University of Virginia Library

Of this young lady and her worthy father, to whose exemplary and typical career the author was indebted for the theme of his story, we are not permitted to reveal more than that they wish to be known and remembered only in the words from Milton, on the title-page, among—

Doctors Mitchill, Hosack, and Francis, then (1819) eminent physicians in New York, highly distinguished, not only in their profession, and as authors of popular works connected with medicine and general knowledge, but as active and useful leaders in the social, literary, and scientific institutions of the city. Doctor Mitchill, moreover, had won the name of a philosopher by his frequent discoveries, more or less important, in geology and other conjectural sciences.

James K. Paulding, one of the best and most popular of early American authors. The quotation is from his poem, “The Backwoodsman,” then recently published. He afterward rose, or fell, from literature to politics, and became navy agent at New York, and Secretary of the Navy during President Van Buren's administration.

The “Modern Solomon,” a nom de plume given to Mr. Lang by the pleasantry of his brethren of the press. The front door of his office was surmounted by the figure-head of his assumed prototype, Doctor Franklin, mentioned in stanza 49. The bust and statue therein named as specimens of the fine arts in America at the period were to be seen, the one in plaster at the Academy of Arts (stanza 51), the one in wax at Scudder's Museum (stanza 68). Poor McDonald Clarke, the mad poet of New York, having been called in Lang's paper a person with “zig-zag brains,” immediately responded in the following neat epigram:

Cadwallader D. Colden, then Mayor of the city, before whose door, in accordance with immemorial usage, two prominent lamps were placed, in token of his magisterial position, to remain during and after his mayoralty. His residence, and the office of Mr. Lang, the editor of the New-York Gazette (see stanzas 11 and 49), were in the neighborhood of Pearl Street and Hanover Square.

Dominick Lynch, a popular importer of French wines, who ranked among the prominent merchants of the city. He was well known in social circles by his elegant entertainments at his residence, No. 1 Greenwich Street. One of his sons sang Moore's melodies with taste and deep feeling.

John Bristed, an English gentleman, then recently arrived in America. He was a graduate of Oxford University, a highly accomplished scholar, and the author of several ably-written works on various topics, published in New York, among them the one entitled “The Resources of Great Britain in Time of Peace,” alluded to in stanza 141. He married a daughter of John Jacob Astor.

Monsieur Guillé, an aeronaut, recently from France, whose balloon ascensions, then a rare and exciting exhibition, had proved a failure.

David Gelston, the collector of the customs.

The “National Advocate,” a daily newspaper,conducted by Mordecai M. Noah, a veteran editor, highly distinguished in the political strife of words, for wielding, alike powerfully and playfully, the pen of a “ready writer.” As the champion of a party (his party, for the time being), he was a faithful friend and a formidable antagonist. He was favorably known as the author of an interesting book of travels in Europe, etc., and of several dramas successful on the stage.

A political pamphlet, by Ferris Pell, an enterprising young lawyer and politician.

Christian Baehr, one of the fashionable tailors of the period, and a colonel in the militia.

A society of artists and amateurs, among whose presiding officers and patrons, Doctor Hosack, John G. Bogart (see stanza 49), and Colonel Trumbull, the celebrated painter, were honorably conspicuous. On the formation, soon after, of the present “National Academy of the Arts of Design,” it ceased to exist.

An association of amateur musicians occasionally giving public concerts.

One of the ablest and purest of the banished Irish patriots of '98. His excellent personal character, without reference to political antecedents, insured him a warm reception in New York, and soon placed him among the most cherished of her adopted citizens. His monument stands in St Paul's Churchyard, New York, near that of his friend Thomas Addis Emmet.

Doctor Quackenbos, in spite of his name, a young physician in good repute.

A society of young and promising lawyers and others emulating the “Speculative Society” of Edinburgh. Their meetings for debate were public, and drew flattering and fashionable audiences.

Popular authors of the period, then and previously beginning an honorable literary career.

A “corps d'armée” quite distinct from the uniformed volunteer companies of the time, and one that Falstaff “would not march through Coventry with.” Its officers were the young aristocracy of the city, but its soldiers were men or boys, who, either from choice or necessity, declined paying a fine of twenty-five dollars for non-attendance on parade days—three times a year—the penalty imposed by the then existing militia law.

Mead's “Wall Street,” a drama whose characters were designed to be played by STOCK actors only.

A highly-esteemed Quaker physician then delivering lectures upon chemistry, etc. His office was in the building called the “Old Alms-House,” situated in the rear of the City Hall, facing Chambers Street. Its rooms facing Broadway were occupied by the museum of John Scudder, the “illustrious predecessor” of the late world-renowned showman P. T. Barnum. Among its attractions was the band of music commemorated in stanza 175.

Tammany Hall, corner of Nassau and Frankfort Streets. —Then the home of the “Saint Tammany Society,” whose members still claim to represent, par excellence, the Democratic party of the country in its pristine purity. Their once famous appellation of “Bucktails” (see stanza 83), was derived from their custom of wearing, when on duty, a deer's tail in their hats as a badge of membership. Among their leading Sachems were William Mooney (stanza 78) and John Targee (see stanzas 72, etc). The latter gentlemen, from his steadfast refusal to accept a money-making office in the gift of the society, an example of self-denial previously unrecorded in their annals, became a sort of mythical personage, like Shakespeare's “Cuckoo in June,” “ne'er seen but wondered at.” The fact, however, enlarged upon in stanzas 73, etc., of his political and musical intimacy with Tom Moore, is one that, in the newspaper phrase, wants confirmation. The Tammany Hall of 1819 is now known as the Sun Building, the Society having erected a more spacious edifice in Fourteenth Street, formally opened on the Fourth of July, 1868. Here the Democratic Convention was held which nominated Horatio Seymour, of New York, for President, and Francis P. Plair, Jr., of Missouri, as their candidate for the Vice-Presidency of the United States.

An active and influential party leader, for many years surrogate of the city, and a gentleman who was never seen without his inseparable companion—a cigar. As a smoker, he even excelled General Grant.

Members of the State Senate. The one a political opponent of Governor Clinton, the other of ex-Governor Daniel D. Tompkins.

Members of Congress from the city. The former one of the original founders of the “American Institute,” and for a long time its secretary. To the latter is owing the invention of the present legal arrangement of the stars and stripes in the United States flag.

A biographical work published in Philadelphia, valuable for its engraved portraits of the most distinguished men of the day.

Daniel D. Tompkins.—Then a resident of Staten Island.

“The Turtle Club.”—From New York, whose frequent open-air festivities, at Hoboken, were devoted to punch and politics.

A man of color, the orthodox and omni-present caterer for fashionable dinner and supper parties.

Edmund Simpson and James W. Wallack, managers of the city theatres, and actors highly esteemed, then and now.

A periodical conducted by the poet of the name.

A continuation, by James K. Paulding, of a work under a similar title, published in 1808, the joint production of himself and his friend Washington Irving.

A coach-maker in John Street.

De Witt Clinton.—Governor of the State of New York.

“Eastburn's Rooms,” in the building occupied by James Eastburn & Co., booksellers and publishers, on the corner of Broadway and Pine Street—a favorite resort of men of letters and leisure. Bishop Eastburn, of the Episcopal Church, and James W. Eastburn, the young poet, who died at twenty-two, are sons of the worthy bookseller, for whom Mr. Halleck entertained a great friendship, and to whose reading-room he was a constant visitor.

The “Lyceum of Natural History.”—An association of men of science, and patronized by the most highly cultivated of the city scholars, still existing.

Then an important department of the State government, abolished upon the revision of the Constitution in 1821, having become a notorious political machine.

Colonel Aaron Burr, then Vice-President of the United States, the theme of one of the most interesting episodes in American history.