NEW YORK, March 5, 1861.

General G. T. BEAUREGARD,

Montgomery, Ala.:

MY DEAR BEAUREGARD: Yours of the 27th ultimo was duly received, and the articles have been ordered in compliance with your request. There is but one person who makes them here, and he says it will him at least a week to get up ten such as you wish, and they will cost about $175 each, besides some trifling expense for boxing, cartage, &c. Neither G. W. nor I can attend to a matter of this kind without at once attracting attention, and I (G. W.) have selected H. Livingston & Co., of No 7. New street, as thoroughly competent and reliable. Mr. Harmor Livingston is an old and much esteemed friend of mine. "Co". in that firm is Mansfied Lovell. Lovell can quietly examine when necessary as to quality, and so to purchasing and shipping there is no more pumpt and reliable man in this city than Harmon Livingston. There are Republicans here daily in receipt of large orders for provisions, stores, arms, &c., and very many of them ask their assistance of Livingston in making their shipments, which he of course refuses. Livingston think that in regard to arms they would now have to be shipped through the border State (for trans-shipment). You cannot do better than correspond with H. Livingston & Co. Please say as much to friends armound you. I have just received you telegram from Charleston and answered, "Letters received; articles ordered; shipped in about in ten days". The ten Drummond lights will cost from $1,600 to $1,800, say, and H. Livingston & Co. will draw upon L. P. Walker for the amount. I mention this that you may advise him thereof. The collectors will of course be warned of this shipment, and directed from your end of the line what to do, whose orders to obey, &c. Since the Southern Confederacy was established I feel very differently from what I did when you were here in regrd to accepting offers outside of Kentucky. As a question of States, I could only go, on leaving here, to where I was born. I therefore declined offers from Louisiana and other States. But the question has assumed another shape. You ask in you joint letter to Lovell and myself, "When may we except your service?" &c. Neither he nor I are citizens of any of the seceded States, but you know well what our views, opinions, and symphaties are. You also know that being modest men we each put a tolerably high estimate upon our respective abilities. Mr. Davis knows both of us, our antecedents, experience, character, and standing. The question of recruits has been mooted. This is and will continue for some time to be great reservoir for which "food for powder" must be drawn. The names of the two gentlemen we are now talking about would attract, or, as they say here, "draw well". There is a sample of modesty for you. "That's so", as they say in "Jarsey". To be serious: In one word, proposition from either Mr. Davis or his military representative, his Secretary of War, would, if up to our standard (as we understand it), be favorably considered and in all probablity accepted. I have claimed at the hands of the State of Kentucky the right to bear arms in the ranks as a private soldiers. I have no claim to make from any other State or State. But if ted we take for granted we will be invited. Now, old fellow, in the midst of business confusion and all the horrors of this damned office, I have thrown the above rapidly together, satisfied that you can and will interpret correctly and promptly all I mean to say, neither more nor less. My wife's mother is at the point of death. My brother-in-laws broken his leg,

9 R R-VOL LIII