Charleston, March 1, 1861.
The agony is over — the Peace Conference has assembled, discussed and adjourned.
The mountain has been in labor for these many weeks-terrible groans have been uttered — a great multitude of people have looked on expecting to see the monstrous progeny brought forth, and behold, the mountain in her travail, has brought forth a mouse.
And yet, I think I see Virginia, though she voted no in that Conference, turning a longing eye to the old corrupt Union--the flesh pots of Egypt.--Stanton's somerset, and Corwin's wheel about, Seward's honied words, and "Abe's" power to bestow a few fat Federal offices, may have some effect upon your "leaders," and hold you all to the blessed Union.
Well, if you are about to leave, I will address you as one once did an old Commodore; "So fare say should old Hawser Trunnion — man and boy I have known thee these eight and forty years, and a braver soul never broke bread."
Everything here is as busy as a bee. Our docks begin to be crowded with vessels. Cotton "rules high," and is active. Rice ditto.-- Whiskey particularly ditto. Segars and tobacco next to cotton, everybody in high spirits Merchants bow pleasantly, and put on that peculiar pleasant smile, that bespeaks always good profits and plenty of them. Negroes sing, and look gay and happy. Children laugh sportively, and the ladies, God bless them, put on their sweetest looks as they perambulate King street — the great performance of Charleston.
We have just inaugurated a steamship line between this port and Liverpool. Three hundred thousand dollars have been subscribed.--One gentleman took fifty thousand dollars of stock, and the smallest subscription on the list thus far is twenty-five hundred. The subscription list has not yet been presented to the middling classes — no one but the nabobs have been allowed yet to subscribe. We little fellows may be called upon after awhile, but we are talking of getting up a line on "our own hook." There are a thousand men who will give five hundred each, to say nothing of the one hundreds and fifties. What are you Richmond folks doing? One of your most enterprising citizens is here, J. R. A., and he says we are all very, very busy. Take care, don't let the young Republic get too far ahead of you.
If I were to say that there had been several millions of goods bought for this market in the last fifteen days, I should not be far out of the way. All goods bought before the 28th February, and shipped by 15th March, are free of duty, hence everybody "pitched in."
Weather summer-like — flowers in great abundance — all kinds of early vegetables--perfectly tired of shad--everybody happy--"nobody hurt"--everybody getting their "pockets full of rocks"--the soldiers all lively--Governor Pickens keeping a sharp eye to Sumter — plenty of Richmond bombshells, and we are ready generally — and if I had time tonight I would write you a very interesting letter, but I am tired and sleepy, and will defer it until another time, when I may give your readers a little life-like sketch of things here, and tell them something of this "renowned city" in days of yore.
