by himself or counsel in support of them. Nothing was
done with this communication, there being only _one_ member in
_each_ House openly in favor of the Lieutenant-Governor's
pretensions. There would doubtless have been more if there had
been any prospect of ousting me. I attribute the unexpected
unanimity to the circumstance of the question having been stirred
in time to afford the people an opportunity of making known their
opinions and feelings to their Representatives previous to their
leaving home to take their seats in the Legislature. The current
of public opinion on this question was too strong in my favor to
be resisted by any but a most desperate antagonist. This effort
of my opponents has recoiled very much to my advantage, in
weakening their popularity, and adding to the strength of mine.

You will recollect my having shown you last summer some
strictures, which I had been induced to publish on the judge's
opinion in the malicious suit which had been instituted against
me for freeing my negroes, in consequence of several
extraordinary errors of fact, as well as of law, which it
contained, and the unusual pains taken by the judge to publish
and circulate these errors to my injury. Two actions have been
instituted against me for this publication--one by the court--the
other in the name of the judge as an individual, in which he has
laid his damages at $5,000. The former is to be tried at
Edwardsville next month--the latter at this place in April. The
original suit, or mother of the judge's twin-suits, is still
pending in our Supreme Court, and is expected will be decided at
the June term. I trust I shall get rid of all of these suits in
the course of the spring and summer. I feel the more anxious to
do so as they are the first suits, that ever were instituted
against me.

I have not heard anything of the pamphlets which you were so good
as to promise to send me. I shall go to St. Louis in about a
month, when I hope to receive them. I see noticed in the public
prints a new pamphlet, published by G. and C. Carville, at New
York, on the emancipation and removal of the slaves of the U. S.
If you could conveniently lay your hands on this pamphlet, you
would confer a favor on me by sending it to me by mail. May I ask
the favor of y