our refugee negroes were doing a few doors off. We went through Secretary Memminger's deserted and once splendid mansion; the remaining contraband told us Massa Memmenger sent his money over to Europe; he be up in Nort Carolina; he be rich to-day.' A gentleman in Charleston, says that he saw in the books of a bank in Havana, the sum of $100,000 in gold, credited to Jefferson Davis. Gov. Aiken, told me that if this were so, it must be the gift of friends, for said he, "Mr. Davis spent all his salary, and is considered poor." Not only is Charleston aristocracy bankrupt, but most of them are dead. Gov. Aiken said, sadly enough: most wealthy young men enlisted, many of them as privates, they are nearly all dead or in prison; South Carolina has among her whites, nobody left but old men and little boys.' Truly the iron has entered into Charleston's proud soul, and she is the most blasted, blighted, broken-hearted desolation on this continent. Her cup of misery is filled to the brim. I could not exult over her woeful wretchedness, although I felt that it was not one whit more than her stupendous sin has richly deserved. She has lived on the spoils of the plundered bondmen; now her turn has come for the bondmen to dwell in the deserted places of the slave-ocrat. Robert Small, the famous negro captain of the steamboat "Planter," (who has now a salary of $1,800 as her commander,) is able to give bread to half the bank-presidents and brokers of Broad St." Upon some of the houses, we found placards to the following effect: "Safe-guard-Protection is hereby given to the property ofhe or she generally the latter—having taken the oath of allegiance." "This house is occupied by the permission of the Provost-Marshal.” "Taken-by consent of the authorities." "To be occupied by the owner, who has taken the oath of allegiance to the United States." In the windows, or upon the doors of the businesshouses or shops, licenses were posted, declaring that the occupant, who had taken the oath, or paid the fee required by act of Congress, might carry on the business. Our examination of the city, during the two hours allotted, was necessarily cursory. The time had elapsed, and now the passengers were to be seen returning from every direction, laden with flowers of richest hue and odor, and lugging together various mementoes and relics gathered among the gardens and public buildings. As the chronological order of arrangement in this work is the most simple and natural, it will be followed, though apparently at the sacrifice of unity. We shall therefore return, in a succeeding chapter, to a more minute description of scenes and incidents in the city of Charleston. CHAPTER V. LEAVING the Oceanus at the wharf at ten o'clock, we embarked on the transport "Golden Gate," for Fort Sumter. The scene in the harbor was gay beyond description. The "Canonicus," a Government vessel, crowded in every part by the "boys" in blue pants and jackets, first headed up the bay towards the fort. Lines of flags, and signals of every color and combination of colors, scores and hundreds in number, stretched from bowsprit to foremast, from foremast to main, from main to mizzen, and from mizzen to stern; crossed and festooned from yard to yard, and upon all the rigging, made the vessel a blaze of prismatic brilliancy. The "Blackstone," a very large screw-steamer, decked with equal profusion of bunting and beauty, next rounded majestically into broader waters. Then followed the "Delaware" and "Robert Coit," Government transports, bearing their burden of rejoicing and eager patriots. Almost central in interest, the "Planter," crowded almost to suffocation upon her three decks, with Gen. Caxton's freedmen, revealed her splashing paddles through the broken wheelhouse. Another such a motley crew will seldom if ever be seen. Grey-haired old men, whose wrinkles were lighted up with deep but quiet joy; middle-aged men and women, of every grade of color possible to Southern civilization, the latter decorated with bandanas and turbans of flashy colors; comely and buxom girls attired in neat chintz; cadaverous and ragged beings holding about them their tattered garments; boys and girls whose jubilation exhibited itself in the most astonishing display of ivery;-all huddled together like sheep in a pen, hanging over the gunwales, mounted on the posts, doubled up in furtive corners, peering through the gangways, darkening the wheel-house, upon the top of which stood Robert Small, a prince among them, self-possessed, prompt and proud, giving his orders to the helmsman in ringing tones of command. An unaccountable delay occurred in the starting of the "Golden Gate." But we allayed our impatience by studying and enjoying the splendid spectacular drama now being enacted in the harbor. Guns were booming, bells ringing, bands playing the most enlivening patriotic airs, men and women were cheering and singing, while we awaited our sailing orders from the captain. A stiff breeze was blowing from the westward, throwing up the white caps, and fluttering into cheerful music the folds of the innumerable flags. The wharves on every side were crowded with eager witnesses. At length the wheels moved, and we passed through the midst of the anchored fleet, upon one of which we counted over three hundred signals and banners, over all |