A little playful suggestion that he had grown in favor with newer friends, brought the following reply: - Newburgh, 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 of Parkomania for my Horticulturist? 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.

Newbubgh, 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 gone quite right.

If you have any time to bestow on a friend, won't you send me eight or ten plants, if you can spare them, of the Giant Ivy you were so good as to promise 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.

Newburgh, 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, etc, and a barrowful of leached ashes to each tree; hole, three feet wide, twenty inches deep.

I am just on the wing 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 Smith, Esq.

Washington, 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 know, till a few weeks ago, that you were in the country - supposing 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 into practice all over the country. Sincerely yours, A. J. DOWNING. J. Jay Smith, Esq.

Col. Eastwick, the present proprietor of Bartram's Garden, had requested us to engage Mr. Downing's services in laying out the additional grouncLnear 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 off, and the country deprived of services such as were greatly needed in our growing prosperity.

The following was the last note we find from this admirable man, graceful writer, and warm friend. In the summer of 1852, he was numbered with the dead, taken, as we are fain to think, prematurely from the midst of his usefulness: - Newburgh, March 29,1852.

My Dear Friend: I am, during this whole month, so deeply engaged, that I fear I shall have to decline Colonel Eastwick's commission, however reluctantly. I really begin now to despair of seeing you at Germantown. I have made three decided efforts to do so; the first last fall - when I was taken ill, in Philadelphia, with the pleurisy, and kept two days at the U. S. Hotel, glad to crawl home as soon as possible. The second time, this spring - but was laid hold of by a gentleman in Baltimore, on my way there, who would have the time on his place that I meant to devote to you. I am really a man of no leisure - except after dinner, at home. I wish I could show you my "Bureau of Architecture," in my new wing of my residence - full of commissions, and young architects, and planning for all parts of the country.

I am en route to Washington, to-morrow - planting some fine trees from England at this season. Your friend, A. J. DOWNING. To J. Jay Smith, Esq.