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Gog and Magog of New. York and the guard ian patron of its power, privileges and im munities. Local history proudly refers to the patriotism and wisdom of Recorder Varick; to the deserved popularity of Re corders Riker and Hackett; to the pol ished sway of Recorder Jones, and the early and the later Hoffman; to the learned and oven Chesterfieldian Tallmadge; to the pol itic James M. Smith .(lately sketched in THE GREEN BAG), and to the impressive Smyth, now a justice of the Supreme Court. All have been of, and from, and for, the people, and gifted with that knowledge of human nature so necessary in a judge who tempers justice with mercy when deciding upon the crimes or pecadilloes, and in the appor tionment of punishments appertaining to his erring constituents. The name of Goff — as that of the mysterious regicide in early colonial times — is well know to New Kngland history, and it is now a household word in New York business and professional cir cles. Mr. Goff in his seventeenth year decided to turn towards the legal profession and was fortunate enough to obtain for its study the patronage and educational supervision of the late Samuel G. Courtney, who after having served as district attorney in Albany had removed to New York City and there became one of President's Lincoln's Federal district attorneys. Young GofF united the duties of supervisory messenger and clerk with those of student; and naturally his bent of mind turned toward criminal juris prudence, as its influence was prominent in the Courtney office. Admitted to the bar in the spring of 1876, he was offered by Mr. Courtney the post of managing clerk at a tempting salary. The stipend was a temp tation, but the young attorney thought — similarly to the maxim about the mortgage — "once a managing clerk perhaps always a managing clerk," and resolved to " hang his banner on the outward wall," when per haps the cry would be, as regards clients,

"still they come." The Hamilton building on Broadway opposite the City Hall was then a favorite locality for offices, and thither he repaired in search of one; and, find ing a room suited to his slender purse, pre sented himself to the landlord, John C. Ham ilton, — son of the great Alexander, —-as a tenant. The former asked security for the rent, which young Goff was delicate about asking from friends; so he paid a month's installment, and said, " If I am unable to pay the second month you can turn me out, and it being summer time you can readily ob tain my successor for the fall campaign." Goff was already a tactician, and he charmed the landlord by pleasant references to his family name and relationship to the founder of the Republic, so that the prover bially hard-hearted landlord was induced to say, " I see that you are a likely young man and I'll risk it." There Goff continued in private practice for a decade, and slowly prospering. While a law student he had become identified with the current Fenian movement, and had made many friends in Irish business circles, which brought him clients. A Fenian episode wherein he was actor is interestingly worth a digression. Disaf fection with the measures of the British government toward Ireland had crept among the officers and privates of a dra goon regiment of Her Majesty stationed in Dublin, and some of them were tried and convicted of treason and sent to the Aus tralian penal settlement. Among these were John Boyle O'Reilly and a color sergeant who had carried the flag into the charge of the six hundred at Balaklava. Incipient bard O'Reilly was a very handsome soldier and man. There came love passages be tween him and the daughter of his Scotch warder which resulted in her planning for him some personal liberty. One day walk ing on the beach he observed a large boat about to land from a ship in the offing, fly ing the American flag. O'Reilly lingered