On December 12, 1891, the New York World published the following evidence of its vitality:

To the Editor of the World:

Tammany Society, of Portland, Ore., solicits your presence as a guest at its annual banquet, to be given on the evening of the 8th day of January, 1892. The Democracy of the State of Oregon has been invited to be present, and numerous invitations have been sent to prominent Democrats from abroad. It is our hope to be able to make the occasion a memorable one to the Democracy of Oregon.

On the following day, Saturday, January 9th, the State Convention of Democratic Societies will be held, when the first permanent organization will be perfected.

Trusting that you may be able to participate with us, we are courteously yours,
B. GOLDSMITH, President.

M. M. HARRIS, Secretary.

Communications to be addressed to F. A. E. Starr, Chairman Executive Committee, 133 First street, Portland, Ore.

There is one active Tammany society at the present time at Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa., one in Rhode Island, one in Texas, and undoubtedly many others scattered over the country, but not of sufficient extended influence to not of sufficient extended influence to require enumeration here.

CHAPTER VI.

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THE TAMMANY SOCIETY AS A CONSERVATOR OF ART THE TAMMANY MUSEUM.

T

HERE are now probably few persons who criticise the affairs of the Tammany Society who realize that at one time it was the only organized conservator of Art in the country; and the centre of archæological knowledge in the City of New York. In the same year in which the famous visit of the Creeks occurred the Tammany Society established a Museum for the collection and preservation of everything of interest relating to the antiquities and early history of America. A room was allotted, for this purpose to the use of the Society, in the City Hall, then located in Wall street, near Nassau. Mr. Gardiner Baker, a member of Tammany, was appointed Custodian. The collection of curiosities, principally of Indian origin, though by no means exclusively so, soon outgrew the limited accommodations in the City Hall, and, in 1794, these treasures were removed to a brick building, then standing in the middle of Wall street, at the junction of Broad and Pearl streets; it was known as the "Exchange." The lower part of this building was occupied as a market, but the upper part, having good light on all sides, proved an excellent place for seeing this art collection, a great portion of which had been gathered, or otherwise secured, by Mr. Baker, the custodian, who was an enthusiastic scientist and naturalist; and the following year the whole contents of the museum were, for a consideration, transferred by the Tammany Society to this gentleman. He had spent much time and money in making these collections, on the expectation and ardent desire that these interesting and curious objects should be forever known as "The Tammany Museum," and with the condition that the families of the founders of the Society should always have free access to it.

But Baker was not immortal; and could not control the future fate of his valuable collection. On his death the contents of the museum were sold to a Mr. W. J. Waldron, and went partly into other hands; later the greater part were sold to the "American," or "Scudder's Museum," and, when that was given up, some of the articles were bought by private parties, but the larger portion eventually passed into the hands of P. T. Barnum. Probably among the reasons why the Tammany Society had lost its original interest in the collection was the expense of maintaining it, and the great care required in the preservation of many of the articles, proving, as it did, a considerable draft upon their then limited funds, while their outside patrons were few in number, the population of the city being then so small, and very few being interested in archæological studies. Then, also, when these later transfers took place, the society was greatly interested in securing official recognition, through an Act of Incorporation, which was not obtained, however, until 1805.

JOHN W. FRANCIS, in his interesting "History of Old New York," says of this matter: "I believe that old Tammany was then (the time of Jay's treaty) too

intent upon obtaining their charter to continue the work they had so well commenced of gathering together the relics of Nature and Art to be found in this country. In this collection were to be seen wampum beads, tomahawks, belts, earthen jars and pots, with other Indian antiquities; together with all that could be found of Indian literature, in war songs, hieroglyphic writings on stone, bark and skins, etc., etc." If this enumeration of curios seem to us now rather meagre we must remember that it was founded over a hundred years ago.

A recent discovery of a long-lost Washington portrait links the year 1892 with this old Tammany art collector, Gardiner Baker. The Brooklyn (N. Y.) Eagle, of February 29, 1892, contained the following letter, dated Washington, D. C.:

"Consul-General Sherman, of Liverpool, has informed the State Department of the discovery in the Isle of Man, of a portrait of Washington, believed to be one of the three replicas by Gilbert Stuart from his original painting for the Marquis of Landsdowne; and also believed to be the identical portrait that was intended for the Executive Mansion. The portrait is now owned by Mr. William Burrows, and is for sale at the price of $1,000. The size of the canvasS is twenty by fifteen inches." Mr. Sherman adds: "If a genuine Stuart, it would seem that it should be owned by the United States." A photograph of the portrait accompanying the dispatch shows it to be a Stuart beyond any reasonable doubt, and extracts from Black and White, and from the Whitehall Review, give an interesting account of the history of the portrait, which is one of the most singular stories in the history of art, namely, the theft and disappearance of an authentic portrait of George Washington.

"This third portrait was painted for Mr. Gardiner Baker, of New York, an active member of the Society of St. Tammany, which society, at his suggestion, established a museum. This museum was, in 1794, made over to Mr. Baker, who added, among other attractions, this full-length portrait of the General. In 1796 he appears to have gone to Boston to exhibit the picture, but, dying there of yellow fever, the portrait went to a Mr. Laing in satisfaction of a claim. After a time the committee at Washington charged with furnishing the President's house, bought the picture, which was entrusted to one Winstanly to pack and deliver. He, however, copied the Stuart; delivered the copy and fled to England with the original. Stuart himself was the first to discover the fraud. and denounced it. but the false copy still hangs in the White House: while the original Stuart once owned by Mr. Gardiner Baker, the custodian of the Tammany museum, is now in the hands of a picture dealer of Douglas, in the Isle of Man."

Besides the creditable record which the Tammany Society made in the cause of art, it was always ready to lead, or take part, usually to inaugurate all public movements of a patriotic nature, or to commemorate historical events of interest. Thus it came about that the Tammany Society has the credit of having originated the first Columbian celebration. "On the 12th of October 1792 (old style), the members of the Tammany Society met in their wigwam to celebrate the discovery of America by Columbus. A monumental obelisk was exhibited in the Hall, and an eloquent oration on the great mariner was delivered by Brother J. B. Johnson, one of the original members of the Society." A celebration was held later in Boston, on the 23d of October, but Tammany had set the example.