University of Virginia Library

12. LETTER XII.

[Zekel Bigelow called on us yesterday, and handed us the
following letter from Major Downing. He says the Major has
gone back to Washington like a streak of lightning; and had not
time to apologize to the Honourable the Corporation, and other
public bodies, who by their respective Committees had waited
on him, and were desirous of showing him the usual civilities
extended to distinguished individuals. Zekel says, he
`never see any one so completely in a rumple as the Major
was;' he read the Gineral's letter over two or three times,
backwards, and forwards, and crosswise, before he said a word;
and then he began to mumble the names of some of the Government,
and turned as blue as an indigo bag, till he let it
out.—Eds.]

Major Downing leaves New-York like a streak—Zekel
Bigelow turning Broker.

My Good Old Friend,—I'm stumped. I
jest got a letter from the Gineral, and until I
got that letter I thought all the stories about
the Bank was jest got up by the opposition
folks, to hurt the Gineral and Mr. Van Buren,
and Zekel Bigelow thought so too. But the
Gineral's letter tells me pretty much all about
it, and a leetle more too. As soon as I read

it to Zekel, `Well,' says he, `Major, my notion
is, there is some plaguy foul birds in Washington,
and if some 'on em hain't siled their own
neests, I'm mistaken.'

The Gineral says he wants me to come
right on, for tho' the folks about him say, all
works well, he's afraid they'll git him in a
tangle—consarn 'em, I don't know what on
earth has got in 'em, and the Gineral too, jest
so sure as I quit him he gits in trouble. I
must go right back to Washington and try
and put things strait if I can, but I'm afraid
they'll git the Government in a plaguy snarl
afore I git there. I was a leetle afraid on't
when I left, and I telled the Gineral as much,
but he said he'd do nothin till I got back, and
I telled all the folks so in Philadelphy, and
here too, and things was lookin bright agin,
and now here's trouble—nigh upon half of the
message has got to be pulled all to bits. I
shall git my dander up if they don't look out
sharp, and if I do, some on'em better streak
it, I tell you, and that too afore Congress meets.

Zekel Bigelow says, `it's an ill wind that
blows nowhere,' and seein that the Goverment
is goin to try to break the Bank, he's
goin to turn broker in Wall-street; he says

there will be no better business stirrin, for
then folks will have to pay a trifle for eny
most every draft that's drawn, and not git their
business done for nothin as they do now.
If he does turn broker, you'll hear more on
him; for he's a peeler, I tell you.

If I hadn't promised the Gineral to stick to
him threw thick and thin, I'd go right home
to Downingville, and have nothin more to do
with the Government; but if I quit him now,
the Government will go all to smash, jest as
sure as I am in haste and wrath,