LETTER XL.
Capt. Downing visits the Legislature of Maine again.
Augusta, State of Maine, Jan. 4, 1832.
To the Editor of the Portland Courier.
My dear old Friend, — Here I am right among the
Legislater folks, jest as I used to be down there to Portland.
I got here last night after a pretty hard journey
from Madawaska, rather lame, and my feet and ears
froze pretty bad. I hope I shant lose any one of 'em,
for if I should lose my feet I should n't stand much
of a fag with the British down there to Fredericton
in case we should have a brush with 'em. And all
my hopes about ever being President of the United
States depends on the woful whipping I 'm going to give
the British. And I 'm afraid I should n't be much better
off if I should lose my ears, for a President without
ears would cut rather a sorry figure there to Washington.
I sent on to the old President to see if he would let me
have a furlough to come up to Augusta, while the Legislaters
were here, for I thought I could n't stan it without
being here to see how they get along. The President
said he did n't think there would be any fighting down
to Madawaska before the spring opens, so he did n't
care if I went. I jest hobbled into the Legislater to-day
to see 'em chuse officers; but I have n't any time to tell
you what a great fine house they 've got into. I believe
it 's vastly better than the one they had to Portland
though. And I guess there 'll be no stopping the
wheels of government this year, for I believe they have
got the house fixed so as to carry the wheels by steam.[1]
They got the steam up before I went in, and it was so
thick sometimes, that I should think the wheels might go
like a buzz.
They told me there was a good many new members,
and a good many more of 'em, than there was last year;
so I did n't know as I should see hardly any body that
I knew. But I never was more agreeably disappointed
in my life than I was by the first voice I heard calling
the members to order.
I knew it as quick as I could tell the fife and drum of
my own company at Madawaska. And if I should hear
that fife and drum this very minute it would n't give a
pleasanter thrill to my feelings. I look'd round and sure
enough there was the sandy honest look, and the large
fleshy figure, of my old friend Mr. Knowlton of Montville,
holding a broad brimmed hat in his hand, and calling
upon the great jam of folks to come to order. I
could n't hardly help crowding right in among 'em to
shake hands with him, I was so glad to see him. But
as I was only a lobby member I thout it would n't do.
But I 'll tell you what 't is, you may depend upon the
business going off glibb here this winter; for having a
building go by steam and Mr Knowlton here too to drive
it, it aint all the Jacksonites and Huntonites in the state
that can stop it. And besides I cant find out as yet that
there is any more than one party here; if there should
be hereafter, I 'll let you know. I was glad they chose
Mr White to be speaker, for he 's always so good natured
and uses every body so well, I cant help liking him. I
have n't been in the Sinnet yet, but they say Mr Dunlap
is President. I was in hopes to see Elder Hall here this
winter, but I believe he has n't come.
Your old Friend,
CAPT. JACK DOWNING.
