York, Newark, Portland, and last, though not least, at Gorham. My audiences have varied in number from two to six thousand, and I have usually spoken three hours, generally in the open air. So you see I have been stumping it upon a grand scale-no less than that of the Union. I have, in addition, received from fifty to a hundred invitations from different quarters of the country, which I have declined, and I now go by sea for the purpose of avoiding the necessity of addressing the citizens of Philadelphia and Baltimore, who are, I learn, lying in wait for me. Oh! that I were in Germany, quietly studying the history of the past, instead of participating in the history of the present. Indeed, and in good sooth, I am gorged with politics, and surfeited with publicity. I had rather fish in the Great Brook one day, than spend a year amid the senseless hurras of political partisans. It is not reputation one gets-it is only notoriety. However, in two months the contest will be over, and I must hold on till then. If the conclusion was more remote, I should certainly desert. Presuming you feel some interest in political matters, I doubt not you will be pleased to learn, that the Whigs have every prospect of success. I feel confident of the election of General Harrison.

I suppose Anna has told you all about her visit South. It was a source of uniningled gratification to me, and, I think, both of advantage and pleasure to her. Her health seems entirely restored, and her spirits are again buoyant. She had every reason to be delighted with the South. She was treated by the good people there with unbounded kindness and attention. Indeed, I never saw one make friends so rapidly. All became attached to her, and she deserved it, for she is a girl of noble and generous character. Should her health require it, I shall not hesitate again to take her South. I spent only a few days in Portland. My health was not good, and of course I did not reap much pleasure, except from meeting mother and Abby. Abby is well, and the same quiet, amiable, affectionate, singlehearted, and sensible girl as heretofore. Mother came with me to this city, and is now at William's, in excellent health and spirits, and greatly surprised at the ease with which she has ac

complished what she considered a great enterprise. I think her visit will prove of much service to her. We received your letters by the Great Western and the Acadia, and were all much gratified. Your presents, through Mr. S., were safely delivered, and received with affectionate pleasure. I thank you for your remembrance of my Sir Walter Raleigh propensity, and while smoking the beautiful pipe, shall often in my reveries transport myself to Germany, sit by your side and converse with you. I am just interrupted, and must close. I will write you a long letter the moment I get to Vicksburg. Stay in Europe as long as you please. Carry out all the plans you have at heart, and believe me, nothing can afford me greater happiness than to assist you in their accomplishment. I would have added another sheet, but have not time. God bless you, my dear boy. Write me often.

Yours affectionately,

SEARGENT.

то HIS SISTERS.

NEW YORK, August 30, 1840.

DEAR GIRLS:

As I leave to-morrow, I must drop you a line, and yet have hardly time to do so, I am so much interrupted. We arrived here safe after a pleasant journey, which mother bore much better than any of us anticipated. She is now in fine health and spirits, and will, I do not doubt, enjoy her visit much. I have determined to go by sea for the purpose of avoiding any further political annoyance. I leave tomorrow in the packet-ship Auburn, for New Orleans. I wish I could embrace you both before going. I feel quite melancholy at leaving you, and do not see how I shall get along without one of you with me. Suppose you spend the winter with me alternately. I'll take good care of you, and you shall keep house for What do you think, Anna-will you take "Cub Castle"? You can tell Abby what sort of a place it is.

me.

Let me insist upon your writing me very often-it cannot be too often. Your letters are to me the greatest source of pleasure. One word about pecuniary matters; I shall be very much mortified, if you do not use my purse precisely as if it was your own-not only mortified, but deeply offended. And now, my dearest sisters, God bless you. I love you very much, and am proud and happy in your affection. I shall write you as soon as I get home. Should any letters come for me, direct them to Vicksburg.

Your affectionate brother,

SEARGENT.

TO HIS SISTER ANNA.

MY DEAR SISTER:

VICKSBURG, September 24, 1840.

I arrived here yesterday, after rather a pleasant passage, and find my health somewhat improved, though by no means entirely restored. The weather, while at sea was delightful; unusually so for the season of the year. I stayed but a few hours in New Orleans. At Natchez I arrived in the night, and left early in the morning. Of course I saw none of our friends, except Mr. Harris, who came up to Vicksburg with me. From him I heard concerning the good people of Natchez. They are all well. Mrs. M is in the country; the rest of them, I believe, are at home. Nothing has occurred worth mentioning since you left, unless you so consider the marriage of Miss N. Here in Vicksburg the folks are horridly dull and gloomy from the hard times, which seem even worse than ever. Judge Guion and family are pretty well. I have not yet called on any other of your friends, but learn they are well. There is no gossip here worth relating. I expect Mr. D. home to-day. I found him in New York, much to my surprise. He started home before me, by the way of the lakes, in company with Doctor G-'s family. From what observation I could make, I take it he is going to make a fool of himself-in other words, marry. Well, he has at least the sanction of example from the majority of people,

and perhaps, after all, those are the fools who don't marry. Politics are absorbing all attention here now. I shall be compelled to canvass the State until the election (1st Monday of Novem ber), after which, thank Heaven, I shall have some quiet. I start for the interior in the course of two or three days. You can't tell how much I shall miss you this winter. I feel very gloomy, and am sorry to find a tendency to melancholy fast overcoming my natural spirits. It is the worse, because I can trace it to no particular cause. It broods over me like a black cloud. I sometimes wish I could lie down, go to sleep, and not wake. Your presence always did much to drive away the dark evil spirit. I will trust, however, that rest, and a return to ordinary business, will restore mental as well as bodily health. You girls must write to me often-your letters must supply your absence. I suppose mother will be with you by the time this letter arrives. I trust she has had a pleasant time in New York. Portland will seem dull to you this winter, after the variety of your last year's life. You must be especially careful of your health. Abby must see to it that you are not imprudent. She is not as careless of exposure to the weather as you are. Good-bye to you, dear girls. I shall write again soon. Yours affectionately,

SEARGENT.

His return South was waited for by his political friends with the utmost impatience. He was & Whig candidate for Presidential elector in Mississippi, and as such, was expected to canvass the State. The Louisianians, too, were ready to intercept him on his way up the river. An urgent invitation to attend a grand convention at the capital of the State was put into his hands the instant he stepped ashore at New Orleans. An old friend writes him: "I am urged on all hands, to use what influence the claims of private friendship may give me, in seconding the wish of the whole public here that you should accept the invitation to

our great gathering on the 28th inst. The people speak of your northern tour as of the brilliant flight of a comet, and they are as anxious to see you as they would be to catch a glimpse of such a glorious luminary. If you come, I beg you to make my log cabin your castle."

The following letters will show how hard he toiled during the month of October, and also his opinion of the election, when it was over. What he says of the superior chances of political success, which belong to men of ordinary ability, has been signally illustrated and confirmed in the subsequent history of the country. The Presidential elections of 1844, 1848, and 1852, seem almost to have decided the question, whether a great man is likely again to become our Chief Magistrate. Nature herself, however, appears disposed for a while to relieve the question of practical point, by suspending the growth of really great men on this side of the Atlantic.

ΤΟ HIS SISTER ANNA.

VICKSBURG, Nov. 12, 1840.

MY DEAR SISTER:

At length "the wars are all over;" the election has taken place, and we Whigs consider ourselves in some degree paid for our exertions, by the success which has accompanied them. You have already learned, I presume, from the public journals, our complete victory in Mississippi. We have carried the State for "Old Tip," by a majority of nearly three thousand. I returned about a week ago, after a most arduous and tiresome canvass, and was literally worn out-so much so, that this is the earliest moment in which I could muster sufficient energy to write a letter. My health has been good enough, but my faculties of body and mind have been utterly exhausted. I am recove ering, however, my strength and elasticity, and shall soon be myself again. I feel as old John Bunyan's Christian did, in Pilgrim's Progress, when the burden fell from his back. I will