DOWNING'S LETTERS. 



me ? and, also, command me touching some choice fruit trees, if you think I can 

 be of any service in that matter. Yours, with esteem, 



A. J. DOWNING. 

 To J. Jay Smith, Esq. 



Newbukgh, April 10, 1851. 

 My Dear Friend : The Ivy plants have arrived in the best order, much to my 

 gratification. I went up to the nursery, and selected the fruit trees myself ; they 

 will reach you this week. If you will have large holes prepared for them in your 

 garden, with plenty of leached ashes, and lime-rubbish, and manure in the soil, I 

 will warrant you to have the finest fruit. Your Philadelphia soil is worn out in 

 the mineral food, that is all. 



One bushel lime rubbish from old walls, &c., and a barrowful of leached ashes 

 to each tree ; hole, three feet wide, twenty inches deep. 



I am just on the wiug for Washington. Pray drop me a line on receipt of this, 

 saying if you will be at home about the middle of next week, and believe me. 



Yours sincerely, 



A. J. DOWNING. 

 To J. Jay Sjiith, Esq. 



Washixgtox, April 16, 1851. 

 My Dear Friend : I believe I must give up reaching your house, at present, 

 in despair, as the fates are against me. The weather has delayed my operations 

 here so much, that I cannot leave till Thursday ; and I have letters from home 

 which will force me to go on directly. There are a number of matters that I want 

 to consult you about, and I regret sincerely that I must lose another hoped-for 

 opportunity. Yours, sincerely, 



A. J. DOWNING. 

 To J. Jay Smith, Esq. 



Washington, Oct. 30, 1851. 



My Dear Sir : I thank you most heartily for your letter and the communication. 

 * * I did not knoWj till a few weeks ago, that you were in the country — sup- 

 posing you again amusing yourself in Europe. 



I hope to be able to spend a night at your house on my way home, and will let 

 you know a day beforehand. I wish very much to see and have a long chat with 

 you. 



I am deeply immersed in practical works — architectural and rural — turning my 

 theories iuto practice all over the country. Sincerely yours, 



A. J. DOWNING. 



J. Jay Smith, Esq. 



Col. Eastwick, the present proprietor of Bartrara's Garden, had requested us to 

 engage Mr. Downing's services in laying out the additional ground near his superb 

 mansion, but Mr. D.'s engagements were too numerous to comply. He then 

 charged twenty dollars a day and his expenses, for engagements of this kind, and 

 was constantly obliged to decline new ones. 



In the midst of this great and unrivalled success, he was cut oflT, and the country 

 deprived of services such as were greatly needed in our growing prosperity. 



