"I will undertake to demonstrate the practicability of burning Charleston or any other city which can be reached by any gun yet in service. Nothing would suit the people so entirely just now as to hear that General Foster had burned that hot bed of rebeldom—Charleston. Nothing would so certainly immortalize. General Foster as such a desired result so accomplished.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
O. S. IIALSTED, JR.,
Willard’s Hotel, Washington, D. C.

[Memoranda.]

Write. Answer that none of the shells are here. If he will send or bring some we will fire them on Charleston with pleasure.
J.G. FOSTER."

What cold blooded bastards. (Pardon me, ladies.) On the other hand, the Confederates attempted to burn New York with incendieries; but I don't know that they bragged about what a pleasure it owuld be. Stan