My letter of Miramichi gossip has, swollen, unconsciously, to an enormous size, and I fear I am getting tedious.  Be patient a few minutes longer, dear friends, while I tell you of Mr. John Lansdowne.

I happened in the city of P——­ last winter, on business, and just before leaving town I went to call on Mr. Lansdowne.  Aunt Esther, Mr. John’s nurse, an aged negro woman who has been a member of the household many years, answered my ring at the door.  Finding that none of the family were at home, I was turning to leave when Aunt Esther begged me to come in, saying she reckoned they would soon be back, as they had already been several hours absent, adding, good soul, that “they’d all be dreffully disapinted not to see me.”

I knew that several months prior to this, Mr. Lansdowne had been admitted to the practice of law and had become junior partner in business, to the distinguished Mr. Eldon of P. And I now gathered from Aunt Esther, that the Supreme Court was in session, and that a great criminal case was being tried before the jury.  Mr. Eldon had been taken ill, just before the trial came on, and had urged Mr. Lansdowne to take his place in Court, saying, he could argue the case as well as himself.  Mr. John, as Aunt Esther informed me, did it with great reluctance, though she didn’t see why.  “He always does everything he sets out to do, ’markable nice.  But Massa and Missus felt kind of anxious, and they v’e gone into Court, with other gemmen and ladies, to hear how’t goes.  I feel no concern about it.  I know he’ll make a splen’id talk, anyhow, cos he always does”.

After waiting half an hour, I was obliged to leave messages of regret with Aunt Esther and hasten home.

I observed in “The Eastern Gazette” of the following week, a notice of Mr. Lansdowne’s plea before the jury, in the great case of “The Commonwealth vs Jenkins,” in which he was eulogized in the highest terms.  He was said to have displayed “great acumen, extensive legal acquirements, and magnificent powers of oratory.”  So, Aunt Esther’s confidence, about the “splen’id talk,” was not without a reasonable basis.

I was highly gratified, myself, in reading the flattering paragraphs.  You know we all greatly admired the young gentleman at Miramichi.  He has a brilliant earthly future before him, should his life and faculties be spared.

Micah was much charmed with the intelligence I brought him of his old favorite.

“I ain’t a mite surprised at what you v’e sed abeout the young man.  Ever sence I took that trip inter the woods with him, I know’d he’d the genooine ring o’ trew metal tew him.  When he gits to be President o’ the United States, I shall sell eout here and go hum to the Kennebec”.

Please let me hear from you soon, my dear friends.  It seems long since I have had tidings from you.

With an abiding gratitude for past kindness, shown by you to a weary wanderer from home, and with the warmest respect and friendship, I remain as ever,