16th.—­Yesterday a son-in-law of N.B. of Lynn came to see us.  He was going to get passes for one or two of the Lynn Friends, that they might come over to see us today.  He informed us that the sentiment of the Friends hereabouts was that we might enter the hospital without compromising our principles; and he produced a letter from W.W. to S.B. to the same effect.  W.W. expressed his opinion that we might do so without doing it in lieu of other service.  How can we evade a fact?  Does not the government both demand and accept it as in lieu of other service?  Oh, the cruelest blow of all comes from our friends.

17th.—­Although this trial was brought upon us by our friends, their intentions were well meant.  Their regard for our personal welfare and safety too much absorbs the zeal they should possess for the maintenance of the principle of the peaceableness of our Master’s kingdom.  An unfaithfulness to this through meekness and timidity seems manifest,—­too great a desire to avoid suffering at some sacrifice of principle, perhaps,—­too little of placing of Faith and confidence upon the Rock of Eternal Truth.

Our friends at home, with W.D. at their head, support us; and yesterday, at the opportune moment, just as we were most distressed by the solicitations of our visitors, kind and cheering words of Truth were sent us through dear C.M.P., whose love rushes out to us warm and living and just from an overflowing fountain.

I must record another work of kind attention shown us by Major Gould.  Before we embarked, he came to us for a friendly visit.  As we passed him on our way to the wharf he bade us Farewell and expressed a hope we should not have so hard a time as we feared.  And after we were aboard the steamer, as the result of his interference on our behalf, we must believe, we were singled out from the midst of the prisoners, among whom we had been placed previous to coming aboard, and allowed the liberty of the vessel.  By this are we saved much suffering, as the other prisoners were kept under close guard in a corner on the outside of the boat.

FOREST CITY UP THE POTOMAC. 22nd. [9th month.]—­It was near noon, yesterday, when we turned in from sea between Cape Charles and Henry; and, running thence down across the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, alongside Old Point Comfort, dropped anchor off Fortress Monroe.  The scene around us was one of beauty, though many of its adornments were the results and means of wrong.  The sunshine was brighter, the verdure greener to our eyes weary of the sea, and the calm was milder and more grateful that we had so long tossed in the storm.

The anchor was soon drawn up again and the Forest City steamed up the James River toward Newport News, and turning to the left between the low, pine-grown banks, passed Norfolk to leave the New Hampshire detachment at Portsmouth.

Coming back to Fortress Monroe, some freight was landed; and in the calm clear light of the moon, we swung away from shore and dropping down the mouth of the river, rounded Old Point, and, going up the Chesapeake, entered the Potomac in the night-time.