LETTER V.
Mr. Downing describes the predicament in which the
house of Representatives got into.
Portland, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1830.
Dear Cousin Ephraim,—I have just time to write
you a short postscript to a letter that I shall send you
in a day or two. We have had a dreadful time here to-day.
You know the wheels of government have been
stopt here for three or four weeks, and they all clapt
their shoulders under to-day, and give 'em a lift; and
they started so hard, that as true as you're alive, they
split both Legislaters right in tu. Some say they are
split so bad, they can't mend 'em again, but I hope
they can though; I shall tell you all about how 'twas
done, in a day or two. I've been expecting a letter
from you, or some of the folks, sometime. As I've
got prerty short of money, I wish you would send 'em
in the Daily Courier, so I shant have to pay the postage.
Your hearty cousin,
JACK DOWNING.
