THAT felicitous German author, Weber, in his Lachenden Philosophen," relates of an Italian lady that she was heard to express the wish that ice cream might be forbidden-it would taste so much better 1 It was no contemptible philosophy, this of the fair Italian ; for, what an exaggerated value do we not at times attach, even to the merest trifles, simply because they are inaccessible to us. This spirit of contradiction is wonderfully developed by the quasi-barbaric existence we lead here., what though the yearnings of our palates are far less luxurious than those of the Italian Donna,-ice cream and other delicate confections taking up no room where so many of the simplest accessories of civilized life are lacking. Indeed it is net so much the famine of food for the body, as that for the mind, which lays so stubborn a siege to the philosophic patience of the many. We may be resigned to be feel, physically, upon anything ; but when the mind is in question one is apt to be less easily satisfied. Ah, yes ! The heart yearns for its home-confections, its social sherbets, its amorous Heidsick !

I have been led into these profound reflections by the seriocomic, semi-tragic manner in which I have seen several photographs tremulously extracted from newly received letters, and by the mercurial manner in which the restless recipient, with an absolutely transparent effort at nonchalance, and an ill-feigned simplicity of purpose, wanders about the room with one hand suspiciously inserted in his breast pocket, seeking for some recondite corner where with the pretty treasure concealed in a book, he may decoy all passers-by into the impression that lie is absorbed in the paradigms of his French Grammar, or in the touching mysteries of "Aurora Floyd." As he sits there, dreaming over the faithful counterpart of a pair of sentimental blue eyes, the graceful sweep of an arching eyebrow, or the amorous pout of a suggestive mouth,-such a youth is, I dare say, highly to be envied ; for, one of those weird little birds, with beaks of gold and wings of purple, which haunt the heart-world and warble such pleasant music in the ears of parted lovers, is no doubt singing sweet tunes to him, perched in a reckless curl of his unpomatumed
hair.

Let me not be deemed guilty of a breach of prison confidence, or of limning in colors too trivial the stormy sorrows of the heart ; rather than brood over such woes-a practice which only tends to render thc mind of the prisoner morbid and misanthropic-far better is it to gild the storm-cloud with the faint sunshine of a patient smile.

One of the most original institutions among the prisoners is that practiced every night, after the lights are put out. It is styled "the catechism.'' It consists of a series of satirical, critical, serio-comic interrogatories, referring either to events of recent occurrence in the prison, or to incidents connected with the previous experiences of some of the officers ; they are invariably personal in their application, and wo unto him who falls into the clutches of these nocturnal catechisers, or who attempts to remonstrate against so popular an amusement. Such significant questions arc asked as Who hid behind the big gun '!'" Who has Brigadier on the brain ?" "'Who washed his clothes in the soup bucket ?" " Who surrendered for humanity's sake ?" and these are replied to with the names of the several offenders much to the gusto of those acquainted with the circumstances referred to.

This more original than intellectual amusement is occasionally- varied by a sequence of hideous imitations of all known fowls and quadrupeds, with a menagerie-like effect which would not sound unnatural in a virgin forest of central Africa.

These highly refined entertainments invariably terminate with a grand bombardment, by way of a finale a la militaire, during which all kinds of missiles, even to the fragments of stale corn-bread, are violently and rapidly discharged from numberless masked batteries and go whirring all over the room, crashing among the tin-ware, and barrels, and boxes, with a continuous rattle which quite reminds one of a brisk skirmish, and is not unaccompanied with some serious apprehensions as to the safety of uncovered heads.

A gloom has hung over our prison community for some days past, owing to the appearance in the Richmond papers, of the letter and local item transcribed
below
" CASTLE THUNDER, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, September 23d, 1863.
" DEAR FATHER :-By permission and through the courtesy of Captain Alexander, I am enabled to write you a few lines. You, who before this have heard
from me in regard to my situation here, can, I trust bear it, when I tell you that my days on earth are soon ended.

" Last Saturday I was court-martial led, and this evening, a short time since, I received notice of my sentence by Captain Alexander, who has since shown
me every kindness consistent with his duty.

" Writing to my dear parents, I feel there can be no greater comfort after such tidings than to tell you that I trust, by the mercy of our Heavenly Father, to die the death of a Christian.

"For more than a year, since the commencement of my confinement, I have been trying to serve Him in my own feeble way, and I do not fear to go to Him.

" I would have loved to see you all again ; God saw best not ; why should we mourn ? Comfort your hearts, my dear parents, by thoughts of God's mercy unto your son, and bow with reverence beneath the hand of Him who ' doeth all things well.'

" * * I sent a ring to my wife by a clergyman, Monday last ; I also sent a telegram to yourself, which will arrive too late, as the time of my execution is set for the clay after to-morrow.

"Dear parents : There are but a few more moments left me; I will try to think often of you, God bless and comfort you ; remember me kindly and respectfully to all my dear friends and relatives. Tell Kitty I hope to meet her again. Take care of Freddy for me; put him often in remembrance of me.

" Dear mother, good-bye. God comfort you, my mother, and bless you with the love of happy children. Farewell, my father; we meet again by God's mercy.

"SPENCER KELLOGG."

"At eleven o'clock yesterday forenoon a detail of one hundred men from the City Battalion, marched from Castle Thunder with Spencer Kellogg, the recently condemned spy, in custody.

" The cavalcade reached the scene of execution about half-past twelve o'clock, where, as usual, a vast concourse of people, of both sexes and all ages, were congregated. After a few moments spent in preliminary arrangements, the prisoner was escorted, under guard, to the gallows. While seated in the hack awaiting the perfection of the arrangements for his execution, he conversed gaily, with the utmost nonchalance with 'Dr. Burrows, frequently smiling at some remark made either by himself or the minister.

"Arriving under the gallows, the charges preferred against the accused and the sentence of the court martial were read. A short but impressive prayer was then offered by the minister, at the conclusion of which the condemned man, unaccompanied, mounted the scaffold.

" In a few moments Detective Capehart followed, and commenced to adjust the rope over the neck of the condemned, in which he assisted, all the while talking with the officer. On taking off his hat, to admit the noose over his head, he threw it one side, and, falling off the scaffold, it struck a gentleman beneath, when the prisoner turned quickly, and bowing, said : `excuse me, sir !'

"A negro next came on the scaffold with a ladder, and proceeded to fasten the rope to the upper beam, the prisoner meanwhile regarding him with the greatest composure. The rope being fastened, the negro was in the act of coming down, when the prisoner, looking up at the rope, remarked : `This will not break my neck 1 It is not more than a foot fall 1 Doctor, I wish you would come up and arrange this thing 1' The rope was then arranged to his satisfaction, and the cloth cap placed over his head.

" The condemned man then bowed his head, and engaged a few seconds in prayer, at the conclusion of which lie raised himself, and standing perfectly erect, pronounced in a clear voice : `All ready !'

"The drop fell, and the condemned man was launched into Eternity !"

Kellogg was a man of prepossessing appearance. His skin, from his long confinement, some fifteen months, had become as fair and delicate as a girl's. He was about thirty-five years of age. He was accused of having gone into the Confederate Engineer Corps, at Island Number Ten, for the purpose of gaining information for the benefit of the Federal Government, and is said by his captors to have died with the conviction that he had furnished more valuable information, in the character of a spy, to that Government, than any other ten men in the United States service. These facts have been denied by the friends of Kellogg at the North, who assert that he was innocent of the charge. Surely, he died with that calm heroic courage which wins the admiration of every true soldier. Poor Kellogg ! It will be a worthier hand than mine which shall write your name on that page of your country's history, which records the story of the martyr, and the fallen brave !

We have been largely reinforced, by General Bragg, with a host of prisoners from Chickamauga. Seven rooms in the building, besides one other, used
as a hospital, are now filled with Federal officers, numbering in all, near one thousand. The officers belonging to the armies of the Potomac and Cumberland, and those of General Milroy's and Colonel Streight's command, occupy separate rooms. We have now the upper and lower, (second and third stories,) east rooms, the first floor and basement being assigned to the hospital ; these are occupied by the officers of the Potomac army;-the upper and lower middle rooms, are occupied by the officers of the Cumberland army, the lower floor being used as a general kitchen ;-and in the upper and lower west rooms, are confined the officers of Milroy's and Streight's command. The middle rooms are familiarly known as " Chickamauga."

When asked where we "live," we answer, for instance, "north west corner, upper east room," or " such post, or window, lower west room." Our community has assumed imposing proportions; it is a rapidly growing colony and represents nearly every state in the Union.