Harding spoke of the times when he and Palfrey sat before the fire, drank whiskey, and told naughty stories. Harding had been drilling "infernal stupid gascon [Arcadian] scoundrels" at Camp Pratt, but had returned home on account of illness. He was critical of the slowness of the defensive efforts, remarking, "everything seems to move with a lazy indolent torpid motion that betokens a sad want of energy or a lamentable lack of means." He also mentioned the status of the sugar crop, gave news of acquaintances, and commented that, since his overseer had been drafted, "the Negroes consequently have had everything pretty much their own way."