The Captain's account of his having run express
from Baltimore to Washington, with news from
Pennsylvania, His interruptions by Gales and Duff
Green, and his reception of and protection by the
President.

Washington City, Nov. 5, 1832.
To the editor of the Portland Courier, in the Mariners' Church
building, 2d story, eastern side, Fore Street, Portland, away
down east, in the State of Maine.

My dear old Friend.—Here I am back again to
Washington, though I've been as far as Baltimore on
my way down east to see you and the rest of my uncles
and aunts and couzins. And what do you think I
posted back to Washington for? I can tell you. When
I got to Baltimore I met an express coming on full
chisel from Philadelphy, to carry the news to Washington
that Pennsylvania had gone all hollow for old
Hickory's second election. The poor fellow that was
carrying it had got out of breath, that he declared he
couldn't go no further if the Presidient never heard
of it.

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Well, thinks I, it will be worth a journey back to
Washington, jest to see the old gineral's eyes strike
fire when he hears of it. So says I, I'll take it and
carry it on for you if you are a mind to. He kind of
hesitated at first, and was afraid I might play a trick
upon him; but when he found out my name was Jack
Downing, he jumped off his horse quick enough; I'll
trust it with you, says he, as quick as I would with the
President himself. So I jumped on and whipped up.
And sure enough, as true as you are alive, I did get to
Washington before dark, though I had but three hours
to go it in, and its nearly forty miles. It was the
smartest horse that ever I backed, except one that belongs
to the President. But, poor fellow, he's so done
tu I guess he'll never run another express. Jest before
I got to Washington, say about two miles from the city,
the poor fellow keeled up and could n't go another
step. I had lost my hat on the way and was too much
in a hurry to pick it up, and he had thrown me off
twice and torn my coat pretty bad, so that I did n't
look very trig to go through the city or to the President's
house. But notwithstanding, I knew the President
would overlook it, considerin the business I was
coming upon, so I catched the express and pulled foot,
right through Pennsylvania Avenue, without any hat,
and torn coat sleeves and coat tail flying. The stage
offered to carry me, but I thought I wouldn't stop
for it.

Almost the first person I met was Mr. Duff Green.
Says he, Capt. Downing, what's the matter? I held
up the express and shook it at him, but never answered
him a word, and pulled on. He turned and walked as
fast as he could without running, and followed me.
Pretty soon I met Mr. Gales of the Intelligence., and
says he, for mercy sake, Captain Downing, what's the
matter? Have you been chased by a wolf, or Governor
Houston, or have you got news from Pennsylvania?—
I did n't turn to the right nor left, but shook the express
at him and run like wild-fire.

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When I came up to the President's house, the old
gentleman was standing in the door. He stepped quicker
than I ever see him before, and met me at the gate.
Says he, my dear friend Downing, what's the matter?
Has the United States Bank been trying to bribe you,
and you are trying to run away from 'em? They may
buy over Webster and Clay and such trash, but I knew
if they touched you they would get the wrong pig by
the ear. As he said this, Duff Green hove in sight,
puffing and blowing, full speed.

Oh, said the President, Duff Green wants to have a
lick at you, does he? Well dont retreat another step,
Mr. Downing, I'll stand between you and harm. Upon
that he called his boy and told him to bring his pistols
in a moment. By this time I made out to get breath
enough jest to say Pennsylvany, and to shake the express
at him. The old man's colour changed in a minute.
Says he, come in, Mr. Downing, come in, set
down, dont say a word to Duff. So in we went, and
shut the door. Now, says the President, looking as
though he would rout a regiment in five minutes, now
speak and let me know whether I am a dead man or
alive.

Gineral, says I, its all over with — I wont hear a
word of it, says he, stomping his foot. His eyes flashed
fire, so that I trembled and almost fell backwards.
But I see he did n't understand me. Dear gineral,
says I, its all over with Clay and the Bank—at that he
clapt his hands and jumped up like a boy. I never see
the President jump before, as much as I've been acquainted
with him. In less than a minute he looked
entirely like another man. His eyes were as calm and
as bright as the moon jest coming out from behind a
black thunder cloud.

He clenched my hand and gave it such a shake I
did n't know but he would pull it off. Says he, Jack,
I knew Pennsylvany never would desert me, and if she
has gone for me I'm safe. And now if I dont make
them are Bank chaps hug it, my name is n't Andrew

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Jackson. And after all, Jack, I aint so glad on my
own account, that I'm re-elected, as I am for the country
and Mr. Van Buren's account; and we shall get
him in now to be President after me. And you know,
Jack, that he's the only man after me, that's fit to govern
this country.

The President has made me promise to stop and
spend the night with him, and help him rejoice over the
victory. But I have n't time to write any more before
the mail goes.