Jarrow spread them on the table. "I thought it best, sir, to include a few of a general nature—"
"I thought of that. Here are copies of various letters received from Richmond. They are now of no special value. I will return them with a memorandum on the packet, 'Received on such a date and now returned.'" He drew out a packet, tied with red tape. "Run them over, Jarrow."
Jarrow read aloud,—
Mobile, March 1st, 1862.
His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
President of the Confederate States of America:
Sir,—The subject of permitting cotton to leave our Southern ports clandestinely has had some attention from me, and I have come to the conclusion that it is a Yankee trick that should have immediate attention from the Governmental authorities of this country. The pretence is that we must let it go forward to buy arms and munitions of war, and I fear the fate of the steamer Calhoun illustrates the destination of these arms and munitions of war after they are bought with our cotton. Her commander set her on fire and the Yankees put her out just in time to secure the prize. This cotton power is a momentous question—
"Very good. The next, Jarrow."
Richmond, Va., February 22d.
Hon. J. P. Benjamin,
Secretary of War: