The American mail and newspapers came in this morning, and interested us very much. The intelligence was on the whole quite cheering. The Congress has been organized without any difficulty, and the Presidents message is firm and yet conciliatory in tone. There seems now to be a reasonable prospect of an easy passage through the remainder of this term of the Presidency. The indications of exhaustion and discouragement are so marked among the rebels that even a pacification may not be very far from us. The symptoms of discontent thicken among those who have been kept down the strong hand. Indeed they seem so alarming to the authority of Jefferson Davis as to produce an intimation in the Official newspapers that the rebel Congress may be swept away, if it prove refractory. A little more of success on our part would complete the business. It may be however that the proper time has not yet arrived. Slavery though shaken is not utterly overthrown. Perhaps it is a part of the Divine dispensation that the hearts of these people remain hardened until the great525 end of emancipation be fully accomplished. We must await the development with patience. A cheerful letter from my son John, but not a word from Charles, whose regiment has again been in action, and a good deal more cut up. Thus far he has been preserved, but I confess I tremble on the receipt of any mail. I had no visits. Walk and in the evening, a little more of the satire of Vanity Fair.