Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/388

 380 JAMES W. NESMITH Well Cozs Theophilus arfd Jane are married this is no more than I expected to hear. I wish them all the joy imaginable together with a dozen pledges of affection. I suppose that I may never expect to see a line from either of them again, as the objects which await their attention at present is of more interest than a wandering cousin. If Aunt Peggy, Sally, Harriet and Jessie had all formed similar connections, I suppose that I might have waited for a letter until the year nineteen hundred and a long time to come. As for David, he never would condescend to correspond with me, and Miss Margaret and Joseph 2 * seem to partake of the same disposition. Uncle and Aunt would be excusable for not writing if they would only make the others do it. Harriet expresses a wish that I should bring her some 'curiosities when I return. I can only give her the assurance that I have a large quantity of them collected, but the period of my return depends very much upon circumstances. This likely leads you to make the injury of what I am about. You will laugh heartily at the answer ; however, you shall have it, since I am confident that your critical remarks will have but little tendency to lower the dignity of the Supreme Judge of Oregon. I am engaged in reading law and discharging the duties of the above mentioned office for which I receive a salary of five hundred dollars per year, besides all the fees for probate busi- ness, which swells the amount to about $600. I am well, doing well and well satisfied. I am sorry that I have not room to give you a history and description of our Government and laws, but I hope that you will not form an unfavorable opinion of it from the fact that you happen to be acquainted with one of its most important officers. We have five organized counties, the Gov., Judge, Sheriff, Recorder, Attorney, Treasurer and Assessor are State officers and operate for the whole, and hold two courts in each county annually; the Justices form the inferior courts. We have a Legislature composed of thirteen members who have now just commenced their annual session at this place which is the seat of Government. 24 Joseph G. Wilson, who came to Oregon in 1852, was elected to Congress in 1872, and died July 2, 18733 cousin of Mr. Nesmith.