ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, March 31, 1853.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 800, 2 April 1853, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, March 31, 1853.

Sir, —Please to inform "Poor Richard" that I, J. M., cooper, Lambton-quay, wrote the letters signed "A Working Man," and, like a tab, stand on my own bottom; and that I think Richard, however poor he may be, ought to have pride enough to write truth : perhaps bis want of modesty equals that of his honesty. By the by, he reminds me of " Jack" in the tale of a tub, who could turn and twist his master's will into any shape to suit the schemes and purposes of the clique. I never crawled abont Bio&d Street nor the Adelphi to trap the unwary. lam exceedingly pleased at being noticed, as it shows my incipient uumeaning letters have operated on his palace with some -force ; bis malicious wit may devise accusations against me for endeavouring to thwart unpriocipled land lords, land agents, and land sharks: past experience has taught me to abhor their system; and I have long endeavoured to keep my fellow-colonists from their traps; tad I hope now they will take advantage of tbt low price of land, and secure a piece of good and cheap land from the Government. Corruption and base designs, when checked, make men grow mad with rage: and it is an old fashion to cast evil aspersions upon the actions of others. The term crawler to me is something new, and wbich upon inquiry he will find not at all suited to my character. I believe it to be a flash word, and means a man devoid of troth, of courage, and a skulking fellow. The worthies of England can have nothing to do with the case. It is good for a man to have an enemy, if it be only to make use of his most choleric objectiona. " Poor Richard" must have taken my measure by hit! own standard, »a I fire no cbots in the »ir t «O perhaps he will bear in mind the fable of tha aerpent that bit the file. I am, Sir, Still a Workikg Man. P.S. —Please inform " Poor Richard" that my definition of a working man, is a man that obtains his living by the sweat of his brow ;—no place-hunter.