Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-03-26
WHOLE NO. 26O.
MAJOR DOWNING AGAIN.
tFrom the New York Daily Advertise

ceivlng from our news-boat, the following
letter which was handed "off the Hook" from
on board the "Two Pollies," Capt. Jumper,
from Havre, and which vessel wore away
south, with the intention no doubt of drop
ping other dispatches nearer the seat OF
Government.
This letter will account for the Majors
long silence. We had heard it intimated he
had quit Washington, shortly after the date
of his last letter-but where "the eritter" had
gone, no one seemed capable Of telling
That he was busy somewhere for the good Of
his country, we were certain-and we now
confess our perfect conviction, that all will GO
well in Paris. But if by chance the Major
returns and leaves things unsettled, then we
shall conclude indeed that this matter has
ceased to be capable of further negociatosa
PARIS, February 1st, 1885.
To my old friend Mr. dwight Of the New-York Daiy
Advertiser.
suppose you'll all be noek'd up in kin
der dunderment, when you come to see
where this Letter comes trom-sO best be-
gin by telling you how it comes about You
see Jest arter wrote you that Letter, dated
9th December hast. A little arter the mes
sage comes out, the Gineral was so we'll
pleas'd with my notions, he sent for me, and
says he Major, you have got the rale grit in
you, when things come to pinch, and tho
you and hav'nt agreed in all matters for a
good spell now yet see when matters git
mixed up with foreign business, you drop all
party differences at home, and are ready to
stand by the country, till things get going
strait again. Now says he, that's what call
rale American feeling, and with that we
shook hands, and all was as pleasant atwixt
us, as a May morning.
"Now," says l, "Gineral, TO make short oS
long story, my notion is, that the bestthing
can do is, to go right over to France, my
SELL, and keep q look out on that side, and
see how the cat jumps there-and as you and
Congress will keep sharp eye on things Ola
this side, it will be hard matter If they git
worse without our knowing aboat j. as soon
as the rest of creation for says there is no
telling, what them Frenchmen may do, and if
we have got to eat pOrrage with the devil,my
notion is it is but fair we should have as long
a handled spoon, as he has got" "Now,"
says ], they may take notion to send Mr.
Livingston off, and then there will be no one
there to keep look out for us, and have
been thinking so much about it, says |, that
have concluded to go right off there as soon
as Captain Jumper can fit out the 1.-TWO Pol
lies" 10 carry me-and | tells the Gineral if
he had any thing to say or any directions to-
give, was ready-and if he hadn't any, it
made no odds, for believe knows pretty
much the upshot of the hull matter, and If
Congress didn't chuse to pay my expenses
out and home, I'D pay 'em myself, and take
fo, md
cradle talk about one thing and another, the
Gineral he wish'd me success, and | push'd
off post haste to Kennebunk, where Captain
Jumper and the Two Pollies was, and as he
had got my letters, found things all ready,
and was off in no time
We had prtty short, but pesky wet
passage, for Captain Jumper had a consider
able Of cargo of notions OH board, besides
deck load Of lumber, for lie thought while
his hand was in, he might as well be taking
advantage of "the panic," as he called it,
We made strait wake 20 Havre, where I
left him, and streak'd it right up here TO
Paris, and here have been as busy as ever
was when Congress was getting together.
suppose, as didn't tell you or any other
living critter, but the Gineral, that ! was go
ing to France, you have been wondering
why you ha'nt heard of me for so long time
Well, now you have got the reason ont
And now suppose you expect to hear what
have been about here, and what have seen
and hearn worth telling about, since have
been here. But this is impossible, for two
reasons, first, / have seen so much that I
couldn't .ell you the half ont without detain-
ing Captain Jumper longer than ] tell'd hin,
would, and another thing, l ha'nt got time
TO say all | want to say for our folks at Wash
ington, and that's the most important.
Pritty much as expected when got hero,
/ found Mr.. Livingston nigh upon as bad off,
as tho we want here-but ! suppose our
folks at Washington, have balanced that ac-
count by seeing that the French Minister is
treated list so t6o-that's what they call di-
plomatic Tit for Tat
The first thing did as soon as 7 had time
to turn round and get on my best regimeIi-
tails, was to go right off and see the King, for
always like to begin at the right eend Of I'll
matters. So took a chap along with me to
shew me the way-but couldn't get him any
further than the outer gate of the "whito
house," or "aytiiiery house." as they somehow
call il, where the King lives but didn't stop
for that myself, but pushed on, and oil the So
gers that met from the gate to the freot
door no sooner see me, than they give mo
the salute just as quick as our folks ofthe ID
Brigade would on training days. But when
got inside the front door, | met leetle
norsel OF stumper for a spell. An amszin
perite critter said something To me in French.
and made rale smashcr OF bow, and SAYS
I, Major Downing, at your sarvice-just then
a parcel of gineral ofirsrs was coming down
along the hall, aud one on 'em 10 sooner
heard tho name, than. up he comes 10 me and
says he, "Mpjor Downing Of the I'd Brigade
Of Downingvile Militia;" Just so, says L.