His return o Augusta—is saved from being frozen to
death by a bear's skin.

[figure description] Page 086.[end figure description]

Augusta, State of Maine, Feb. 8, 1832.
To the Editor of the Portland Courier.

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 studyin 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 agin, 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 it is,
how a great bear chased the Councillor that the Governor
sent down to Frederickton, 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

[figure description] Page 087.[end figure description]

a great argument in favour of killing off all the bears.
And on the other hand, I believe the bear skin was all
that kept me from freezing to death going to Madawaska
t'other 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 unhandsome
running he gave me t'other 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 Mr. Cawano for
going to Madawaska. He said they had n't ought to
pay so much, for if they went on 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 my bills to
to 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 the 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.

p378-103

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