University of Virginia Library

LETTER XLIII.
Capt. Downing returns to Augusta. Is saved from freezing
by a bear-skin.

Dear Friend,—The more I write to you, it seems to
me the better I like you. I believe there is n't but one
person that I set so much by, and that is Gineral Jackson,
who was so kind as to give me a commission, and
let me have spending money besides. I 'm pretty much
out of money now, and the man that I board with keeps
dunning me for pay; so I wish you would be so kind as
to send me four or five dollars till I get some more from
the President. I writ for it last week, and I think I shall
get it in a few days. I told you in my last letter, if I
got over the furenza, you should hear from me pretty
often. I 'm getting nicely again now. I dont cough
more than once in five minutes or so, and my toes and
ears that were froze so bad coming up from Madawaska
are nearly healed over. All I have to do to 'em now is
jest to grease 'em a little when I go to bed at night and
in the morning when I get up. I have to keep a handkerchief
over my ears yet when I go out, but my toes are

so well I dont limp hardly a mite. As to our legislater
business we get along middling well, but not quite so fast
as I thought we should considerin it goes by steam. One
reason I suppose is because Mr Knowlton has been a
good deal unwell and could n't take hold and drive it
right in end as he used to. But he 's got better now, so
I hope the wheels will begin to buzz again.

Here I be again, my dear friend, right back on the old
spot, poking about the Legislater to see what's going on,
and to help take care the interests of our party. I got
down there to Madawaska jest in the nick of time; for
I got a hoss and rid day and night; and it was well I
did, for Sargant Joel had got so outrageous mad, I raly
believe if I had n't got there the day I did, he would
have strung one or two of 'em right up by the neck.
But I quashed matters at once and sot 'em to studying
that are little court martial book, and told 'em
when they had any more fuss they must try all their
cases by that, and they would n't find any law for hanging
in it.

It's dreadful cold down there to Madawaska, I froze
my toes and ears again a little, but not so bad as I did
afore, for I took care to rop up in a great bear skin. I
see the Legislater's been disputing about passing a law
to kill off all the bears and wolves and sich kind of
critters.

I dont know whether that's a good plan or not.
There's a good deal might be said on both sides.
Them are bears are pesky mischievous. I heard a
story while I was gone, but I dont know how true 'tis,
how a great bear chased the Councillor that the Governor
sent down to Fredickton to carry provisions to our
prisoners in jail there. Some reckoned the bear smelt
the bread and cheese that he had in his saddle bags, and
so took after him to get some of it. However, the

Councillor got back safe. But I think this is a great
argument in favor of killing off the bears. And on the
other hand I believe the bear skin was all that kept me
from freezing to death going to Madawaska tother day.
So it seems we ought not to kill 'em quite all off, but
raise enough to keep us in bear-skins; for I suppose my
life would be worth as much to the State as the Councillor's.

I feel a little put out with Dr Burnham for an unhansome
running he gave me 'tother day in the Senate.
He called me an `old rogue.' I cant swallow that
very well; for that's a character I never bore in Downingville
nor Washington, nor any where else. He was
disputing about paying Mr Deane and Cavano for going
to Madawaska. He said they had n't ought to pay
so much, for if they went at this rate, next thing that
old rogue, Capt. Jack Downing, would be sending in
his bill.

But he need n't trouble himself about that, for as long
as I have President Jackson to look to for paymaster, I
dont care a snap about sending in any bills to the Legislater.
But as for being called an old rogue, I wont. I
dont mean to make a great fuss about it in the papers,
as the Argus and Age did, so as to break up the harmony
of the republican party. But if Dr Burnham dont
give me satisfaction, I'll call a caucus of the party and
have him over the coals and du him over.