Wal, if I ain't contented, I sartinly ought to be, if the women folks are judges, and it's quite a considerable time since I've thought it worth while to have a tussel for any opinion of my own. But tu own right up, I du hanker awfully tu get off into the world agin; but, for gracious sake, don't say a word about it. I should never hear the last of it, if you did, for Judy hates city gals like rank pisin, and is allfired jealous that I'm hankering to git among 'em again. I don't know how I ever cum to write this ere long letter, but somehow, when I set down, pen in hand, the old natur will bile up and run on. Now about that are consarned preface, jest set down tu once and describe the way it's to be done, and I'll undertake it, for I want tu make the book first chop; and if you want more team, I'm the chap tu hitch it on, the minit you let a feller know what's wanted. So, hoping you'll be particular about the preface, I'm yours tu command, JONATHAN SLICK. P. S.--Don't forget to have my watch chain and things a hanging outside of the vest, and put my two big rings with stones in 'em, on my left hand. I say nothing, but there may be gals in New York that would like tu see them are rings agin, but take them off from all the kivers you send into these parts now, I tell you. J. S. CONTENTS. LETTER I. PAGE First Impressions of New York--Visit to the Counting-room of a City Cousin--Advice to his Clerk--Description of a City Residence and its Inmates 13 LETTER II. The Family Dinner and Effects of July Cider 23 LETTER III. Jonathan visits the Express Office--Sensations on seeing himself in Print 27 LETTER IV. The Political Meeting and its Disasters 33 LETTER V. A Little of Jonathan's Private Love Affairs 39 LETTER VI. Jonathan's Opinions of Ministerial Interference--A Card of Invitation, and an Evening Party at Cousin Beebe's, in which Jonathan makes some Mistakes and a Lady Acquaintance 44 LETTER VII. Scenes in Broadway--Jonathan's Interview with the Count and Flirtations with Miss Miles 69 LETTER VIII. The Morning Call--A Coquette's Dressing Room 78 LETTER IX. A New York Parvenu--Jonathan's Account of his Cousin Jason Slick, and how Jason was too lazy to work, and got rich on soft sodder--The dinner of a Connecticut Coaster--A New York Coat of Arms, lions couchant and levant--Yankee Ancestry--The way a Yankee speculates, and gets up States, Railroads and Banks, by soft sodder 87 LETTER X.