Stanza 71.—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 part 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 stanza 72, etc.). The latter gentleman, 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 of 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.
Song, Page 124.—William B. Cozzens.—Then the proprietor of the “Tammany Hall Hotel”—more recently of the princely establishment at West Point known by his name, and now conducted by his son.
Stanza 81.—Sylvani’s Miller.—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.
Stanza 84.—Judge Skinner and Mr. McIntyre.—Members of the State Senate. The one a political opponent of Governor Clinton, the other of ex-Governor Daniel D. Tompkins.
Stanza 86.—Henry Meigs and Peter H. Wendover.—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 stiped in the United States flag.
Stanza 90.—Captain Riley’s book.—A somewhat Munchausen-like narrative of his shipwreck on the coast of Africa.
Stanza 91.—“Delaplaine’s Repository.”—A biographical work published in Philadelphia, valuable for its engraved portraits of the most distinguished men of the day.
