University of Virginia Library

APPENDIX.

We know of no man in the United States who has so many
and so strong inducements to write for the newspapers as Major
Downing. No writer of modern times has met with such decided
success, nor do we recollect one whose popularity has
been so extensive, and we may almost say, universal. We are
not speaking of such writers as Sir Walter Scott, who made so
many novels; nor Lord Byron, who wrote so much poetry.
The Major has never, to our knowledge, written a book, either
in prose or verse. Nor does he deal in works of the imagination
of any description. His object appears to be simple narration—a
mere historical account of what occurs before his own
eyes, and about which he cannot make a mistake, unless it be
what is sometimes called a wilful one. The Major is above such
a sordid practice as that of writing fiction, merely for the purpose
of amusing the idle and the inquisitive. His object is to
record facts for the future historian; and that they may not be
lost, he puts them in print with as little delay as possible; well
knowing that when the chronicle of passing events is entered in
the grand registers of historical truth,—the newspapers,—the
copies become so multiplied that there is not only no danger of
their being lost, but there is an absolute certainty that they
cannot be corrupted, or perverted, without being detected.
This is his great inducement to publish his works in the newspapers.
He is perfectly assured that they will be preserved,
pure and unsullied, for the use of the future writer of history.

And the wisdom of his plan is already manifest. His works,
and particularly his Official Report on the Bank, have already
been published in so many papers that any serious attempt to
pervert his sentiments, or misrepresent his language, would be
fruitless. We believe that article has already been inserted in
at least fifty different papers, and it will probably go into nearly
as many more. And it is highly creditable to the taste and principles
of the country that there is such a general relish for sober,
unvarnished, unsophisticated truth—for simple, unornamented
narration.—N. Y. Paper.

From the Albany Daily Advertiser.

Major Jack Downing.—We think the jeu d'esprit played
off by the opposition wags in this character are the best things
which have appeared in the newspapers for years. It is evident
that the letters which have from time to time appeared under
the hand and seal of the Major have been the result of great
humour and talent. Their unbounded popularity brought various
authors into the field; and although Major Jack was not
always in keeping with himself, still a general identity preserved
the effect of his numerous epistolary efforts. We are not surprised
that the collar presses have at last come out against the
Major. They call him the expiring wit of the opposition. We
doubt whether this is so. We fancy that the Major will yet
live to do his country service.

One of the neatest hits which the unsophisticated Major made,
was that in which he mentioned the conduct of the Vice President,
who, after a toss in the air by his restiff steed, so violent
that it was impossible to tell which end was uppermost, came
down upon his feet in Deacon Willoby's potato-patch, and immediately
commenced bowing to the assembled multitude, just
as if nothing had happened.

From the New-York American, Dec. 7, 1833.

But for the letters published originally in the New-York Daily
Advertiser, and republished with the greatest avidity in almost
every newspaper in the country, Major Downing would not have
been by any means recognised, as he now is, as one of the first
confidential advisers that ever stood between a people and their
ruler. The Major is evidently a favourite of the people, and
by his own showing (in which we trust he is not mistaken) he
stands unrivalled in the estimation of the President; and has so
ingeniously placed himself as to defy any power, legislative,
executive, or judicial, to oust him from his position.

From the Daily Advertiser, Dec. 13, 1833.

Major Downing in England.—These inimitable letters,
which first appeared in this paper, have been almost universally republished
by the journals in this country. They have now reached
London, and are copied with avidity in the leading journals of that
city, and bid fair to be as extensively read in England as in this
country. We regret exceedingly that they cannot be appreciated
by an English reader with the same zest as by an American.
The characters drawn, the masterly points made by the
Major, must be lost to those who cannot, from the nature of the
case, be acquainted with them. With all those disadvantages,
it is no small credit to the talent of the author (and to the
readers) that they should be thus favourably received.

From the Commercial Herald.

Our friend Major Downing has been knocking for three or
four days at our door for admission, and was on the eve of being
admitted when Mr. M'Duffie thrust him aside. We admit him
this morning, not doubting that our readers will greet him.

From a Virginia paper.

Major Jack Downing is becoming decidedly more popula
than the Gineral himself. The Major has had an axe presented
him in York State, and forwarded on to him at Washington,
while the Gineral has had a broom in Alexandria for more than
a month, and none so kind as to deliver it to him. This looks
squally. What a pity the axe and broom had not been received
at the same moment!—the Major might have chopped the K.
Cabinet into mince-meat, and the Gineral done “the sweeping
out.”

From the New-York American, Nov. 7, 1833.

Major Downing—the only writer who, in our day, has
treated political matters with equal humour and acuteness.

From the New-England Weekly Review.

There is about as eager a curiosity to know the author of the
genuine letters of Major Downing, as there used to be about the
letters of Junius.

From a Newark paper.

Native Merit.—Among the eminent men of our country
who have risen to distinction, without the factitious advantages
of birth or fortune, through the mere force of merit,—the innate,
buoyant energies of a great mind,—Major Downing, of Downingville,
the confidante of the President, and correspondent of
the New-York Daily Advertiser, stands pre-eminent—high above
his contemporaries in all that enters into the composition of a
great character,—a noble, ingenuous spirit “that takes no private
way,”—an acute, comprehensive mind,—habits of observation
and research,—a profound acquaintance with human nature,
—magnanimous and brave, feared at court, and a favourite of
the people. In the two latter attributes he bids fair to excel the
great master whom it was once his glory to serve, as he has
long been confessedly superior to all rivalry in every other.
The pen, the pencil, and the press have dedicated their best services
to do him honour; the Wandering Piper pipes his praise;
and the muses have pronounced his fame, in high poetic strains,
from the top of Ida.

From a Philadelphia paper.

We have the pleasure of presenting our readers with a Newyear's
treat, in the excellent letter from Major Jack Downing, to
be found in another column.

From the Philadelphia Gazette.

Major Downing's letter to the Cabinet proper is a document
of unusual interest. His views on the nature of the U. S. Bank
and the currency of the country develop an intimate acquaintance
with financial business. The analogy between the bank
and the Conestoga wagon is good, and the steamboat simile is
not less excellent. The Major's letters evidently increase in
interest.

From the New-York Evening Star.

Major Downing.—He stands on the highest pinnacle of
Fame's temple, acknowledged by every one to be the first states-man,
the most profound thinker, forcible writer, and purest
patriot of the age. His tact and sagacity in discovering facts,
and causes, and motives are equalled only by his astonishing
power of description; and in the faculty of making his narratives
and disquisitions attractive by the judicious, but liberal
employment of wit, humour, and playful, yet apt illustrations
he has never had a superior. His most finished productions are
those addressed in fact to the people of this city, but nominally
to his old friend Mr. Dwight; and when these are collected,
which we understand to be in contemplation, there can be no
doubt that the sale will be tremendous.

The Publishers deem it due to Major Downing to
state, that the preceding are but a very few of the
numerous notices which have appeared in different
parts of the country in commendation of his interesting
and very valuable Letters. Those which are
here introduced will, however, afford sufficient evidence
of the unprecedented popularity of the Major's
correspondence, and of the extent to which it has
been already appreciated.