West Vienna, Feb. 11, 1848.

Messrs. Douglass and Delany: Dear Sirs,—On looking over the 6th Number of the North Star, I noticed in the report of the Winfield Fair and Meetings, statements made respecting myself, which need a little correction; not that I charge the reporter with any intention of misrepresenting what I said, or what I meant to say.

The report says—

"Mr. Walker’s discourse was chiefly made up of statements respecting his own sufferings."

If my memory is not very defective, very little of my remarks consisted of statements of my sufferings; and what I did say in allusion to them, was, if possible, to induce others to the great work before them, and place in the hands of their neighbours and children the means of information respecting the condition of the slaves, and their claims on us and our kidnapping government.

"There was one statement respecting his poverty, which he made—that his family were now living in a miserable cabin in Plymouth, the only covering of which was a piece of cotton cloth."

I am confident I did not say, in so many words, that the only covering of my "miserable cabin was a piece of cotton cloth;" but that it was composed of a few rough boards, battened with laths on the sides, and overhead was covered with a piece of cotton cloth. I here remark, to prevent being misunderstood, that the top of the cabin is nearly flat, with common cotton sheeting tacked over it, and paid with turpentine, to make it shed water. This being put up with my own hands in a hurry, was the best I could do to shelter my family from the elements; and the materials of this I am yet in debt for, without the means of paying.

"It is a little too bad, that a man who has suffered, as Mr. Walker has done, in the cause of the slave, and who labors as he now does, should be allowed to live in such extreme destitution as he now does, or to be compelled to expose his poverty before every meeting he addresses."

This conveys the idea, that I make it a part of my discourse to make statements respecting my poverty; which is very incorrect: for it is seldom I made mention of it in public, and should not have made the statement I did at Winfield, had I not been requested to do so, while speaking.

The collection taken up on the occasion, was less, instead of more, than ten dollars. It was more, however, than all the collections taken up for us, since leaving home in November last. We do not take up collections, and have consented that any should be taken up for us only on three or four occasions, to defray expenses.

Yours, for the best cause,

Jonathan Walker.

P.S. Friend J. S. Jacobs and myself will probably be at your place in three or four weeks; we are now working our way through Oswego County westward. J. W.