1. No. I.
Being the genuine letter of old Mr Zophar Downing,
`amost eighty-three yere old.'
[Note. — The following letter, we believe, was sent originally in
the New York Commercial Advertiser, though we are not sure but
it was a Baltimore paper. We regard it as the best picture, `drawd
off from nater,' that we have seen among the numerous imitations
of the true letters of the Downing family. One thing is certain
about it, whether the Major has an uncle in the western States or
not, this letter bears indubitable evidence of having been written by
a person eighty-three years old.]
Uppington, Western Resarve,
Tuesday, June 5, A. D. 1833, N. S.
To my Nefew John Downing: — I am got to be
amost eighty three Yere old, and I'm in my eighty third
Year now, and its so long since I have took any Pen in
my hand to write any thing nor a Letter to any Boddy
living for now going on a very long Time. And what
makes it particular bad for me is that my Fingers is got
stiff with Rhunratiz and cold, and is all Thums, as much
as tho they was froze in the Winter. — Your Aunt is sick
abed; she ketch'd cold some Time in Aperil, and I
don't know when she will ever git over it; she is in her
eighty second Year most as old as I be, we are both
very old and prety much done with this World, so to
speake. I did not ever expect to write any more Letters
to my Friends because I'm in my eighty third Year
and am too old most to write Letters. But you writ a
Letter to me from the Citty of Washington and it was
throw'd out of the Stage Wensday as it drove by. And
when I redd about your goin to take the President of
These United States to Downingvil then I said to your
Aunt my dear I must try and write an Answer to Jonny's
Letter.
I was jeest about as old as you be John when the
Great Washington died, 14 day of December, and was
with him and spoke with him seventeen year before,
when he left the Army and wisht I might live many
yeares, and what you writ to me makes me think a good
deal of that time. I shant forget it to my dyin day —
but I hope you wont have Ardint Sperrits in your Town
on the Occasion. I dont drink any more Flip nor Tody
sence 17 August A. D. 1831 and am better fort, and
hope Brother Joshua has stopped. Two of my Cows
was lost last year by Destemper and one of Mr Doolittles
who lives oposite, is a hard worken Man. Some
Destemper was here this yere but I follerd what was
said in the Temperance Almanick and they was cured
in time to git over it. I desire that my Brother Joshua
woud write a Letter to me to let me know whether he is
going to make out as well with his Ternips as he did 3
year ago, he wrote to your Aunt about it. I tryde that
Plan here, but it dont do in this Soil, it is to dry most of
it. Your Aunt tells me she dont think Brother Joshua
can be so strong of his Age as I be, seeing he hant writ
any of us since that Account of his Garding Sauce turnin
out so remarkable good that year.
It is thirty-two years ago next month since I was in
Downingville, how is Deacon Wiloby and his family and
his daughter Sooky was uncommon humersome, but
your aunt always used to say she thot Sooky was a little
too fond of seeing peeple perlite and that she was to
espirin for Downingvil when she was young and a comely
child. I thank you John for some newspapers you
sent to me last when so much was writ about the President
and the Vice President, one spell I was afeard that
the poor salvages in Georgia State was agoin to suffer
till the great Proclamation to the Nuliphiers as they are
called which you sent to me, but I hope they are not
now, they are a sufferin Peeple certin. If you do take
the President east I hope there is no boddy but what
will treat him respect. You know John I dont know
much about politix, but I know something of my bible,
and I hope I shall alwais read in it while I continue to
live, and it says in the 2nd Book of Samuel, about Absalom's
setting by the gate and shakin hands and kissin
every boddy that passed by, and whisperin in their ears
what he would do if he was king, and you know mor
about the Vice President, and I ask you if that man aint
adoin so too, and if it is not some boddys duty to speak
to the President about it. But my hand shakes some,
writin so much, and give my love and aunts to all our
relations and to the neighbours of yours that I used to
know. I am your loving Uncle,
