The blow up of President Jackson's first Cabinet puts
a new kink into Mr. Downing's head, and the result.

Portland, April 26, 1831.

Dear Uncle Joshua,—I'm in considerable of a
kind of a flusteration to-day, because I've got a new
sceme in my head. New ideas, you know, are always
apt to give me the agitations a little; so you mustn't
wonder if my letter this time does have some rather
odd things in it. I don't know when I've had such a
great scheme in my head afore. But you know I was
always determined to make something in the world,
and if my friends 'll only jest stick by me, I shall make
common folks stare yet. Some thought it was a pretty
bold push my trying to get in to be governor last year;
and some have laughed at me, and said I come out at
the little end of the horn about it, and that I'd better
staid up to Downingville and hoed potatoes, than to be
fishing about for an office and not get any more votes
than I did. But they can't see through a millstone so
fur as I can. Altho' I didn't get in to be governor, its
made me known in the world, and made considerable
of a great man of me, so that I shall stand a much better
chance to get an office if I try again. But I must
make haste and tell you what I am at, for I am in a
great hurry. I guess you'll stare when I tell you the
next letter you'll get from me will be dated at

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Washington, or else somewhere on the road between here
and there.

O, uncle, we have had some great news here from
Washington; every body's up in arms about it, and
can't hardly tell what to think of it. They say the
President's four great Secretaries have all resigned;
only think of that, uncle. And they say their salaries
were six thousand dollars a-year; only jest think of
that, uncle. Six thousand dollars a year. Why, a
governor's salary is a fool to it. On the whole, I'm
glad I didn't get the governor's office. I shall start for
Washington to-morrow morning; or I don't know but
I shall start to-night, if I can get ready, and travel all
night. Its best to be in season in such things, and I
shall have to go rather slow, for I've got pretty considerable
short of money, and expect I shall have to foot
it part way. I shall get there in about a fortnight, and
I'm in hopes to be in season to get one of them are
offices. I think it's the duty of all true republicans that
have the good of the country at heart, to take hold and
help the President along in these trying difficulties.—
For my part, I am perfectly willing to take one of the
offices, and I hope some other good men will come right
forward and take the others. What a shame 'twas that
them are Secretaries should all clear out, and leave the
poor old General to do all the work alone. Why, uncle,
they'd no more patriotism than your old hoss.

But I must n't stop to parley about it now; what I
want to say is, I wish you to write a recommendation to
the President for me to have one of his offices, and go
round as quick as you can and get all our friends at
Downingville to sign it, and send it on to Washington
as fast as possible; for it would be no more than right
that I should show the President some kind of recommendation
before he gives me the office. I want you
to tell the President that I've always been one of his
strongest friends; and you know I always have spoke
well of him, and in fact he is the best President we ever
had. It might be well for you to quote this last

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sentence as an `extract from a letter of the Hon. Jack
Downing.' It would give the President some confidence
in my friendship, and the `Hon.' would convince
him that I am a man of some standing in the State.

Now you keep up a good heart, uncle; you have always
had to delve hard all your days up there on the
old farm, and you've done considerable to boost me up
into an office, and if I get hold of these six thousand
dollars a year, you shall have a slice out of it that will
make your old heels felt light again. I haven't named
it to a single soul here except cousin Sally, and I want
it to be kept a profound secret till I get the office, so as
to make them are chaps that have been a sneering at
me here, stare like an owl in a thunder shower. And,
besides, if it should leak out that I was going, I'm afraid
somebody else might get the start of me, for there are
always enough that have their mouth open when it
rains such rich porrage. But it's like as not, the newspapers
'll blab it out before I get half way there. And
you needn't think strange, if you see some of the Boston
or New York papers in a few days saying, `The
Hon. Jack Downing passed through this city yesterday,
on his way to Washington. It is rumoured, that he is
to be called upon to fill one of the vacant offices.'—
But I must stop, for it is time I was picking up my duds
for a start. Sally has been darning my stockings all
the morning. Love to Aunt and Cousin Nabby, and
all of 'em. Good by.

p378-074

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