Poems by George Pope Morris Part 57

Written at the request of the Corporation of New York, for the funeral solemnities to Lieutenant-colonel Baxter, Captains Barclay and Pierson, and Lieutenants Chandler and Gallagher, of the New York Volunteers, who died upon the battle-fields of Mexico.

Sung by the members of the New York Sacred Music Society, on Wednesday, the 12th day of July, 1848, in front of the City Hall.

The Champions of Liberty (page 169.)

Written, at the request of the Common Council of the city of New York, for the funeral solemnities in honor of the gallant and lamented Major-General Worth, Colonel Duncan, and Major Gates, late of the United States army. Sung by the Sacred Music Society in the balcony in front of City Hall, Thursday, November 15, 1849.

The Rock of the Pilgrims (page 182.)

"The Mayflower having arrived in the harbor from Cape Cod, Mary Chilton entered the first landing-boat, and, looking forward, exclaimed, 'I will be the first to step on that rock.' Accordingly, when the boat approached, Mary Chilton was permitted to be the first from that boat who appeared on the rock, and thus her claim was established."--Thacker's "History of Plymouth," p. 30.

The Soldier's Welcome Home (page 184.)

Sung at the New York Tabernacle, on the evening of April 18, 1849, by Mr. Nash, with a chorus of a thousand voices.

The Origin of Yankee Doodle (page 185.)

This jeau d'esprit was written for and sung by the Hutchinson Family.

New York in 1826 (page 189.)

This address, which has a local interest, is republished at the request of several of the author's friends--one of whom "desires to preserve it as one of the curiosities of rhyme;" and another "as a picture of New York, and its belongings, a quarter of a century ago."

Stanza I (page 189.) "S. W." are the initials of my much lamented friend, the late Samuel Woodworth, Esq.

She whispers of coaches,/And lockets and broaches-- refers to the holiday-presents in vogue at the time.

Stanza II (page 190.) contains the name of an inst.i.tution whose failure created great consternation on Wall street.

Stanza IV (page 190.) Gas-light was introduced into New York about that period, and the gas-burners were formed in the shapes here mentioned.

Stanza V (page 191.)

Seats on the Battery.

At the time alluded to there were none; and there was incessant warfare between the press and the lessees of Castle Garden, which was finally settled by the interposition of the Common Council, who caused seats to be placed on the Battery for the accommodation of the public.

Stanza VI (page 191.) This stanza contains the names of the fas.h.i.+onable poets and editors of the day.

Stanza VII (page 192.) Lafayette visited New York during the administration of Governor Clinton. The stanza also alludes to the then-recent completion of the Erie Ca.n.a.l, and to the troubles in Greece, which occupied much of the public attention.

Stanza VIII (page 192.) The Bowery Theatre was built in 1826.

Stanza X (page 193.) The Garcia troupe were then performing at the Park Theatre, and they were the first that produced Italian operas in this country. The Kean Riot had recently occurred.

Stanza XI (page 193.) Names of the Museums and other shows, giants and Indians being then their princ.i.p.al attractions.

Stanza XII (page 194.) Descriptive of the manner in which the New Year was ushered in.

Stanza XIII (page 194.) The "New York Mirror" was one of the earliest periodicals devoted to American letters.

The Maid of Saxony (page 245.)

This Opera was first performed at the Park Theatre, on the 25th of May, 1842, and ran fourteen successive nights. It was entirely and completely successful, being nightly received with cheers.