BINGHAMTON, March 1, 1857.
MY DEAR JUDGE—Your
favor of the 27th came duly to hand, and, as the merchants say,
"contents noted." I penned you my "incomprehensible" note
while in the tedious attendance upon rather a beggarly circuit. It is said that
when a pun or witticism needs explanation to give it point, it is a sorry
manifestation, and I do not see why what our old and departed friend Judge S.
was wont to call a "sarcasm" does not fall within the same category.
However, at the hazard of coming within the rule, I will translate my Greek.
My eye, at the
moment of writing, fell upon the movements of the Corruption Committee at
Washington, and seeing that the Hon. ——— was to be expelled, reminded me of how
much I had enjoyed, some twenty-three years ago, laughing at you for turning
the same individual out of your law office for stealing a large pane of glass
out of the door of E——'s newly fitted up house over the Chenango Bridge, to
supply one that he had broken out of the door of your office; and to complete
the joke he got a light too large by three inches one way and one the other.
The fun I had at the time over it all came back to me, and hence my revival of
it to you thus obscurely;—not thinking that the brick and mortar, excitement
and turmoil, and judicial care of the city, had shut you out from keeping track
of individuals, as we do in the country.
* *
* *
*
Yes, my dear Judge,
I might wear out life as you do. I have enjoyed some rather gratifying triumphs
in my day, both political and professional; but never anything has so much
drawn out my anxiety and solicitude in advance, has so much mortified and vexed
me when adverse, nor afforded me the same satisfaction in success, as the
matter to which you allude.
I still like
professional pursuits better than official life. If I had money to spend
profusely, I could enjoy myself in rural occupations; but eternal,
like internal improvement, is too
expensive a luxury for a poor man.
I like excitement, and as I also want income, it would work well if we did not have so much mere litigation over subjects where the parties cannot pay very large fees, and, if able, no counsel could have the face to charge them. These cases, as you know, are fought out with a pertinacity almost unknown in the city, or if known, would command a thousand dollars to our one hundred. If you do not engage in them, others will, and hey block up the courts and delay other business at home, and prevent you from going abroad to attend to business of more importance if you have it. The present system is far less pleasant for the country than the former. There is, or rather would be enough good business to engage me constantly if it were not impeded by this profitless litigation, and much time is wasted in this, in working or in waiting, to the prevention of more important business. If I was within four or five hours ride of the city, instead of nine or ten, I would open an office there.
Mrs. Dickinson and
daughters join me in regards to yourself and Mrs. Bosworth and family
SOURCE: John R.
Dickinson, Editor, Speeches, Correspondence, Etc., of the Late Daniel
S. Dickinson of New York, Vol. 2, pp. 500-2
