W[ashington]. Tuesday Jan’y 13th 1863 (My Birth day) 57 years.
The first thing that I hear in the morning is the cry of the News Boys, “Baltimore Sun & Clipper,” “Morning Chronicle,” “Northern Battle.” At 3 o’clock the “Star.” About 4 o’ck it is “Star 2nd Edition,” “Northern Union Victory.” After the N York mail gets in which is about 6 o’clock, the boys run through the Streets crying “N York Herald, Tribune, and Times.” The Baltimore papers and the Washington papers are sold at three cents, the NY at 5 cts, which are about three times the size of the “Sun” or Star. The old “Inteligencer” is distributed without any Noise. It stands on its dignity. Treads where it trod forty years ago, never radical or very divided in anything, trimming its sails to suit the breeze as far as prudence allows. It has lived through all administrations for half a Century and almost always enjoyed the patronage of the Govt until now. The Globe and the Republican are also daily papers. Nothing New today, all quiet. The Govt seems waiting (like Mr McCawber) “for something to turn up.” If it could only hatch out a Military genius who could lead our troops to Victory in Virginia, it would pay for sitting still. Victory is what we want now with gold at forty per cent over Treasury notes. I have not labored very hard today on the “Board,” have not had much to do. Was down to “Willards” awhile, saw Genl McDowell and Genl Heintzelman there. Qr Master Knowles called upon me today at the office. The hundreds of officers around the City have got what (in former times) was a Paradise to the southern employees in the Departments of the Govt, that is, “High Salaries and nothing to do.”