August 14.—The weather is oppressively warm, and we have no ice. When we go walking in the evening, instead of going to the ice-cream saloon as in former days, we visit the pumps, as the water in them is much cooler than that from the hydrants. This resort has become quite a fashionable one, and indeed every thing is fashionable which we choose to do for comfort. War has cast aside all conventionalities, as it should. But with all the heat, the health of the city is excellent.
Provisions are very high, and there is a prospect of their getting higher. Dry goods have not increased much in price. I bought a very pretty chally dress for fifty cents per yard. A few weeks ago the city was full of silks, and cheaper than I have ever known them. At present there is scarcely a yard to be had. On going to buy some, we were told the government had bought it all to make balloons with.
General Forney is now in command of this city, and is having it put in a complete state of defense; so I trust, if the vandals should come here, they will find some little work before them.
