(6) Page 256.—“Spooner and Baldwin,” editors of newspapers, the one in Brooklyn, the other in New York. The former had quoted in his columns the three words alluded to from the chorus to a song, to the tune of “Yankee Doodle,” gracing a comic and comical opera, entitled the “Saw-mill”—the work of Mr. Micah Hawkins, a merry and musical genius from Long Island—performed once, and, I believe, but once, at the Chatham Garden Theatre.
(7) Page 256.—Chief-Justice Marshall, of the United States Supreme Court, whose recent decision had denied the validity of the New-York State Insolvent Laws.
(8) Page 257.—General Jackson, since President of the United States, on his first visit to New York. At the dinner with which he was welcomed (see the “Secret Mine”) by the Tammany Society, its Grand Sachem, Mr. Mooney, eloquently assured him that, at the announcement of his intended visit, the hearts of its members had “expanded to explosion.” In reply to which the General gave as a toast, “De Witt Clinton, the Governor of the great and patriotic State of New York.” As a large proportion of the guests were bitterly opposed to Mr. Clinton in politics, a compliment so flattering to him alike surprised and annoyed them. The gentlemen named in the verses were all prominent leaders in the two adverse parties, and designated, by their approval or non-approval of the toast, their party attachments.
(9) Page 257.—John Wesley Jarvis, the popular portrait-painter of the day, a favorite of his patrons and of many social circles for his genial drollery of song and story. Most of the portraits of our officers, civil and military, then winning honorable distinction, and now gracing our public halls and chambers, we owe to his admired and admirable pencil. Halleck’s portrait, painted by Jarvis for Dr. DeKay (now in the possession of Drake’s daughter, Mrs. Commodore DeKay), is by many esteemed the best likeness we have of the poet.
(10) Page 257.—Bartholomew Skaats, or “Barty Skaats,” as he was familiarly known—superintendent and curator of the City Hall, and for many years crier of the courts which were held in the old City Hall in Wall Street.
(11) Page 260.—“Aleck,” the name of Alexander Hamilton abbreviated, a member of the Legislature at the time, and especially opposed to Mr. Clinton; the eldest son of the illustrious soldier and statesman of the same name, whose death, a few years previous, in the duel with Colonel Burr, had put the hearts of his countrymen in mourning.
