally.

At the statue of Washington, the President elect, the Vice President elect, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the officiating Clergyman, Confederate Judge, Governors of States, the Chief Marshal and his Aids, and six of the Committee of Arrangements, took their positions on the platform.

The exercises there were opened by a fervent, eloquent and patriotic prayer, from the Right Reverend Bishop Johns, in which he earnestly invoked the guidance of Providence and the protection of Heaven, in our struggle for independence. The prayer of the Bishop was solemnly impressive, and caused many a tear to trickle from eyes unused to weep. After the prayer, the President stepped to the front of the platform and delivered a beautiful address which was re

ceived with frequent rounds of patriotic applause, and the vast crowd gathered around the statue of the Father of his Country, seemed to catch the spirit of the Inaugural, and to be infused with renewed zeal to prosecute our struggles to a successful issue. The address occupied about twenty ninutes in its delivery, and at its conclusion, the oath was administered to the President by Honorable J. D. Halyburton, of Virginia, Confederate Judge.

And thus was completed the organization of our new government; a government founded upon the devotion of a loyal and patriotic people, and relying upon Providence for its permanent establishment and perpetual continuance. Its machinery is all now complete, and that it will work harmoniously, and to the best interests of the country, we do not mean to permit ourselves to doubt.

AN IMPUDENT FELLOW.

A NICE young man, who couldn't go to war, rode up to a depot just as a train filled with soldiers arrived. He was soon surrounded by a group of "ragged rebels," coolly criticising his person, dress, age, occupation, manner of life, political opinions, etc., etc. A curious old soldier kept going round him in that beautiful elliptical curve, which did so well at Port Royal, but which did not do at all at Sumter. His curiosity seemed to be more and more excited by each revo lution around the young hero; at length unable to control himself, he cried out:

"Mister, woz you raised about here, or did you come out of a drove ?"