University of Virginia Library

LETTER XVI.
which Mr Downing tells how the Legislature cleared
out, and how Elder Hall went home.

Cousin Ephraim, — I kind of want to say a few more
words to you about the Legislaters. You know they
came together here in the first of the winter in a kind of
a stew and they had storms and tempests among 'em all
the time they staid here, and finally they went off Friday
in a sort of whirlwind or hurricane, I dont know
which. Some folks say they hope it will blow 'em so
far they wont get back again. — But I guess there aint
much danger of that; for you know squire Nokes always
used to say the bad penny will return. They were
dreadful kind of snappish the last day they were here;
they couldn't hardly touch a single thing without quarrelling
about it. — They quarrelled about paying some
of the folks they hired to work for 'em; and they quarrelled
ever so long about paying them are four Sinneters
that were chosen in the convention; and at last they got
to quarrelling like cats and dogs to see if they should
thank the President and Speaker for all the work they've
done this winter. But they had to thank 'em at last.
And then Mr Goodnow, the Speaker in that Legislater
they call the House, got up and talked to 'em so pleasant,
and kind, and scripture-like, it made 'em feel a little
bad; some of 'em couldn't hardly help shedding tears.
I tho't them are, that had been quarrelling so, must feel
a little sheepish.

That are Elder Hall, that was President of the Sinnet,
seemed to be the most poplar man in the whole
bunch of both Legislaters. There wasn't one of the rest

of 'em that could work it so as to make both parties like
'em. But some how or other, he did. The national republicans
liked him so well, that they all voted for him
for President; and the democratic republicans liked
him so well, that they all voted to thank him when they
went away. And I dont so much wonder at it, for he
seemed to me to be about the cleverest, good natured old
gentleman that ever I see.

Its true the old gentleman had rather hard work to
keep the wheels of government going in the Sinnet this
winter; and they would get trig'd every little while in
spite of all he could do. I spose this made him rather
shy of all kinds of wheels; for he wouldn't go home in a
stage, nor a waggon, nor a shay. These kind of carts
all have wheels, and I spose he thought they might get
trig'd and he wouldn't hardly get home all summer. So
he concluded to go by water; and he went aboard a
vessel Saturday night, and sailed for down east; and as
true as you are alive, before the next day noon the
wheels of the vessel got trig'd; tho' they said the vessel
didn't go on wheels, but some how or other it got trig'd,
and back they came next day into Portland again, and
there they had to stay till Monday, because the wind
didn't blow according to the constitution. But President
Hall you know isn't the man to leave his post in
time of difficulty; so he never adjourned, nor came
ashore, but stuck to the rack till Monday, when a good
constitutional breeze sprung up, and they sot sail again.
And I wish him a pleasant passage home, and peace and
happiness after he gets there; for as I said afore, I dont
think there's a cleverer man any where down east.

I was going to tell you something about a town meeting
that I've been tu to day; but as uncle Joshua is
sleckman and survayor I spose he would like to hear
about it more than you, so I guess I shall write to him.