[We publish to-day Major Downing's letter acknowledging
the receipt of the Axe from Messrs. Starks & Co, which was
noticed some time since in our paper. The effect produced
upon the company in the President's Chamber, when the Major
made his appearance at the door with that implement of husbandry
upon his shoulder, shows that either his prowess is
well established at head-quarters, or that conscious guilt makes
men cowards without any real cause of fear. On any other
ground it is difficult to account for the sudden retreat from the
“presence-chamber” of their master, upon the mere appearance
of the Downingville hero, with such a peaceable and
harmless instrument in his hand as an axe.
