The following note was received to-day from the Vice-President:
“Richmond, Va., December 23d, 1864.—Hon. Jas. A. Seddon, Secretary of War: Will you please send me, through the post-office, a passport to leave the city? I wish to depart in a few days. Yours respectfully,
“Alex. H. Stephens.”
The President is hard at work making majors, etc.
Sunday, December 25th. Christmas!—Clear and pleasant—white frost.
All quiet below. But it is believed on the street that Savannah has been evacuated, some days ago. I have not yet seen any official admission of the fact.
We have quite a merry Christmas in the family; and a compact that no unpleasant word shall be uttered, and no scramble for anything. The family were baking cakes and pies until late last night, and to-day we shall have full rations. I have found enough celery in the little garden for dinner.
Last night and this morning the boys have been firing Christmas guns incessantly—no doubt pilfering from their fathers’ cartridge-boxes. There is much jollity and some drunkenness in the streets, notwithstanding the enemy’s pickets are within an hour’s march of the city.
A large number of the croaking inhabitants censure the President for our many misfortunes, and openly declare in favor of Lee as Dictator. Another month, and he may be unfortunate or unpopular. His son, Gen. Custis Lee, has mortally offended the clerks by putting them in the trenches yesterday, and some of them may desert.
Many members of Congress have gone home. But it is still said they invested the President with extraordinary powers, in secret session. I am not quite sure this is so.