Captain Jake to Frederick Douglass, October 1, 1855

For Frederick Douglass' Paper.

LETTER FROM CAPTAIN JAKE.

THE CAPTAIN INTRODUCES HIMSELF.

MR. EDITOR, MR. ASSISTANT AND MR. PRINTER:—I see that you need a correspondent who may tell you of the doings of the colored people in the city of New York; and although there be many hereabout, smarter than I be, yet, as none of them do it, I will try, as Capt. Somebody said at Lundy's Lane, where I warn't, and as the boy said before the apple-dumpling, where I war,

CAPTAIN JAKE IS "AROUND."

I do not think a buck and saw dishonorable, and, therefore, I carry one around, just to oblige the people who can't saw their own wood: this obligin' disposition carries me all over the city, and carried me to the colored election on the 17th inst., where Jerry Powers, the slick-headed but rough-tongued hat-dresser, and Edward Crosby, the tavern-keeper, and Wright Leaman, Jr., the Oberlin student, and somebody else, were inspectors; but they have not done their duty in publishing the names of the delegates elected by some seventy votes, therefore I will.

DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION.

Philip A. Bell, Intelligencer. Charles L. Williams, Hair Grower. J. J. Simons, Captain of the Guards. Edward V. Clark, Jeweller. Peter S. Porter, Whitewasher. J. McCune Smith, Doctor. William C. Innis, Barber. J. W. B. Smith, Good Samaritan. John Williams, I don't know his trade. Henry H. Beverly, do. do. John W. Hunter, in the Banking line. Edward Crosby, Hotel Keeper. Randall D. Kenney, Real Estate Agent. Jeremiah Powers, Hat Cleaner. George Severe, Steamboater. J. W. C. Pennington, Doctor of Divinity.

If you will add these trades, &c., up, and divide them by sixteen, you will know, to a fraction, the weight of our colored Congressmen.

CAPTAIN JAKE'S OPINION ON SUICIDE.

When I am busy sawing wood, I am also busy thinking, and especially when on hickory wood: it makes fine saw-dust, good ashes and wholesome ideas: I have no doubt that Daniel Webster sawed wood, and some of our Congressmen would think better, and act better, and make better laws, if they were compelled to saw a load of hickory (three cuts) before every speech they made. A man who kills himself by laudanum, or strike nine, or more especially by the rope, has no brains in his head, they must have fallen down into his boots.— How much more sensible it would be for all each to come to me and say, "Captain Jacob, will you saw my head off?" I would say, "yes, or, certain, if you'll pay me in advance." And then you'd see the saw dust fly. I would say more on this head, but short letters will make long friends between you and

CAPTAIN JAKE.

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 1855.

P. S. Please put my name down in those handsome block letter; it will look "professional," as the Doctor said when called out on a sleety night.