ΤΟ GINERAL ANDREW JACKSON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, This Book IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY HIS FAITHFUL FRIEND AND HUMBLE SERVANT, MAJOR JACK DOWNING. ARTER I got my book all done, and had looked it over every day as the printer went along with it, till I got clear to the last page, so as to see it was done right, the printer comes to me, and says he, we want a Preface now. A preface! says I, what in nater is that? Why, says he, it is something to fill up the two first pages with. But, says I, aint the two first pages filled up yet? I thought we had jest got through the last page; I hope our cake aint all turning to dough again. O, it's all right, says he, we always print the first pages last; all we want now is the preface, to fill up them are two first pages. Well, says I, but this is a pretty curious piece of business, this duin work backwards. I've hearn tell that Freemasons when they build their chimneys, begin at the top and work down, and that's what's got the Anti Masons so mad about it, that they are going to tear 'em all up, root and branch; but I never knew afore that folks printed the first end of a book last. But now, says I, Mr printer, if I've got to make this ere preface that you tell about, what must I put into it? O, says he, you must tell 'em something about the book; how you come to make it, and what's in it, and what it's good for, and the like of that. Well, says I, if that's all, I guess I can work it out in short metre. In the first place then, I made the book because I couldn't help it; if I hadn't made it, I dont believe but what I should have split. And in the next place, I made it so as to get my letters all together, out of the way of the rascally counterfeits, so that folks might know the good eggs from the rotten ones. And about these counterfeits, I see the New York Daily Advertiser says they are going to print a book of the counterfeit letters somewhere there or at Philadelphia. All I have to say about it is, they are welcome to print as many letters as they are a mind to, if they will only jest put their own names to 'em. But he that will print his letters and put my name to 'em, I think would steal a sheep. And in the next place, as to what is in the book, I guess folks will find that out fast enough, without my telling them. And in the last place, as to what it is good for, it will tell folks more about politics, and how to get offices, than ever they knew before in all their lives; and what is the best ont, it will be pretty likely to get me in to be President. MAJOR JACK DOWNING. BOSTON, Nov. 14, 1833. MY LIFE. Together with a few from Cousin Nabby, and Uncle Joshua, and Cousin Ephraim, and so on; containing a pretty considerable ac- count of my public life, from Jinuary 1830, to November 1833, 35 LETTER VII.-In which affairs take a more favourable turn, 59 |