DOWNINO'S LETTERS. 



the dwelling of the lowly. For school-grounds they are particularly iii)iiro))riiite. 

 They can stand the boys, and throw a grateful shade over their wild gambols wliiie 

 bcariiiLj stronfrly up under their reckless embraces. 



[Thoug'h Foucault, who studied this tree, calls it more picturesque than the 

 Caroliuiau, we should not venture to recommend it in any plantation of an artistic 

 or very select kind. For rapid growth and early flowering, it is only rivalled by 

 the Populus grandidentata, a very interesting tree, both for the character of its 

 head, and for its peculiar colored bark. The cotton from the flowers may be 

 objectionable near a dwelling. The fine avenues in the lower parts of the garden 

 at Versailles, are of this species. — Ed.] 



DOWXING'S FAMILIAR LETTERS. — (Concluded.) 



No. in. 



A LITTLE playful suggestion that he had grown in favor with newer friends, 



brought the following reply : — 



Newburgii, March 17, 1850. 



My Dear Friend : If it were not for this horrible storm, I think I should 

 endeavor to see you this evening at the Astor House. 



If I have, as you say, been unusually silent lately, it is because I have been 

 " immersed in affairs," and not because I have been busy with new friends ; for I 

 have never sat so unceasingly at my writing-table as for the past three months, and 

 I hope I shall soon have something to show for it. 



You are, I hear, going again to England. If you stay long enough to run 

 about a little, cannot you give me a letter or two oi Parhomania for my Horticultu- 

 rist ? This is, I believe, all I have to ask, though I may perchance address you 

 a letter to the care of your London Banker's, after you have sailed. 



Yours, with esteem, 



A. J. DOWNING. 



NEWErRGir, March 22, 1851. 



My Dear Sir : I was so unlucky as not to get your letter till after it was too 

 late to profit by it, I reached Philadelphia somewhere between midnight and 

 daylight that Saturday evening, and after taking a decent allowance of rest, 

 I promised myself the pleasure of spending part of the day (Sunday) with you. 

 But, to my great disappointment, no railroad cars ran to Germantown on Sunday, 

 at least, not till five o'clock, and, on inquiring about a carriage, I found they 

 asked the moderate price of $7 to take me and bring me back — more than I could 

 afford. So I reluctantly wasted my time till the afternoon train. But I don't 

 despair of sitting under your roof yet. If I had got your letter in time to have 

 written you, and found your chaise in waiting, all would have goue quite right. 



If you have any time to bestow on a friend, won't you send me eight or ten 

 s, if you can spare them, of the Giant Ivy you were so good as to promise 



