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IN TWO VOLUMES. ^^* Bt the author of 9M/. 4»/M^^ " LBTTEA8 FROM THM M0UNTw£iN9/ 4a 't. J ^ t ^vvr'. VOL. L THIRD EDITION. . 1 >»» ^ m mn. HonHoit: A. K. NEWMAN AND CO. LEADENHALL-STRBET. ><^ #7 1817. «• . . ■ • -V • ■(.- • - #■ ■ ■% < ■ I : . f 1 '*^ ftf ' '1 ;' ' '* ■ 1 . i ., ,.^ ||f;M F"^ ||l :^J^ •?%. €^1j ^-nloifi!^:U t.") -, -tok .li.' i>, 'S]h., ■ 'nmufL ■J' I i-i . ■^ ' / ;\' 'l 'iU ^•il'.'i'.jH V. .■>: i ; . i w , ■....(. vV V. ^'- .* .1 ^^ \'m'i:\^.r.. -. i . •.-- .V SJ^ii^S^Safi^^!Svi,-jAii-% ■%' ;1 v. » ' M M.- 'f ^ ?tl .. b'^i-iiVi' V{c'ii{ n 1- bin:) ■^"iii'j:i:iiua TO ■:uj I.>aiit;invfufi45? ri'jpfir .i.rr.i'it "■rKf '■>,^. 7HE BIGBT HONOVAABLS ■•' --j ■ H SIR WILLIAM GRANT, Knt. io q7^^/ V'i^t> it,.... ii!:.. / J-'.^.i-I.i. > I SIE,''- ^•;''^^' jAliUi. It is very probable that the friends, by whose solicitations I was induced to arrange in the following pages my early recollections, studied more the amusement I should derive from exe- cuting this task, than any pleasure they could expect from its comple- tion. • ' • • ' • ' '• i ? ■ r i I! I: ! The principal object of this work is to record the few incidents, and the many virtues, which diversified and dis- ••~>U> ) VI distinguished the life of a most valued friend. Though no manners could be more simple, no notions more pri- mitive, than those which prevailed among her associdtes, the stamp of originality with which they were marktd, and the peculiar circum- stances in which they stood, both with regard to my friend, and the infant society to which they belonged, will, I flatter myself, give an interest with reflecting minds, even to tliis desul- tory narrative, and the miscellany of description, observation, and detailj^ which it involves. If truth, both of feeling and nJlr- ratioti^ which are its only merits, pi'Qve % sufficient counterbalance to "cA) care- ri vu careles^oessy lao^ity, and incpherence ctf {iit]jfle9 Us prominent faults, I may venture to invite you» when you un- bend from the useful and honourable laboufs to which your valuable time is devoted, to trace tlus leeble deline- ation of an excellent, though unem- bellished' character ; and of the rapid pace with which an infant society has urged on its progress from virtuous simplicity, to the dangerous " know- ledge of good and evil ;" from tremu- lous imbecility to self-sufficient inde- pendence. * To be faithful, a delineation must necessarily be minute. Yet if this sketch, with all its imperfections, be honoured by your indulgent perusal, such I ': i-!' ; f^ r! ^■ww^^ I It vm such condescensien of time and talent must certainly be admired, and may perhaps be imitated by others, a rino/ 'fhtL'.i.' .:?' Jt)'j'.;*i'r,iiCs'!<'|" ^ u ;«u i -"^B'fU October, 1808. > * .';'>?. >!irr.; M km: f 11 J. 1 t ■ . , . 'IIU.I V fX! ,Xflo:;:^ J a ,-:: .1. .-i' ^UAnXKJ ■'x\-^i'^'',:-,. ■ !^i:).V J .J».' ; ) it , s. K«5ng«?7^ .' - i ^ y J' :0 .f.I^jlv CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. !t - '« (i. III »>iwi*pp ■w^iw^"»»« ■'? Introduction, Pagel CHAP. I. ■:.c:r Province of New York. — Origin of the fettlement of Albany. — Singular pofleiTion held by the patron. — Account of his tenants, - 9 ^ . CHAP. 11. J ' Account of ihe Five Nations, or M^ aawk Indians. — ^Building of the fort at Albany. — ^John and Philip Schuyler, - - . 16 CHAP. III. Colonel Schuyler perfuades four Sachems to ac- company him to England. — Their reception and return, . . . 24 ... : CHAP. n u m ( viii ) CHAP. IV. Return of Colonel Schuyler and the Sachems to the interior. — Literary acquifitions. — Diilin- guifhes and in{lru£ls his favourite niece. — Man- ners of the fettlers, - - Page 30 CHAP. V. State of religion among the fettlers. — Inftruftion of children devolved on females— to w^hom the charge of gardening, &c. was alfo committed. — Sketch of the ftate of the fociety at New York, 38 CHAP. VI. Defcription of Albany. — Manner of living there. — Hermitage, &c. . - 44< CHAP. VII. Gentle treatment of ilaves among the Albanians, s — Confequent attachment of domeftics.— Re- flections oh fervitude, - - 51 CHAP. VIII. Education and early habits of the Albanians de- fcribed, - - - 61 ;. CHAP, IX. Defcription of the manner in which the Indian traders fet out on their firfl adventure, 72 CHAP. ( « ) . CHAP. X, ■. * r ^ • / Manlages, amufementi, rural excurCons, &c. among the AlbanianSy ., ^ Page 91 CHAP. XI. Winter amufements of the Albanians, &c. 104 CHAP. XII. Lay-brothers. — Catalina.— Detached Indians, 1 1 4 CHAP. XIII. Progrefs of knowledge. — Indian manners, 126 CHAP. XIV. Marriage of Mifs Schuyler. — Defcription of the Flats, - - - 141 CHAP. XV. Chara£l:er of Philip Schuyler.— His management of the Indians, v • 151 CHAP. XVI. Account of the three brothers. 159 CHAP. XVII. The houfe and rural oeconomy of the Flats.^- Birds and infects, - - 164 CHAP. 'i '■3, ( X ) Y\ \ 'i\ CHAP. XVIII. Dcfcription of Colonel Schuyler's barn, the com- mon, and its various ufes, - Page 176 CHAP. XIX. Military preparations.-^— Difinterefted condu£l: the fureft road to popularity.— Fidelity of the Mo- hawks, - - - 184 CHAP. XX. Account of a refra£tory warrior, and of the fpirit which (till pervaded the New England Provinces, 192 CHAP. XXI. Diftinguifhing charafteriftics of the New York co- lonifts, to what owing. — Hugonots and Pa/a- //W, their character, - - 199 CHAP. XXII. A child ftill-born. — Adoption of children com mon in the province. — Madame*s visit to New Tork^ 205 CHAP. XXIII. Colonel Schuyler's partiality to the military chil- dren fucceflively adopted. — Indian character falfely charged with idlenefs, - 211 CHAP ( xi ) CHAP. XXIV. Progrefs of citilization in Europe. — Northern na- tions in{lru ' hm >-S:m: ''i , a jj-iVi^ SmiJ ■ i^ - i - fi? '* * «■ I r ]^ifc«i^»^* «r|iji'j0^a .■• TO " • DEAR SIR, r • » rjy^^' 1.1 ... t .J i -f; ■ «• ,;-. . i f I * i .:' ' 5"- MO ;.:.'*^. "V ".'■'" ■' ', . Q THBRs as well as you have expressed a wish to see a memoir of my earliest^and iXK)St valuable friend. To gratify you and them I ^el mkny iii'- ducements, and see many objections* To comply with any wish of yours is on| strong inducement. ' - To please myself with the recollection of past happiness and departed worth is an- other; and to -benefit those into whose hands this imperfect sketch may fall, is r third. For, the authentic record of an ex- emplary life, though delivered in the most rouu 9 un^idorned ■ if '1 ^t I i ''I' ••I itiji .* ,-■ *,A -t-r*^ 'Hv \] ' l'\ ( 2 ) unadorned manner, and even degraded by poverty of style, or uncouthness of nar- ration, has an attraction for the uncorrupt- ed mind. It is the rare lot of some exalted charac- ters, by the united power of virtues and of talents, to soar above their fellow-mortals, and leave a luminous track behind, on which successive ages gaze with wonder and de-. light. But the sweet influence of the benign stars that now and then enlighten the page of history, is partial and unfrequent. ; , They to whom the most important parts on the stage of life are allotted, if possessed of abilities undirected by virtue^ are too often J <* Wise to no purpose, artful to no end," that is really good and desirable. They, again, in whom virtue is not sup- ported by wisdom, are often, with the best intentions, made subservient to the short- sighted craft of the artful and designing. Hence, though we may be at times dazzled with the blaze of heroic atchievement, or contem- tontem] *• awful nations tfstablisl all, the form su of ever the ret excuse the dee Wh( chilling bustlin charact or dii crimes It i^ virtues life, th; ture, a: cited h tontemplate with a purer satisfaction thoKe " awful fathers of mankind," by whom nations were civilized, equitable dominion established, or liberty restored; yet, atter all, the crimes and miseries of mankind form such prominent features of the history of every country, that humanity sickens at the retrospect, and misanthropy finds an excuse amidst the laurels of the hero, and the deep-laid schemes of the politician : '■■■' i ** And yet this partial view of things ' 'f *« Is surely not the best/* ^ ' Burk^. Where shall we seek an antidote to the cfiilling gloom left on the mind by these bustling intricate scenes, where the best characters, goaded on by furious factions or dire necessity, become involved in crimes that their souls abhor? It is the contemplation of the peaceful virtues in the genial atmosphere of private life, that c. best reconcile us to our na- ture, and quiet the turbulent emotions ex- cited by ■■,■ . ,^ , , "The madness of the crowd." » 2 But "« • n i1 I ! -m nit •■ li ( * ) But vice, folly, and vanity are so noisy,' so restless, so ready to rush into public view, and so adapted to afford food for ma- levolent curiosity, that the still small voice of virtue, active in its own sphere, but un* willing to quit it, is drowned in their tu- mult. This is a remedy, however. it: Ufit vf!'. irUiti./- ifi *■.::. " Not obvious, not obtrusive. »» * .1 « \.i .<.-?1^T ;;iU If we would counteract the baleful in- fluence of public vice by the contempla- tion pf private worth, we must penetrate into its retreats, and not be deterred from attending to its simple details by the want of that glare and bustle with which a ficti- tious or artificial character is generally sur- rounded. But in this wide field of speculation one might wander out of sight of the original subject. Let me then resume it, and re- turn to my objections. Of these the first and greatest is the dread of being inaccu- rate. Embellished facts, a mixture of truth and fiction, or, what we sometimes meet with, with, a foundal on the s sense w walkin; your fc pulsive ment ij do not narrati^ all true. Buine, fiction, the mir embelli tions. I do city. \ any thi distanc writter misplac form e: tion? ^wish { s ) with, a fictitious superstructure built on a foundation of reality, would be detestable on the score of bad taste, though no moral sense were concerned or consulted. 'Tis walking on a river half frozen, that betrays your footing every moment. By these re- pulsive artifices no person of real discern- ment is for a moment imposed upon. You do not know exactly which part of the narrative is false j but you are sure it is not all true, and therefore distrust what is ge- nuine, where it occurs. For ihis reason a fiction, happily told, takes a greater hold of the mind than a narrative of facts, evidently embellished ind interwoven with inven- tions. J.a'r .a I do not mean to discredit my own vera- city. I certainly have no intention to relate any thing that is not true. Yet in the dim distance of near forty years, unassisted by written memorials, shall I not mistake dates, misplace facts,and omit circumstances which form essential links in the chain of narra- tion? Thirty years ago, when I expressed ^wish to do what I am noW about to at- i' b3 tempt, I ii ;• -' I ii< h'ii: i1 ( 6 ) h;' ]\ '!li tempt, how differently should I have exe- cuted it. A warm heart, a vivid imagina- tion, and a tenacious memory, were then all filled with a theme which I could not touch without kindling into an enthusiasm,8acred at once to virtue atid to friendship. Vene- rated friend of my youth, my guide, and my instructress! are then the dregs of an enfeebled mind, the worn affections of a wounded heart, the imperfect efforts of a decaying memory, all that remain to conse- crate thy remembrance, to make known thy worth, and to lay on thy tomb the of- fering of gratitude ? * ^^ ' My friend's life, besides being mostly passed in unruffled peace and prosperity, aflbrds few of those vicissitudes which asto- nish and amuse, It is from her relations to those with whom her active benevolence connected her, that the chief interest of her story (if story it may be called) arises. It includes that of many persons, obscure indeed but for the light which her regard and beneficence reflected upon them. Yet without those subordinate persons in thg drama, ' ( r ) ^ '- '; ■<>,; « 4 ; i.J i v-» J 1 . .1 'rt. m .^ li '5 .;i. « Mt ■ ..I , • I C CHAP,, 'V •> \.^ D ai # b( ej \ - ;- :* ^.A'- ( 9 ) ,Li.yj1 { Jtji ) it*. . ^ !> nv. li i ^y^^iium 'jij* i.t ,» vlv,-/ i! ■J l/:r> ♦ •»/ :o u'n-... CHAP. I. r'-^it-'-4'«*^^*' ■ Province of New York. — Origin of the Settlement at Albany. — Singular Possession held by the Patron —Account of his Tenants. yr is well known that the Province of New York, anciently called Munhattoes by the Indians, was originally settled by a Dutch colony, which came from Holland, I think, in the time of Charles the Second. Finding the country to their liking, they were followed by others more wealthy and better informed. Indeed some of the early emigrants appear to have been people re- spectable both from their family and cha- racter. Of these the principal were the Cuylers, the Schuylers, the Renselaers, the Delancys, the Cortlandtsj ihe Tinjjrooks, and the Beckmans, who have all of thetn been since distinguished in the civil wars, ekher as persecuted loyalists or tiium- • . B 5 phant ■^■ »: 'if •I m phant patriots. I do not precisely recollect ihc motives assigned for the voluntary exile of persons who were evidently in circumstances that might admit of their living in comfort at home, but am apt to think that the early set tiers were those who adhered to the interest of the Stadtholder's family, a party which, during the minority of King William, was almost persecuted by the high republicans. They who came over at a later period probably belonged to the j)arty which opposed the Stadthdder, and which was then in its turn depressed. These persons afterwards distinguished themselves by an aversion, nearly amount- ing to antipathy, to the British army, and indeed to all the British colonists. Their notions were mean and contracted ; their manners blunt and austere ; and their ha- bits sordid and parsimonious: As tlie settlement began to extend they retired, and formed new establishments,afterwards called FirkkilljEsopus, &c. To the Schuylers, Cuylers, Delancys^ Cortlandts and a few others, this descrip- V tion 1 kind tentT % ?r r 11 ) tion did by no means apply. Yet they too bore about them the tokens of former affluence and respectability, such as family plate, portraits of their ancestors executed in a superior style,and great numbers of ori- ginal paintings, some of which were much admired by acknowledged judges. Of these the subjects were generally^ taken from sa- cred history. . I do not recollect the exact time, but think itwasduringthe last years of Charles the Second, that a settlement we then pos- sessed ^t Surinam was ^xch^nged for the extensive (indeed at that >ime boundlessV province of Munhattoes, which, in com- pliment to the then heir apparent, was called New York. Of the explored part of that country, the most fertile and beautiful was situated far inland, on the banks of the Hudson's River. This co^ pious and majestic stream, is naviq;able i TO miles from its mouth for vessels o£ 60 or 70 tons burthen. Near the head of it^ as a kind of barrier against the nitiv-:?^. and a central resort for traders, the foundatv.^:j \\ I i i; i { 12 ) was laid of a town called Oranienburgli, and afterwards by the British, Albany. After the necessary precaution of erect- ing a small stockaded fort for security, a church was built in the centre of the in- tended town, which served in different re- spects as a kind of land-mark. A gentle- man of che name of Renielaer was con- sidered as in a manner lord paramount of this city, a pre-eminence which his suc- cessor still enjoys, both with regard to the town and the lands adjacent. The original proprietor obtained from the High and Alighty States a grant of lands, which, from the church, extmded twelve miles in every direction, forming a manor twen- ty-four Dutch miles in length, the sam« tn breadth, including lands not oniy of the best quality of any in the pr* ^ ince, but the the most happily wtuated for the purposes both of commerce and of agriculture. This great proprietor was looked up to as much as republicansin a new country could be supposed to look up to any one. He was called the Patroon, a designation tan- tamoui^lt \i ! •■■ i ( 1^ ) tamount to lord of the manor. Yet, In the distribution of these lands, the sturdy Bel- gian spirit of independence set limits to the power and profits of this lord Oi the forests, as he might then be called. None of these lands were either sold or alienated. The more wealthy settlers,as theSchuylers,Cuy- Jers, &c. took very extensive leases of the fertile plains along the river, with bound- less liberty of woods and pasturage, to the westward, llie terms were, that the lease sTiould hold while water runs and grass grows, and the landlord to receive the tenth sheaf of every kind of grain the ground produces. Thus ever accommodating the rent to the fertility of the soil, and changes of the seasons,you may suppose the tenants did not greatly fear a landlord, who could neither remove them, nor heighten their rents. Thus, without the pride of property, they had all the independence of proprie- tors. They were like German princes, who, after furnishing their contingent to the Emperor, might make war on him when they chose. Besides the profits (yearly augmenting) ■-1 ' i\ I }• If' . '*" ■'i\ :•(. ■■«. 'a i; i I Mi ^ t ( U I augmentingN which the patron drew from his ample possessions, he held in his own hands an extensive and fruitful demesne. Yet preserving in a great measure the simple and frugal habits of hisancestors,his|wealth was not an object of envy, nor a source of corruption to his fellow citizens. To the nortliward of these bounds, and at the southern extremity also, the Schuylers and Cuylers held lands of their own. But the only other great landholders I remember, holding their land by those original tenures,* were Philips and Cortlandt; their lands lay also on the Hudson's River,half way down to New York, and were denominated Philips* and Cortlandt's manors. At the time of the first settling of the country the Indians were numerous and powerful along • all the river ; but they consisted o( wander- ing families, who, though they established : some sort of i )cal boundaries for distin- . guishingthe hunting grounds of each tribe, could not be said to inhabit any place. The cool and crafty Dutch governors being un- able to cc^e with them in arms, purchased from from th€ some pet great frie scious of not to pr and inse tlie west, 7 ->. 1 ( 15 ) from them the most valuable tracts for some petty consideration. They affected great friendship for them ; and, while con- scious of their own weakness, were careful not to provoke hostilities; and they,silently and insensibly, established themselves to the west. ill ■'; ■) . » . '» . r V m I . '■' ' ' . V (';;r: ■...., ...'.'; ! : CHAPt i I K ( 16 ) t .y t I t w * ■..• ■ ' :. « . i. / . i ; -'1 ' . .. „ 1 ' / ) '..i', ' ''/ J. • .A '.^T^-/,-; . ^ CHAP II. I • - .1 Account of the Five Nations, or Mohawk Indians.— BuiJding of the Fort at Albany.— John and Philip Schuyler, QN the Mohawk River, about forty miles distant from Albany, there subsisted a confederacy of Indian tribes, of a very diffe- rent character from those mentioned in the preceding chapter; too sagacious to be de- ceived,and too powerful to be eradicated. These were the once renowned five na- tions, whom anyone, who remembersthem while they were a people, will hesitate to call savages. Were ///e'j/ savages who had fixed habitations ; who cultivated rich fields; who built castles, (for so they called their not incommodious wooden houses, surrounded with palisadoes ;) who planted maize and beans, and shewed considerable \7igenuityinconstructingand adorningtl eir canoes, W.I •> canoes wise tl: their m and so was be langua; pressiv vated s stained vages? *«Of «' Anc is not fi point Ameri( existed langua] aware i mory c soother writer, may at and sa pendcd ( 17 ] canoes, armSj and clothing ? They who had wise though unwritten laws, and coiiducted their wars, treaties, and alliances with deep and sound policy ; they whose eloquence was bold, nervous, and animated ; whose language was sonorous, music«il, and ex- pressive ; who possessed generous and ele- vated sentiments, heroic fortitude, and un- stained probity : Were these indeed sa- vages? The difference *' Of scent the headlong lioness between " And hound sagacious, on the tainted green. » is not greater than that of the Mohawks in point of civility and capacity, from other American tribes, among whom, indeed, existed a far greater diversity of character, language, &c. than Europeans seem to be aware of. This little tribute to the me- mory of a people who have been, while it soothes the pensive recollections of the writer, is not so foreign to the subject as it may at first appear. So much of the peace and safety of the infant community de- pended on tlie fricudiihip and alliance of ' - • these * 1 i H ! m i ■ i ( 18 ) these generous tribes; and to conciliate and retain their affections so mucli address was necessary, that common characters were un^ equal to the task. Minds liberal and up- right, like those I am about to describe, could aloneexcite that esteem|fend preserve that confidence, which were Cvssential to- wards retaining the friendship of those va- luable allies. From the time of the great rebellion, so many English refugeesfrequented Holland, that the language and manners of our country became familiar at the Hague, par- ticularly among the Stadtholder's party. When the province of New York fell un- der the British dominion, it became neces- sary that every body should learn our lan- guage, as all public business was carried on in the English tongue, which they did the more willingly, as, after the revolution, the accession of the Stadtholder to the English crown very much recontrled tham to our government. Still, however,. the English was a kind of court language ; little spo- ken, and imperlectly understood in the in- terior. ( 19 ) icriorv Those who carried over with ihcm the French and English languages soon ac- quired a sway over their less enlightened i'ellow-settlers. Of this number were the Schuylers and Cuylers, twofamilies among whpm intel0tt of the superior kind seemed an inheritance, and whose intelligence and liberality of mind, fortified by well^ grounded principle, carried them far be- yond the petty and narrow views of the rest. Habituated at home to centre all \(^is- dom and all happiness in commercial ad- vantages, they would have been Very ill qualified to lay the foundation of an infant state in a country that afforded plenty and content, as the reward of industry, but where the veiy nature of the territory, as well as the state of society, precluded great pecuniary acquisitions. Their object here was to tame savage nature, and to make the boundless wild subservient to agricul- tural purposes. Commercial pursuits were a distant prospect; and before they became of consequence, rural habits had greatly changed the character of these republicans. . . iJut m^ \ "I ' , Hi ' ! .! ! ( ' f f ' -L ^:, ( 20 ) Btit the commercial spirit, inherent in all true Batavians, only slept to wake again, when the avidity of gain was called forth by the temptation of bartering for any lu- crative commodity. Thefurs of the Indians gave this occasion, and Were too soon made the object of the avidity of petty traders. To the infant settlement at Albany the con- sequences of this shortsighted policy might have proved fatal, had not these patriotic leaders, by their example and influence checked for a while such illiberal and dan- gerous practices. It is a fact singular and worth attending to, from the lesson it exhi- bitS| that in all our distant colonies there is no other instance where a considerable town and prosperous settlement has arisen and flourished, in peace and safety, in the midst of nations disposed and often provoked to hostility, at a distance from the protection of ships, and from the only fortified city, which, always weakly garrisoned, was lit- tle fitted to awe and protect the whole pro- vince. Let it be remembered that the dis- tance from New York to Albany is 170 , r miles; miles at thi not dow istedl inde] were at vai tizanj !S; ( 21 ) miles ; and that in the intermediate space, at the period of which I speak, there was not one town or fortified place. The sha- dow of a paiisadoed fort*, which then ex- isted at Albany, was occupied by a single independent company, who did duty, but were dispersed though the town, working at various trades: so scarce indeed were ar- tizans in this community, that a tradesman might in these days ask any wages he chose. To return to this settlement, which evi- dently owed its security to the wisdom of its leaders, who always acted on the simple maxim that honesty is the best policy; se- veral miles north from Albany a consider- able possession called the Flats, was inha- bited by Colonel Philip Schuyler, one df the most enlightened men in the province. This being a frontier, he would have found it a very dangerous situation had he not * It may be worth noting, that Captain Ma«»cy, who commanded this non-effective company for many years, was the father of Mrs. Lennox, an estimable character, well known for her literary productions, and I i I I I I ■ -(ja^- for being the friend and protegee of Doctor Johnson. V been ~,-\»^' ^ W^7* ■ 1 1 •^ ( 29 ) heen a person of singular worth, fortitude, and wisdom. If I were not afraid of tiring my reader with a detail of occurrences which, taking place before the birth of my friend might seem irrelevant to the present purpose, I could relate many instances al- most incredible, of the power of mind dis- played by this gentleman in govern mg the uninstructed, without coercion or legal right. He possessed this species of power in no common degree ; his influence, with that of his brother John Schuyler, was ex- erted to conciliate the wandering tribes of Indians j and by fair traffic, for he too was a trader, and by fair liberal dealing, they attained their object. I'hcy also strength* ened the league already formed with the five Mohawk nations, by procuring for them some assistance against their enemies, the Onondagoes of the I/akes. . Oueen Anne had by this time succeeded the Stacltholder. The gigijntic ambition of Lewis the Fourteenth actuated the re- motest parts of his extensive d')minions ; and the encroaching spirit of that restless jiation nation to the could s sessed they ' which of Nev a kind It beg: fur tra the be origin: daily r great tribes, and of alted i the B cannol at this well aj tlemei gulati( learn i whose promc ( 23 ) nation began to discover itself in hostilities to the infant colony. A motive for this could scarce be discovered, since they pos- sessed already much more territory than they were able to occupy, the limits of which vi'cre undefined. But the province of New York was a frontier; and, as such, a kind of barrier to the southern colonies. It began also to compete for a share of the fur trade, then very considerable, before the beavers were driven back from their original haunts. In short, the province daily rose in importance; and being in a great measure protected by the Mohawk tribes, the policy of courting their alliance, and of impressing their minds with an ex- alted idea of the power and grandeur of the British empire, became obvious. I cannot recollect the name of the governor at this time; but whoever he was, he, as wcJl as the succeeding ones, visited the set- tlement at Albany, to observe its wise re- gulations, and growing prosperity, and to learn maxims of sound policy from those whose interests and happiness were daily promoted by the practice of it. CHAP. • I l!^r •!:^ m ( 'i4 ) •;-t.\, .■.'fI, for-it had not yet taj^enroot in thij^ uncultivated soij. He brought hpmetheSpecta^orandthe tragedy of Gato^ Windsor forest. Young's, poem on the Last Day, and in short all'tl^e. worHs> then published, of that coi^stellation of wits which distinguished the 1^ female reign» Nay more, and better, he br^ought Paradise Lost j which in af ter-timesafFor hasten out with him to communicate their discoveries, and display their acquisitions. They summoned a congress there, not only of the elders of their own nation, but also the chiefs c 4 of 'Hi i' if| i ' ' ' ' n i a 1 ! ■!:! 1 , i i I : i ■ i :v i^ ( 82 ) of all those with whom they were in alliance. This solemn meeting was held in the Dutch church. In the present de- pressed and diminished state of these once powerful tribes, so few traces of their wonted energy remain, that it could scarce be credited, were I able to relate with what bold and flowing eloquence they clothed their conceptions : powerful rea- soning, emphatic language, and graceful action, added force to their arguments; they persuaded their adherents torenounce all connexion with the tribes under the French influence ; and to form a lasting league, offensive and defensive, with that great queen, whose mild majesty had so deep, ly impressed them : and with the mighty people whose kindness had gratified and whose power had astonished them, whose populous cities swarmed with arts and com- merce, and in whose floating castles they had rode safely over the ocean. I have seen a vo- lume of thespeeches of these Mohawkspre- served by Colonel Schuyler ; they were li- terally translated, so that the native idiom was was pres them u strength Whei Englanc talina, t bout sev sons, ye above tl knowle< per ; th was at t] means o: female ducted needle " both sk mother at that and a fe kind, ment f( did, the general! and fe>^ educatii ■^i-'-f.- { 33 ) was preserved; which, instead of rendering^ them uncouth, seemed to add to their strength and sublimity. When Colonel Schuyler returned from England, about the year 1 709, his niece Ca- talina, the subject of this narrative, was a- bout seven years old; he had a daughter and sons, yet this child was early distinguished above the rest for docility, a great desire of knowledge, and an even and pleasing tem- per ; this her uncle had early observed. It was at that time very difficult to procure the means of instruction in those inland districts ; female education of consequence was con- ducted on a very limited scale; girls learnt needle work (in which they were indeed both skilful and ingenious) from their mothers and aunts ; they were taught too at that period to read, in Dutch, the bible, and a few Calvinist tracts of the devotional kind. But in the infancy of the settle- ment few girls read English; when they did, they were thought accomplished ; they generally spoke it, however imperfectly, and few were taught writing. This confined ( 37 ) industry was the certain path to plenty. Surrounded on all sides by those whom the least instance of fraud, insolence, or grasp- ing meanness, would have rendered ir- reconcileable enemies, they were at first obliged to " assume a virtue if they had it not ;*' and every circumstance that ren- ders virtue habitual, may be accounted a happy one. I may be told that the vir- tues I describe were chiefly those of situa- tion. I acknowledge it. It is no more to be expected that this equality, simpli- city, and moderation, should continue in a more advanced state of society, than that the sublime tranquility, and dewy freshness, which adds a nameless charm to the face of nature, in the dawn of a summer morning, should continue all day. Before increased wealth and ex- tended territory, these *' wassel days'* quickly receded ; yet it is pleasing to in- dulge the remembrance of a spot, where peace and felicity, the result of moral ex- cellence, , dwelt undisturbed, for^ alas ! hardly for, a century. CHAP, I 38 ) CHAP. V. State of Religion among' the Settlers. — Instiiiction of Children devolved on Females— to whom the Charge of Gardening, &c. was also committed. — Sketch of the State of the Society at New York. T MUST finish this general outline, by say- ing something of that religion which gave stability and effect to the virtues of this infant society. Their religion, then, like their original national character, had in it little of fervour or enthusiasm : their manner of performing religious duties was regular and decent, but calm, and to more ardent imaginations might appear me- chanical. None ever doubted of the great truths of revelation, yet few seemed to dweU on the result with that lively delight which devotion produces in mir\ds of keener sensibility. If their piety, however^ was without enthusiasm, it was also with- out bigotry ; they wished others to think as they did, without shewing rancour or contempt t.-tk ( 39 > contempt towards those who did not. In. many individuals, whose lives seemed go- verned by the principles of religion, the spirit of devotion seemed to be quiescent in the heart, and to break forth in exi- gencies ; yet that monster in nature, an impious woman, was never heard of among them. Indeed it was on the females that tho task of religious instruction generally de- volved ; and in all cases where the heart is interested, whoever teaches, at the same 'ime learns. Before I quit this subject, I must ob- serve a singular coincidence ; not only the training of children, but of plants, such a& needed peculiar care or skill to rear themi was the female province. Every one in town or country had a garden ; but all the more hardy plants grew in the fieldj, in rows, amidst the hills, as they were called^ of Indian corn. These lofty plants sheltered them from the sun, while the same hoeing served for both : there cabbages, potatoes, and other esculent roots, with variety of gourds t I »/' 1 .■■ i ( 40 ) gourds grew to a great size, and were of an excellent quality. Kidney-beans, aspa- ragus, celery, great variety of sallads and sweet herbs, cucumbers, &c. were only admitted into the garden, into which no foot of man intruded, after it was dug in spring. Here were no trees, those grew in the orchard in high perfection ; straw- berries and many high-flavoured wild fruits of the shrub kind abounded so much in the woods, that they did not think of cultivating them in their gardens^ which were extremely neat but small, and not by any means calculated for walking in. I think I yet see what I have so often be- held both in town and country, a respect- able mistress of a family going out to her garden, in an April morning, with her great calash, her little painted basket of seeds, and her rake over her shoulder, to her garden labours. These were by na means merely figurative, " From morn till noon, from noon till dewy eve.** A woman, in very easy circumstances, and abundantly gentle in form and manners, would they % ( 41 ) \vou I' !il ^1 ( 'i ■ \ [ so ) to the children of the family on holidays, and as a nursery for the young, negroes, whom it was the custom to rear very ten- derly, and instruct very carefully. ; r ■■f ■ 7-» •'.; 'wm I r.-y , ! ■■ >'■ -i f * 1 • a smile ■ *' ■ - » • ■ / possibk ' f • '? .i\^ ^■ that tra '■ '.''''; no higi ..' "? ' ' society ■' •-! .' :;-. relation • ' -. - s better i '■ . J . " . ■. . place. cate foi ! > ' ■' '. ' ;■ . ' have ne tude as J; . . V » . . •: Onerea of the V ,^:: , '' -/J, ) allow her children to go into any family with whose domestics she was not ac- quainted. These negro-women piqued themselves on teaching their children to be excellent servants, well knowing servitude to be their lot for life, and that it could only be sweetened by making themselves parti- cularly useful, and excelling in their de- partment. If they did their work well, it is astonishing, when I recollect it, what li- berty of speech was allowed to those ac- tive and. prudent mothers. Th;;y would chide, reprove, and expostulate in a man- ner that we would not endure from our hired servantsj and sometimes exert fully as much authority over the children of the family as the parents, conscious that they were entirely in their power. They did not crush freedom of speech and opinion in thcs3 by whom they knew they were be- loved, and who watched with incessant care over their interest and comfort. Af- fectionate and faithful as these home bred servants were in general, there were some instances (but very few) of those who, through levity of mind, or a love of liquor or (. ) family not ac- piqued in to be rvitude lid only js parti- leir de- well, it what li- ose ac- would a man- im our t fully of the they id not ion iii re be- essant . Af- bred some who, [iqiior or finery, betrayed their trust, or habitually neglected their duty. In these cases, after every means. had been used to reform them? no severe punishments were inflicted at home. JJut the terrible sentence, which they dreaded worse than death, vvaS passed — they were sold to Jamaica. The necessi- ty of selling them was bewailed by the whole family as a most dreadful calamity, and the culprits were carefully watched on their way to New York, lest they should evade the sentence by self destruction. One must have lived among those placid and humane people to be sensible that ser- vitude, hopeless, endless servitude, could exist with so little servility and fear on the one side, and so little harshness or even sternness of authority in the other. In Europe, the footing on which service is placed in consequence of the corruptions of society, hardens the heart, destroys confidence, and embitters life. The deceit and venality of servants not absoltrteiy dishonest, put it out- of one's power to |ove or. trust them. And if in hopes of having people attached to us who will D 4 neither i ' ; 1 ' ■ f : -■ ;,!:•; Hi :'i T (it i! Ill' ( 56 ) ficither betray our confidence, nor cot- rupt our children) we are at pains to rear tliem from childhood, and give them a reli- gious and moral education; after all our labour, others of their own class may- seduce them away to those who can afford to pay higher for their services. This is not the case in a few remote dis- tricts, from which surrounding mountains seem to exclude the contagion of the world ; there some traces of fidelity and afFection among domestics still remain. But it must be remarked that, in those very districts, it is usual to treat inferiors with courtesy and kindness, and to consi- der tliose domestics who marry out of the family as holding a kind of relation to it, and still claiming protection. In short, the corruption of that class of people is, doubt- less, to be attributed to the example of their superiors. But how severely are those superiors punished ? Why this ge- iicraj indifference about home ? why are the household gods, why is the sacred hearth so wantonly abandoned ? Alas! the charm of home is destroyed, since oirr- children. fen. ( 57 ) children, educated in distant seminaries, are strangers in the paternal mansion ; and our servants, like mere machines, move on their mercenary track without feeling or exciting one kind or generous sentiment. Home, thus despoiled of all its charms, is no longer the scene of any enjoyments but such as wealth can purchase. At the same time ^we feel there a nameless cold priva- tion, and, conscious that money can pro- cure the same. enjoyments with more va- riety elsewhere, we substitute these' fu- tile and evanescent pleasures for the pe- rennial spring of calm satisfaction, " with- out o'erflowing full," which is fed by the exercise of the kindly affections ; and soon indeed must those stagnate^ where there are not proper objects to excite them.— I . have been forced into this painful digres- - sion by unavoidable comparisons* . Amidst all thisv mild and-really tender indulgence to their negroes, these colo- nists had not the smallest scruple of con- science with regard to the right by which ; they held them ia subjection. Had that beQn the case, their singular humanity D S W€uld i ^'' til i ,: 1 .' ,.■?' !l I r- f u w SfsS Mr II l1 ( SH ) have been incompatible with continued injustice. But the truth is, that of law the generality of those people knew little; and of philosophy, nothing at all. They sought their code of morality in the Bible, and imagined that they there found this hap- less race condemned to perpetual slavery j ^nd thought nothing remained for them but to lighten the chains of their fellow Christians, after having made them such. 1 neither " extenuate,'' nor " set down in malice," but merely record the fact. At the same time it is but justice to re- cord also a singular instance of moral de- licacy distinguishing this settlement from every other in the like circumstances, though, from tlteir simple and kindly modes of life, they were from infancy in habits of familiarity with their negroes, yet being early taught that nature had placed between them a barrier, which it was in a high degree criminal and dis- graceful to pass, they considered a mix- %Uve of such distinct races, with ahhor- reuce, as a violation of her laws. This greatly conduct to the preservation of family hi:! ( 59 ) family^ happiness and concord. An ambi- guous race, which the law does not ac- knowledge ; and who (if they have any moral sense, must be as much ashamed of their parents as these last are of them) are certainly a dangerous, because de- graded part of the community. How much more so must be those unfortunate beings who stand in the predicament of the bat in the fable, whom both birds and beasts disowned? I am sorry to say that the progress of the British army, when it arrived, might be traced by a spurious and ambiguous race df this kind. But of a mulatto born before their arrival I onlv remember a single instance; and from the regret and wonder it occasioned, con- sidered it as singular. Colonel Schuyler, of whom I am to speak, had a relation so weak and defective in capacity, that he never was intrustedr.with any thing of his own, and Jived an idk bachelor about the family, . In process of time a favourite negro- woman, . ta the great offence and scandal of th« family, bor-e a child to him, whose colour. gave testimony to- D.6. the* tl AIM ■t i>. '\ ::\\ .::■;.■] % -•1 i''' !■ :f ■' '^r. i: . ■■■St i i ! ,1 ! . ... . ! ( €0 ) the relation. The boy was carefully edu- cated J and, when he grew up a farm was allotted to him well stocked and fertile, but *' in depth of woods embraced," about two miles back from the family seat. A destitute white woman, who had somehow wandered from the older colonies, was induced to marry him ; and all the branches of the family thought it incum- on them now and then pay a quiet visit to Chalk (for so, for some unknown reason, they always called him). I have been in Chalk's house myself, and a most comfort- abode it was; but I considered him as a mysterious and anomalous being, I have dwelt the longer on this singu- lar instance of slavery, existing devoid of its attendant horrors, because the fidelity and affection resulting from a bond of union so early formed between master and servant contributed so very much to the safety of individuals, as well as to the general comfort of society, as will here- after appear. , ,.>JC. Educ *HEf< Stil] laid vei always bany, t: of Socie of a sin The chi into con live or s marriage originate lations, 1 to none, yet alwa that I spo Every co girls. B any limit CHAP. In I ( 61 ) CHAP. VIII. t > Education and early Habits of the Albanians ' desci'ibed. Ill .li^V; B 1, , '■Ml ii P. 'yHE foundations both of friendship and still tenderer attachments were here laid very early by an institution which I always thought had been peculiar to Al- bany, till I found in Dn Moore *s View of Society on the Continent an account of a similar custom subsisting in Geneva. The children of the town were all divided into companies, as they called them, from five or six years of age, till they became marriageable. How those companies first originated, or what were their exact regui« lations, I cannot say j though I, belonging to none, occasionally mixed with several, yet always as a stranger, notwithstanding that I spoke their current language iluently^. Every company contained as many boys as girls. But I do not know that there was any limited number; only this I recollect, that ■' !M 1 'Ml ' if AU ■ I; ::r -1. -i-! Mi ( 62 ) that a boy and a girl of each company, who were older, cleverer, or had some other pre eminence above the rest, were called heads of the company, and, as such, were obeyed by the others. Whether they were voted in, or attained their pre-eminence by a tacit acknowledgement of their su- periority, I know not; but however it was attained, it was never disputed. The company of little children had also their heads. All the children of the same age were not in one company ; there were at least three or four of equal ages, who had a strong rivalry with each other; and children of different ages, in the same fa- mily, belonged to different companies. Wherever there is human nature there will be a degree of emulation, strife, and^ a desire to lower others, that we may exalt ourselves. Dispassionate as my friends comparatively were, and bred up in the highest attainable candour and innocence, they regarded the company most in com» petition with their own with a degree of jealous animosity. Each company, at a certain time of the year, went in a body la to ga the hi attenc compj that i made handle were i compa gree o and w spleen would compai these e of thej encour dividin permiti pany o during and mi bound sions, 'v to atter ample p ( 63 ) to gather a particular kind of berries, fo the hill. It was a sort of annual festival, attended with religious punctuality. Every company had an uniform for this purpose; that is to say, very pretty light baskets made by the Indians, with lids and handles, which hung over the arm, and were adorned with various colours. One company would never allow the least de- gree of taste to the other in this instance ; and was sure to vent its whole stock of spleen in decrying the rival baskets. Nor would they ever admit that the rival company gathered near so much fruit on these excursions as they did. The parents of these children seemed very much to encourage this manner of marshalling and dividing themselves. Every child was permitted to entertain the whole com* pany on its birth-day, and once besides^ during winter and sjpring. The master and mistress of the family always were bound to go from home on these occa- sions, while some old domestic was left to attend and watch over them, vnth an ample provision of t^a^ chooolat^, preserved and r ^Dr t f V ; . ! \ ,- 4i 1 ■.*<,'■. ( •p 1 ] f '"':''-"■ ';i >• i > ■ *" % * ( 64 ) 'HLf. and dried fruits, nuts, and cakes of vari- ous kindSi to which was added cyder or a sylLibub ; for these young friends met at four, and did not part till nine or ten, and anmsed themselves with the utmost gaiety and freedom in any way their fancy dictated. I speak from hearsay; for no person that does not belong to the com pany is ever admitted to these meetings : other children or young people visit occa- sionally, and are civilly tr ted, but they admit of no intimacies beyond their com- pany. The consequence of these exclusive and early intimacies was, that grown up, it was reckoned a sort of apostacy to marry out of one's company, and indeed it did not often happen. The girls, from the example of their mothers, rather than any compulsion, very early became nota- ble and industrious, being constantly em- ployed in knitting stcrkings, and making clothes for the family and slaves; they even made all the boys' clothes. This was the more necessary, a« all articles of dothing were extremely dear. Though all the necessaries of life, and some luxuries, hciii abounded abound commo( to be ac dulged state of 1 good (o] tion, vai sions we founded emineno the affeci unchecb which 01 advanced restraiiic dren at punishm( them iik them to ideas, anc vanity wonders sayings. and early <^njoymei ficence. ( 6,5 ) abounded, money, as yet, was a scarce commodity. This industry was the more to be admired, as children were here in- dulged to a degree that, in our vitiated state of society, would have rendered them good for nothing. But there, where ambi- tion, vanity, ind the more turbulent pas- sions were scarce awakened ; where pride, founded on birth, or any external pre- eminence, was hardly known ; and where the affections flourished fair and vigorous,' unchecked by the thorns arid thistles with which our minds are cursed in a more advanced state of refinement, affection restrained parents ffOm keeping their chil- dren at a distance, and inflicting harsh punishments. But then they did not treat them like apes or parrots, by teaching them to talk with borrowed words and ideas, and afterwards gratifying their own vanity by exhibiting these, premature wonders to company, or repeating their sayings. They were tenderly cherished, and early taught that they owed all their enjoyments to the Divine Source of bene- ficence, to whom they were finally ac- countable 1 \ 1 : ■ i ' 1 :1 1 , 1 I '4 m 111 •i ■^ l! !l :i vril ^l;i i ii T ( C6 ) countable for their actions ; for the rest they were very much left to nature, and permitted to range about at full liberty in their earliest years, covered in summer with some slight and cheap garb, which merely kept the sun from them, and in winter with some warm habit, in which convenience only was consulted. TheiF dress of ceremony was never put on but when their comfiany were assembled. They were extremely fond of their children ; but, luckily for the latter, never dreamed of being vain of their immature wit and parts, which accounts in some measure, ioE the great scarcity or coxcombs among them. The children returned the fond, ness of their parents with such tender af- fection, that they feared giving them pain as much as ours do punishment, and very rarely wounded their feelings by neglect, or rude answers. Yet the boys were often wilful and giddy at a certain age, the girls being sooner tamed and domesti- cated. These youths were apt, whenever they could carry a gun, (which they did at a very fond. ler af- pain very gleet, were they Id at a very ( 67 ) Tery early peiiod,) to follow some fa- vourite negro to the woods, and, while he was employed in felliiig trees, to range the whole day in search of game, to the neg- lect of all intellectual improvement ; and they thus contracted a love of savage li- berty which might, and in some instances did, degenerate into licentious and idle habits. Indeed,, there were three stated periqds in the year when, for a few days, young and old, masters and slaves, were abandoned to unruly enjoyment, and neg- lected every serious occupation for pur- suits of this nature. We who occupy countries fuiiy in-, habited can fonri no idea of the multitude of birds and animals that nature provides to consume her waste fertility in those regions unexplored by man. In the in* terior of the province the winter is mucL colder than might be supposed, fromtthe latitude in which it lies, which is only ^y2^ ."JG ; this is owing to the keen north. winds v.hich blow constantly for four or iive months over vast frozen lakes and snowy tracts, in the direction of Canada. •^ ' Ike • ! I 1 i.j y i 1 1 ' III ^i! ■ii . f ; ■ ; J ;:'-'.f :>" ,1 ' ^ ', ■„ M m vr: . J "f { 68 ) The snow too lies very deep ; but when once they are visited by the south wind in March, its literally warm approach dis- solves the snow like magic; and one. never sees another wintery day till the season of cold returns. These southern winds seem to flow in a rapid current, uninterrupted by mountains or other obstacles, from the burning sands of the FJoridas, Georgia, and the Carolinas, and bring with them a degree of warmth, that appears no more the natural result of the situation, than the intense cold of winter does in tjjdt season. Along the sea banks in all the^ southern provinces, are low sandy lands, which never were nor will be inhabited, covered with the berry-bearing myrtle,from which wax is extracted fit for candles. Behind these banks are woods and unwholesome swamp": of great extent. The myrtle groves formerly mentioned afford shelter and food to countless multitudes of pigeons in winter, when their fruit is in season ; while wild geese and ducks, in numbers nearly as great, pass the winter in the im- penetrable swamps behind. Some time in the the n tak's geese they 1 till th riverS; they r where the sa haunts are larj plant t wild a on the the sur rearing spring, track, t very fat southwj and aut that rei they pa begin tc seen afi morninf ( 69 ) the month of April, a general emigration tak s place to the northward, first of the geese and ducks, and then of the pigeons; they keep the direction of the sea coast till they come to the mouths of the great rivers, and then fojlow their course till they reach the great lakes in the interior, where nature has provided for them with the same liberality as in their winter haunts. On the banks of these lakes there are large tracts of ground, covered with a plant taller and more luxuriant than the wild carrot, but something- resembling it, on the seeds of which the pigeons feed afl the summer, while they are breeding and rearing their young. When they pass in spring, which they always do in the same track, they go in great numbers, and are very fat. Their progression northward and southward begins always about the vernal and autumnal equinoxes ; and it is this that renders the carnage so great when they pass over inhabited districts. Ihey begin to fly in the dawn, and are never seen after nine or ten o'clock in the morning, possibly feeding and resting in the '■ ii i ;i! ' i I !•: 1. '1 \ ■v'* * ; 'Vi f 'f 41 ! ) ( 70 ) !the woods all the rest oftheday. Jftlie morning be dry and windy, all the fowlers (that is, eveiy body) are disappointed, for then the pigeons fly so high tha^ no shot can reach them ; b*it in a cloudy morning the carnage is incredible ; and it is singu- lar that their migration falls out at the times of tlie year when the weather (evevi in this serene climate,) is generally cloudy. This migration, as it passed by, occa* sioned, as I said before, a total relaxation from all employments, and a kind of drunken gaiety, though it was rather slaughter than sport ; and, for above a fortnight, pigeons in pies and soups, and every way they could be dressed, were the food of the inhabitants. These were immediately succeeded by m ild geese and ducks, wnich concluded the carnival for that season, which was to be renewed ia September. About six weeks after the passage of these birds, sturgeons of a large size, and in great quantity, made their appearance in the river. Again the same ardour seemed to pervade all ages in pur- suit of this new object. Every family had a canoe launchei traced t river ; f often c( water, ioaded i fish, and tlieir ki] usually a not only of their i Has pick I expo^fi i t a canoe Tl (71) a canoe ; and on this occasion all were launched ; and these persevering fishers traced the course of the sturgeon up the river ; followed them by torch light ; and often continued two nights upon the water, never returning till they had loaded their canoes with this valuable fish, and many other very excellent in their kinds, that come up the river, usually at the same time. The sturgeon not only furnished them with good part of their food in the summer months, but was pickled or dried for future use or expo^tf^^n. ^^ '••*.•»■• rere land for ift the trgc Iheir lame )ur- ihad ■L\. (^ I \ i '!.i ■*. 1 > I. i CHAP. loe ( 72 ) !l : \tmm\ ,M .". CHAP. IX. ® ;'-efe4' Description of the Manner in which the Indian Traders set out on their first Adventure. nro return to the boys, as all young men were called here till they married. Thus early trained to a love of sylvan sports, their characters were unfolded by contingencies. In this infant society penal laws lay dormant, and every species of co- ercion was unknown. ♦ Morals, founded on Christianity, were ypostered by the sweet influence of the charities of life. The reverence which children in particular had for their pa- rents, and the young in general for the old, were the chief bond thit held so- ciety together. This veneration, being founded on esteem, certainly could only have existed thus powerfully in an un- corruptcd community. It had, however, an auxDiary no less powei'ful. Here, Here said, « Lore b In CO associati dren of ready i formed \vere th tachmen These tic enthi an inflar of rivalr yet they the man the lovei 1 kno to obser^ der of people, d universal hereafter other pai their affe VOL I. ( 7S ) Here, indeed, it might with truth.be said, • • « Love breath*d his infant sighs from anguish fie.*." « In consequence of the singular mode of associating little exclusive parties of chil- dren of both sexes, which has been al- ready mentioned, endearing intimacies, formed in the age of playful innocence, u^ere the precursors of more tender at- tachments. These were not wrought up to roman- tic enthusiasm or extravagant pa^ion by an inflamed imagination, or by the fears of rivalry, or the s^'tiiices of coquetry, yet they had power sufficient to soften the manners and elevate thu character of the lover. 1 know not if this be the proper place to observe, how much of the general or- der of soc''^ty, and the happiness of a people, depend on marriage being early and universal among them : but of this more hereafter. The desire (undiverted by any other passion) of obtaining the object of their affection, was to them a stimulus to VOL I. E eailjr ' >i II ( 7 + ■J U^H , .1;; <■ early and severe exertion. The enamour- ed youth did not listlessly fold his arms and sigh over his hopeless or unfortunate passion. Of love not fed by hope they had not an idea. Their attachments originat- ed at too early an age, and in a circle too fa- miliar to give room for those first- sight impressions of which we hear such won- ders. If the temper of the youth was rash and impetuous, and his fair one gentle and complying, they frequently formed a rash and precipitate union without con- sulting their relations, when perhaps the elder of the two was not above seven- teen. This was very quietly borne by the parties aggrieved. The relations of both parties met, and with great calmness con- sulted on what was to be done. The father of the youth or the damsel, which- ever it was who had most wealth, or fev\'- est children, brought home the young couple ; and the new married man im mediately set about a trading adventur-. which was renewed every season, till h^ had the means of pnwiding a home of his own. Meantime the increase of th^ younger ( -s ) younger family did not seem an inconve- nience, but rather a source of delight to the old people ; and an arrangement be- gun from necessity was often continued through choice for many years after. Their tempers, unruffled by the endless jealousies and competitions incident to our mode of life, were singularly placid, and the love of offspring, where children were truly an unmixed blessing, was a com- mon sentiment which united all the branches of the family and predominated over every other. The jarring and dis- trust, the petulance and egotism^ which, distinct from all weightier considerations, would not fail to poison concord, were different families to dwell under one roof here, were there scarcely known. It is but justice to our acquired delicacy of sentiment to say, tlnit the absence of re- finement contribute 1 to this tranquillit^'. These primiti- e peoj^, if they did not gather the fliowers of cultivated elegance, were not wounded by the thorns of ir- ritable de icacy : they had n 'the^ irti i- dai wants, nor artificial miseries. In ^brrt, E 2 laey a| '! •Ai',1 ^.1 J! wr MS m ' (;• ,J^ ( 76 ) they were neither too wise to be happy, nor too witty to be at rest. Thus it was in the case of unauthoriz- ed marriages. In the more ordinary course of things, love, which makes labour light, tamed these young hunters^ and trans- formed them into diligent and labori- ous traders, for the nature of their trade included very severe labour. When one of the boys was deeply smitten, his fowl- ing-piece and fishing rod were at once relinquished. He demanded of his fa- ther forty or at most fifty dollars, a ne- gro boy, and a canoe ; all of a sudden he assumed the brow of care and solici- tude, and began to smoke, a precaution absolutely necessary to repel aguish damps, and troublesome insects. He ar- rayed himself in a habit very little differ- ing from that of the Aborigines, into whose bounds he was about to penetrate, and in short commenced Indian trader. That strange amphibious animal, who, unit- ing the acute sei ses, the strong instincts, and the unconquerable patience and fortitude of the savage, with the art, po- licy. Jicy, coun and in th< Th hardy fbrtur gener; predi J amidst male nerall) well k tliis pe] The strouds beads, and far ous art made a ardent early ac of whic sometin hawks iiabitua) ( 77 ) llcy, and inventions of the European, ea- countered in the pursuit of gain dangers and difficulties equal to those described in the romantic legends of chivalry. The small bark canoe in which thii> hardy adventurer embarked himself, his fortune, and his faithful squire^ (who was generally born in the same house, and pred<.stined to his service,) was launched amidst the tears and prayers of his fe- male relations, amongst whom was ge- nerally included his destined bride, who well knew herself to be the motive of this perilous adventure. The canoe was entirely filled with coarse strouds and blankets, guns, powder, beads, &c. suited to the various wants and fancies of the natives; one pernici- ous article was never wanting, and often made a great part of cargo. This was ardent spirits, for which the natives too early acquired a relish, and the possession of which always proved dangerous, and sometimes fatal to the traders. The Mo- hawks bring their furs and other peltry habitually to the stores of their wonted E 3 friends I ! ■i 1,1 ^ I: I ! >i ""^ ( 78 ) and patrons. It was not in that easy and safe direction that these trading adven- tures extended. The canoe generally steered northward towards the Canadian frontier. They passed by the Flats and Stonehook in the outset of their journey. Then commei^ced tlieir toils and dangers .It the famous water- fall called the Co- hoes, ten miles above Albany, where three rivers, uniting their streams into one, dash over a rocky shelf, and falling into a gulph belovv- \\'ith great violence, raise clouds of mist bedecked with splen- ilid rain-bows. This was the Rubicon which they had to cross before they plunged into pathless woods, ingulphing swamps, and lakes, the opposite shores of which the eye could not reach. At the Cohoes, on account of the obstruction formed by the torrent, they unloaded their canoe, and carried it above a mile further upon their shoulders, re- turning again for the cargo, which they were obliged to transport in the same manner. This wa,s but a prelude to la- bours dcr IS of the :tion ided re a re- they lame la- )urs ( 71) ) bours and ciani^ers, Incredible to tliosf who dwell at ease, rurther on, much longer carrying places frequently recurred : wJi re they hud the vessel ai.d cargo to drag tjirougli thickets impervious to the day, abounding with .^nakes and wild beasts, which are always to be found on tlie side of rivers. 1 heir provision of food was necessarily small, from fear of over loading the slen- der and unstable conveyance already crouded with goods. A little dried beef and Indian corn-meal was their whole stock, thougu they formerly enjoyed both plenty and variety. They were in a great measure obliged to depend upon their own skill in hunting ana ishing, and on the hospitality of the Indians: for hunting, indeed, they had small leisure, their time being sedulou ly employed by the obstacles that retarded their progress. In their slight and fragile canoes, they often had to cross great lakes, on which th' \And raised a terri- ble surge. Afraid <' going into the track of the French traders, who were B 4 al\vay;i ^r :) : ;i I I I" „, ] ■ ! ) ■ , I'i ; t ill ;' i^i : i I IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 4 1.0 I.I ^1^ IM 112.0 1^ 1^ ■- iil^ 1.8 11.25 IIIIII.4 IIIIII.6 V] -r . from guage prisoiK them. the tet niiy, f generoj recollec led me i Thej occasior xiety t duced.^ ^ii the love] the next menced. New Yc peltry, pi ther slave laid out 1 tures in ; of the pr( the Bern rally purcj cedar sch( t^iose islan ( 8d ) from the traders who know their lan- guage and customs, and from the adopted prisoners who have spent years among them. How unequivocal, how consistent is the testimony they bear to their huma- nity, friendship, fortitude, fidelity^ and generosity ; but the indulgence of the recollections thus suggested have already led me too far from my subject. The joy that the return of these youths occasioned was proportioned to the an- xiety their perilous journey had pro- duced. In some instances the union of the lovers immediately took place before the next career of gainful hardships com- menced. But the more cautious went to New York in winter, disposed of their peltry, purchased a larger cargo, and ano- ther slave and canoe. The next year they laid out the profits of their former adven- tures in flour and provisions, the stitple of the province ; this they disposed of at the Bermuda Islands, where they gene- rally purchased one of those light sailing cedar schooners, for building of which those islanders |re famous, and proce'eding Aj--/ to f y!'\ ■'Vi;iJ li^l. '1! 1 :i'il' ..II >: ' \ iK!:' Ij Ihli: ( 90 ) the Leeward Islands, loaded It with a cargo of rum, sugar, and molasses.:., i. /•" They were now ripen^^^ into men, and considered as active and Ful members of society, possessing a sta' a the common weal." ,^ ,:. ui^^iu-i^^-c. ,< The young ac er had generally finished this proceb., ^y the same time he was one or (at most) two and twenty. He now married, or if married befoto, which pretty often vas the case, brought home his wife to a house of his own. Either he kept his schooner, and loading her with produce, sailed up and down the river all summer, and all winter disposed of the cargoes he obtained in exchange to more distant settlers ; or he sold her, purchased European goods, and kept a store. Otherwise he settled in the coun- try, and became as diligent in his agri- cultural pursuits as if he had never known ■a^^irrw iti •^•vj, v'l' "J ■if::i'MV^i^\^ 'Jii ■•'nJ. •fi/f ^fXi.- <'^ CHAP. ( ^>1 ) CHAP. X. )jj Marriages, Amusements, rural Excursions, &c. among . ,, the Albanians. , • ; J IT was in this manner that the young co- lonist made the transition from boy- hood to manhood ; from the disengaged and careless bachelor, to the provident and thoughtful father of a family ; and thus was spent that period of life so criti- cal in polished society to those whose con- dition exempts them from manual labour. Love, undiminished by any rival passion, and cherished by innocence and candour, was here fixed by the power of early habit, and strengthened by similarity of edu- cation, tastes, and attachments. Incon- stancy or even indilTerency among mar- ried couples was unheard of, even where there happened to be a considerable dis- parity in point of intellect. The extreme affection they bore to their mutual off- spring was a bond that for ever en- >.— . • deared ^- il 'm I'll :w. |]'i:i : 1 u 1 ' *l ■ il if t:i;ii: '■■'} ■';*■■( i ■ . ,!ir-? v^ III ( 92 ) endeared them to each other. Marriagf in this colony was always early, very often happy, and very seldom indeed interested. When a man had a son there was nothing to be expected with a daughter but a well-brought-up female slave, and the furniture of the best bed- chamber. At the death of her father she obtained another division of his effects, such as he thought she needed or de served, for there was no rule in these cases. Such was the manner in which those colonists began life j nor must it be thought that those were mean or un- informed persons. Patriots, magistrates, generals, those who were afterwards wealthy, powerful, and distinguished, all, except a few elder brothers, occupied by their possessions at home, set out in the same manner ; and in after life, even in the most prosperous circumstances, they delighted to recount the " humble toils and destiny obscure" of their early years. The very idea of being ashamed of any thing that was neither vicious nor in- *' defient \ arriage ', very indeed a son i with female Jt bed- ler she effects, or de these those it be >r un« t rates, ■wards d, aU, led by in the ven in . they e toils ears. >f any >r in- ^efient ( 95 ) banian Early accustomed to this nnM ^^'"Pjicity, this dignified canl t ' n«t express f h« candour, I can- -ty. that extrere direT"''^ P"" "•"• real condition and "'"''='""2 ^'e are not whirl k 'PP^^-^'^g what Frt. .nore particular ylf'i^ '"'.",'•*"•" ' have often wondered W L""? ' '^nt'ment, that undermines a7, ''''^ "- of „,ind, should 'evaa r' ^'''''' fan in England, where weathr'""' '•""bt. is „ore respeceT ',''''""'' =' P<«derates more over bfrth T ^'" and mind and rr. ,' =""* ^^art, Orations. Ir^ir'^' -'-We co„: "ot sordid whvZ^:^'""='''"y="-« '« the mil' ;j;"/-'^ - descend *■"« to degradeTu resTwhT ^"^ a stmg to Dovei-M; ^ , ^y add bv th ^^^'^y^ ^"d a plume to vanifv ^y the poor transparent artifice IJ ^' Ms nothino- ^ \i , ""^^ fnat con- h ,co™ ; ^' '"^ •'"'5' changes pity Before ■A k- •:L •! !:"it 'H ■■'.;" i' . : 1 1 ■ , J ' ; It I I* ( ^6 ) distinction shewn to strangers commenced. Tea Jiere was a perfect regale, being served up with various sorts of cakes unknown to us, cold pastry, and great quantities of sweetmeats and preserved fruits of various kinds, and plates of hiccory and other nuts ready cracked. In all manner of confec- tionery and pastry these people excelled; and having fruit in great plenty, which cost them nothing, and getting sugar home 'at an easy rate, in return for their exports to the West Indies, the quantity of these articles used in families, otherwise plain and frugal, was astonishing. Tea was never unaccompanied with one of these petty articles ; but for strangers a great display was made. If you staid supper, you were ^ure of a most substantial though plain one. In this meal they departed, out of complinient to the strangers, from their usual simplicity. Having dined between twelve and one, you were quite prepared for it. You had either game or poultry roasted, and always sheil-fish in the season : you had also fruit in abundance. All this with much neatness but no form. , The 11 The. were The> to y( the c mitec and ( nality tions. and p] lessent were came c The young( plicity and ch: one CO young togethe cursion, object. industry their w a form, mixed \ VOL. I ( 97 ) The seeming coldness with which you were first received wore off by degrees. They could not accommodate their topics' to you, and scarcely attempted it. But the conversation of the old, though li- mited in regard to subjects, was rational and easy, and had in it an air of origi- nality and truth not without its attrac- tions. That of the young was natural and playful, yet full of localities, which lessened its interest to a stranger, but were extremely amusing when you be- came one of the initiated. Their diversions (I mean those of tde younger class) were marked by a sim- plicity which, to strangers, appeared rude and childish. In spring, eight or ten of one company, or related to each other, young men and maidens, would set out together in a canoe on a kind of rural ex- cursion, of which amusement was the object. Yet so fixed were their habits of industry, that they never failed to carry their work-baskets with them, not :is a form, but as an ingrc-dient necessarily mixed with their pleasures. They went VOL. J. F without 'i:ri!!l f-ll \ 1 1 I i 1 ^1 ! \ : \, |if'i • ' I «'■ ( 98 ) ^\ithcut attendants ; and steered a de- vious course of four, five, or perhaps more, miles, till they arrived at some of the beautiful islands with which this fine river abounded, or at some sequestered Spot on its banks, where delicious wiid- fruits, or particular conveniencies for fish- ing, afforded some attraction. There they generally arrived by nine or ten o'clock, having set out in the cool and early hour of sun-rise. Often they met another party going, perhaps, to a different place, and ioined them, or induced them to take their route. A basket with tea, sugar, and the other usual provisions for breakfast, with the apparatus for cooking it ; a little rum and fruit for making cool weak punch, the usual beverage in the middle of the day, and now and then some cold pastry, were the sole provision ; for the great affair was to depend on the sole exertions of the boys, in procuring fish, wild ducks, &c. for their dinner. They were all, like Indians, ready and dex- terous with the axe, gun, &c. Whenever they arrived at their destination they sought sough posite ■> ' ■• their ; sli'ade I opehin twined pleasai} dried b soon" ise breakfa! one, bc( men th shodt bi down tc versing ^ the benig the beaui calculatec hours ha brought . the woo< pared by whom we chosen of all^et out I berries, o ...--■ .■ ( w ) y-' '•• ■■'■■■' ■ .••>,'-■■■■ . • - •■ " sought out a dry and bea itiful spot op- posite to the river, and in an insunt with their axes cleared so much superfluous sli'ade or. shrubbery as left a semicircular bpehiug, above which they bent and twined the boughs, so as to form a pleasant , bower, while the girls gathered dried branches, to which one of the youths soon" set fire with gunpowder, and the breakfast, a very regular and cheerful one, occupied an hour or two ; the young men then set out to fish, or perhaps to shobt birds, and the maidens sat busily down to their work, singing and con- versing with all the ease and gaiety which the benign serenity of the atmosphere and, the beauty of the surrounding scene were calculated to inspiire. After the sultry I hours had been thus employed, the boys brought their tribute from the river or the woou, and found a rural meal pre- pared by their fair companions, among whom were generally their sisters and the diosen of their hearts. After dinner they I .... * all^et out together to gather wild straw- |bcrrics, or whatever other fruit was in F 2 :;:li* :t!i)V : tit 1 ■ . . 1 ■i ■ 1 ; i A'.l ■ 1 .1,1 ' 1 "r, ' ' ■■ )■ ;! li^t^ -» V ••I ml- i \.,r { 100 ) season; for it was accounted a reproach to come home empty-handed. M'hen weary of this amusiement, they either drank tea in their bower, or returning, landed at some friend's on i\^e. way, to partake of that refreshment. Here, in- deed, Vouth's free spirit, innocently gay. Enjoyed the most that innocence could give." Another of their sum^mer amusements was going to the Bush, which was thus managed : a party of young people set out in little open carriages, something ii the form of a gig, of which every famil) fomigij^^ had one ; every one carried somethin with him, as in these cases there was ni hunting to furnish provision. One brough wine for negus, another tea and coftee o a superior quality, a third a pigeon pye (( i:- with a pie; a fine str some Indi; wood-surrc ■to live in in short, every one brought something \^q^ ^n ^ pots cleari lative luxi bout ther oung parti ho set ou no matter how trifling, for there was n emulation about the extent of the coi tributidn. In this same bush, there wei •spots to which the poorer members of tl Community retired, to work the: .with patient industry, through mu vatic vation a plenty ai They pei one neg] they gre a source. mean tin: himself, h him by hi necessarie wife and i wrought on a sma] luid theirs if- roacli Vheu either :ning, 51VC ( 101 ) vation and hardship, compared to tlie plenty and comfort enjoyed by the rest. They perhaps could only afford to liave one negro. woman, whose children, as they grew up, became to their master ^'^Y'l a source of plenty and ease : but in the ^^» ^""1 mean time the good man wrought hard himself, having a little occasional aid sent , him by his friends. He had plenty of the . necessaries of life, but no luxuries. His 3ments| ^j£g ^j^ j daughters milked the cows and as tliusl^Quglj^ ^j. ^jjg jjj^y^ ^jj(j jjjg house wag pie selQQ ^ smaller scale than the older settlers *^^8 ^Ihad theirs, yet he had always one neatly- i^"^"lfurnished room : — ^A very clean house, lethinl^i^jj 2, pleasant portico before it, generally was nlj fjjjg stream beside his dwelling, and )roughljQn^g Indian wigwams near it. He was oitee o|vood-surrounded, and seemed absolutely )n pye|to live in the bosom of nature, screened lethinlfrQnr^ all the artificial ills of life j and those , pots cleared of incumbrances, yet rich in , ative luxuriance, had a wild originality them not easily described. The oung parties, or soiretimes the elder one? , ho set out on this woodland excursion, F 3 vatic' was n| he coii re we m h: , S' •I';- -I > ■,r',:i m { 102 ) had no fixed desHnsltion; they travelled genet^ally in thp jfbrenoon, and when they weihe tired of going on the ordinary road, turned into the htsh, and whenever they saw an inhftbitted. spot, with the appear- ancc of which they were pleased, they Went in with all the ease of intimacy, and told them they were come to spend the afternoon there. The good people, not in the least surprised at this intrusion, very calmly opened the reserved apart- menlsj et if it \^re very hot, received theni in the portico. The guests pro- duced their stores, and they boiled their tea-kfettle, and pirovided cream, nuts, or any peculiar dainty of the wxx)ds which tlifcy chanced to have ; and they always furnished bread and butter, which were excellent in their kinds. They were in- vited to share the collation, which they dki with great ease and frankness : then dancing, or any other afnusement that struck their fancy, succeeded. They saun- tered abouc the bounds in the evening, and retiarned by moonlight. These good people felt not the le^st embarrassed at, . ~ ■■ ■ ' ' the the thei the pati( the It ai manj hi }'' ri. •>^ :i 'i^ - / tvelled n they ': road, r they ippear- > they ;y, and nd the le, not rusion, apart- gceived ts pro- their lis, or which [always were ;re in- they then that saun- ming, good id at. th( ( 103 ) the rustic plainness. of every thing about them \ they considered themselves as in the way, after a little longer exertion of patient industry, to have every thing that the others had ; and their guests thought it an agreeable variety, in this abrupt manner to visit their sequestered abodes. ' •> b^l'K? rTj*?ki^ 0*-:; ^f-v^by/- .?!: ;:;.. '■':' ,* , ft ■• m if ! ?.i' I F4. CHAP. 104 ) '■if ii';i ^' ;■•»• '.J ' I « . . . /I M irn ' Winter AmusemeDts of the Albanians} &c. TN winter the river, frozen to a great depth, formed the principal road through the country, and was the scene of all those amusements of skating, knd sledge races, common to the north of Europe. They used in great parties to visit their friends at a distance, and having an excellent and hardy breed of herses, flew from place to place over the snow or ice in these sledges with incredi- ble rapidity, stopping a little while at every house they came to, where they were always well received, whether ac- quainted with the owners or not. The night never impeded these travellers, for the atmosphere was so pure and serene, and the snow so reflected the moon and star-light, that the nights exceeded the days in beauty, t In mile, a and bee amusen youth i had a Ij like a I could d or two ; descent ing.glasi an hun< from th in his lit and the :redi- they { 105 ) In town all the boys were extravagantly fond of a diversion that to us would ap» pear a very odd and childish one. The great street of the town, in the midst of which, as has been formerly mentioned, stood all the churches and public build> ings, sloped down from the hill on which the fort stood, towards the river ; be* tween the buildings was an unpaved car- riage-road, the foot-path beside the houses being the only part of the street which was paved. In winter this sloping descent, continued for more than a quarter of a mile, acquired firmness from the frost, and became extremely slippery. Then the amusement commenced. Every boy and youth in town, from eight to eighteen, had a little low sledge, made with a rope like a bridle to the front, by which one could drag it by the hand. On this one or two at most could sit, and the sloping descent being made as smooth as a look<* ing-glass, by sliders* sledges, &C.. perhaps un hundred at once set out in succession from the top of the street, each seated in his little sledge with the rope in his i; r 5 hand 1 1 til i rs;i|l 1 i!:i'r!l li*l ... i?!:; ■I!i' M \' ( loe ) hand, which, drawn to the right or left, served to guide him. He pushed it off with a little stick, as one wo\ Id launch a boat; and then, with the most astonish- ing velocity, precipitated by the weight eF the owner, the little machine glided past, and was at the lower end of the street in an instant. What could be so peculiarly delightful in this rapid and smooth descent, I could never discover ; yet in a more retired place, and on a snaaller scaler I have tried the amuse- ment ; but to a young Albanian, slaying, as he called it, was one of the first joys ctf life, though attended with the drawback of dragging his sledge to the top of the declivity every time he re- newed his flight, for such it might well be called. In the managing this little machine some dexterity was necessary: an unskilful Phaeton was sure to fall. The vehicle was so low, that a fall was at- tended with little danger, yet with much disgrace, for an universal laugh from all fcides assailed the feUen charioteer. This kiugh w;i8 from a very full ch(H[tis, for r- ' the ( 107 ) the constant and rapid succession of the train, where every one had a brother, lover, or kinsman, brouglit all the young people in town to the porticos, where fchey used to sit wrapt m furs till ten or eleven at night, engrossed by the delecta- ble spectacle. Wliat magical attraction it could possibly have, I never could find out;, but I have known an Albanian, after residing some years in Britain, and becoming a polished fine gentleman, join tlie sport, aind slide down with the rest* Perhaps., after all our laborious refine^ ments in amusement, being easily pleased is one of the great secrets of happiness, at far as it is retainable in this^' frail and fevei^ish beinff." Njw there remains another amusement to be described, which I mention with Fe- luctance, and should hardly venture to mention at all, if I had not found a pre- cedent for it among tLe virtuous Spar- tans. Had Lycurgus himself been the founder of their community, the young men could' scarce have stolen with more alacrity and dexterity. I could never F 6 conjecture ■\- I &' ,1 ( 108 ) conjecture how the custom could pos- sible originate among a set of people of such perfect and plain integrity. But thus it was. The young men now and then spent a convivial evening at a ta- vern together, where from the extreme cheapness of liquor, their bills (even when they committed an occasional excess) were very moderate. Either to lessen the expencc of the supper, or from the pure love of what they stiled frolick, (An- glic6 mischief,) they never failed to steal either a roasting pig or a fat turkey for this festive occasion. The town was the scene, of these depredations, which never extended beyond it. Sw^ c and turkeys were reared in great numbers by aU the inhabitants. For those they brought to town in winter, they had an appropriate place at the lower end of the garden, ia which they locked them up. It is obser- vable, that these animals were the only things locked up about the house, for this good reajson, that nothing else ran the least risk of being stolen. The dexterity of the the£l wal ( 199 ) theft consisted in climbing over very high walls, watching to steal in when the ne- groes went down to feed the horse or cow, or making a clandestine entrance at some window or aperture: breaking up doors was quite out of rule, and rarely ever resorted to. These exploits were al- ways performed in the darkest nights ; if the owner heard a noise in his stables, he usually ran down with a cudgel, and laid it without mercy on any culprit he could overtake. This was either dexterously avoided, or patiently borne. To plun- der a man, and afterwards offer him any personal injury, was accounted scandalous; but the turkies or pigs were never re- covered. Jn some instances a whole band of these young plunderers would traverse the town, and carry off such a prey as would afford provision for man) jovial nights. Nothing was more com- mon than to find one's brothers or nephews amongst these pillagers. Marriage was followed by two dreadful pr'/ations: a married man could not fly down the street in a, little sledge, nor join .. a party 1^ It': !' i • >: |IS; E V, i i i i> .",; '■■ '■ < ■f if:: -'■' '• ! V.', -i; ' I [ ( no ) i' ;' J} mi lii'lf- i-i a party of j^g-stealers, without outraging decorum. If any of their confederates married, as they frequently did, very young, and were in circumstances to be- gin house keeping, they were sure of an early visit of this nature from their old confederates. It was thought a great act cf gallantry to overtake and chastise the robbers. I recollect an instance of one young niarried man, who had not long attained to that dignity ; his turkies screaming violently one night, -lie ran down to chastise the aggressors ; he over- took them in the fact : but finding they were his old associates, he could not resist the force of habit, so joined the rest in another exploit of the same nature, and then shared his own turkey at ihe tavern. There were two inns in the town, the masters of which were *' honourable men:'' yet these pigs and turkies were always received and dressed without question- ing whence they came. ' In one instance, a young party had in this manner pro- vided a.; pig, and ordered it to be roasted at the ICing's Armsj anothear party at- A ■ tacked ,? at- ( HI ) tacked the same place ^whence this bocty was taken, but fouiid it already rifled. This party was headed by an idle mis- chievous young man, who was the Ned Poins of his fraternity: well guessing how the stolen roasting-pig was disposed of, he ordered his friends to adjourn to the rival tavern, and went himself to the King's Arms. Enquiring in the kitchen (where a. pig was roasting) who supped there, h« soon, arrived at certainty : then taking an opportunity when there was no one in the kitchen but the cook-maid, he sent for one of the, jovial party ^ who were at cards up stairs. During her absence, he cut the string by which the pig was suspended, laid it in the dripping- pan, and through the quiet and dark streets of that sober city, carried it safely to the other tavern : where, after finish- ing the roasting , he and his companion* prepared to regale themselves. Mean- time the pig was missed at the King's Arms; and it was immediately concluded, from the dexterity and address with which ihb trick- was performed^ tha:t no otlieu lis rl i' ^i? I illi n > i.-'i '• ' L mm\ ; i 1 ^'■^\ '{': i • '>»« ' i i ■(. ^ ( 112 ) but the Poins aforesaid could be the au- thor of it. A new stratagem was now devised to outwit this stealer of the stolen. An adventurous youth of the despoiled party laid down a parcel of shavings op- posite to the other tavern, and setting them in a blaze, cried fire ! a most alarm- ing sound here, where such accidents were too frequent. Every one rushed out of the house, just as supper had been served. The dextrous purveyor, who had occasioned all this disturbance, stole in, snatched up the dish with the pig in it; stole out again by the back door, and fersted his companions with the recovered spoils. - -^v ,' ' - ' ( These were a few idle young men, the sons of avaricious fathers, who grudging to advance the means of pushing them forward by the help of their own industry to independence, allowed them to remain so long unoccupied, that their time was wasted, and habits of conviviality at length degenerated in those of dissipation. 1 hey were not only pitied and endured, but re- ceived with a wonderful degree of kindt • -i ' '■ . ness ( ud ) ■ess and indulgence. They a kind of leged wags, were usua went about lik Uy privi- took persons, at whose jests no o offence j and were in their discourse and style of humour, so muc!^ like Shakspeare's clowns, that on reading that admirable author, I thought I recognized my old acquaintances. Of them, however, I saw little, the society admitted at my friends* being very select* -t;^ •■ i .bifv^jvi-^i^ ^j^^;/ >.■ - ■■■ ,>:y'v,:.!'..j ii--»^;i. ■■.r..,^i ^J)\i i.'v;j.iW \yi'i:,-:*v •'^'f.'' I. iu .' .'.V :ri' „• ' ». f ' /. ' • w '^i ti .' : . I-- * ^.■;. if.'; ..*/.•:!,, 1 CHAP. 4 .1 ,:-i:iJJi ( 114 ) i I 1 ! I 1 M ■']":?<■'{/ '•} •/ \"i « t -jvirr '*\*': ;:! .-■fr *■";■', •V *•) 5 >."!'>* >' v-t"- ' •i'mi* 'iitlTl:?- .■)-^l'> ••''T''»**t.-^T >^<^/^'l) • . i'i V»' xi A Jr. aI« ^ ,' 1 , "•it? I " . Lay-Brothers.— Catallna.— Detached Indians. Y>£F0RJB I quit this attempt to delineate . the members of which this community was composed, I must mention a cla«s of aged persons, who, united by the same re- collections, pursuits, and topics, associated very much with each other, and very little with a world which they seemed to have renounced. They might be styled lay-brothers, and were usually wi- dowers, or persons who, in consequence of some early disappointment, had re- mained unmarried. These were not de- votees, who had, as was formerly often the case in catholic countries, run from the extreme of licentiousness to that of bi- gotry. They were generally persons who were never marked as being irre- ligious or immoral; and were just as little distinguished for peculiar strictness, or de- ,j , . , votional •;> lal e 1J3 ) votional fervour. These good men lived in the house of. some relation, where they had their, own apartments to themselves ; and only occasionally mixed with the fa- mily. The people of the town lived to a great age j ninety was frequently at- tained : and I have seen different indivi- duals, of both sexes who had reached a hundreds These ancients seemed to place all their delight in pious books and de- votional exercises, particularly in singing^ psahus, which they would do in their own apartments for hours together. They came out and in like ghosts, and were treated as such; for tiiey never spoke unless when addressed, and seem- ed very careless of the things of this world, like people who had got thove it. Yet they were much together, and seemed to enjoy each other "s conversation. Retro- spection on the scenes of early life, anti- cipations of that futurity so closely veiled from our sight, and discussions regarding various passages of holy writ, seemed their favourite themes. They were mild and bcnevt)lent, but abstracted, and unlike other ill ■ :[ ' i ! : 1 :,'! im 1.U.1 J!' .;:i^i i.v if' ¥: :i;i ['h'.' I m m % Jiit: I 'SJ i ( 11& ) other peoplco Their happiness, for happy I am convinced they were, was of a na-^ ture peculiar to themselves, not obvious to others. Some there were, not defi- cient in their attention to religious duties, who living in the bosom of their fami- lies, took an active and cheerful concern to the last in all that amused or interest- ed them; and I never understodd that'l the lay-brothers, as I have chosen to call them, blamed them for so doing. One of the first christian virtues, charity in ^ the most accepted and common sense of the word, had little scope. Mere a beg- gar was unheard of. People, such as I have described in the bush, or going there, were no n.ore considered as objects of pity, than we consider an apprentice as such, for having his time to serve before he sets up for himself. In such cases, the wealthier, because older settlers, fre- quently gave a heifer or a colt each, to a > new beginner, who set about clearing land in their vicinity. Orphans were ne- ver neglected ; and from their early mar- riages, and the casualties to which their fev:' J manner -( U7 ) , manner of life subjected ^hem, these were . not unfrequent. You never entered a house without meeting children. Maidens, ba- chelors and childless married people, all ; adopted orphans, and all treated them as if they were their own. ,' ^ Having given a sketch, which appears to my recollection (aided by subse- quent conversations with my fellow tra- vellers) a faithful one, of the country and its inhabitants, it is time return to the history of the mind of Miss Schuyler^ for by no other circumstances than prematu- rity of intellect, and superior culture, were her earliest years distinguished. Her father, dying early, left her very much to the tuition of his brother. Hfr uncle's frontier situation made, a kind pf barrier to the settlement j while the po\y- erful influence, that his knowledge of nature and of character, his sound judge- ment and unstained integrity, had obtain- ed over both parties, made him the bond by which the Aborigines were united with the colonistti. Thus little leisure was left him for domestic enjoyments, ■ iiil '^iiirii .'.^i ..... or '«^ i i'i''i i'' '■• ■'-.I • : ,. ( f':- ( 118 . ) • or literary pursuits, for both of whidi hiis mind was peculiarly adapted. Of the leisure he could command, however, he made the best use ; and soon distin- guishing Catalina as the one amongst his family to v^ hom nature had been most li- beral, he was at pains to cultivate her taste for reading, which soon discovered it- self, by procuring for her the best authors in history, divinity, and tne belles lettrest in this latter branch, her reading was not very extensive : but then, the few books of this kind that she possessed were very well chosen ; and she was early and intimately familiar with them. What I re- member of her, assisted by comparisons since made with others, has led me to think that extensive reading, superficial and indiscriminate,such as the very easy ac- cess to books among us encourages, is not it an early period of life favourable to so- lid thinking, true taste, or fixed principle. Whatever she knew, she knew to the bottom J and the reflections, which were thus suggested to her -strong discerning mind, wepe digested by means of easy and instructive ■i 1.1 ac- lOt Iso- )le. the jre live ( 119 ) instructive conversation. Colonel Schuy- ler had many relations in New York ; and the governor and other ruling cha- racters there carefully cultivated the ac- quaintance of a person so well qualified to instruct and inform them on certain points. Having considerable dealings in the fur-trade too, he went 6very winter to the capital for a short time, to adjust his commercial concerns, and often took his favourite niece along with him, who^ being of an uncommon quick growth and tall stature, soon attracted attention by her personal graces, as well as by the charms of her conversation. I have been told, and should conclude from a picture I have seen drawn when she v/as fifteen!, that she was in her youth very handsome. Of this few traces remained when I knew her ; excessive corpulence having then overloaded her majestic person, and entirely changed the aspect of a counte- nance once eminently graceful. In nO place did female excellence of any kind more amply receive its due tribute of applause and admiration than here, for various i! i; ■ 'i 1 \^ II foi20 ) various reasons. First, cultivation and refinement were rare. Then it was not the common routine that women should necessarily have such and such accom- plishments; pains were taken only on minds strong enough to bear improve- ment without becoming conceited or pe- . dantic. And lastly, as the spur of emu- lation was not invidiously applied, those who acquired a superior degree of know- ledge considered themselves as very for- tunate in having a new source of enjoy- ment opened to them. But never having been made to understand that the chief motive of excelling was to dazzle or out- shine others, they no more thought of despising their less fortunate companions, than of assuming pre-eminence for disco- vering a wild plum-tree or bee-hive in the woods, though J a J in the former case, they would have regarded such a discovery as a benefit and a pleasure; their acquisi- tions, therefore, were never shaded by affectation. The women were all natives of the country, and few had more than ... x\ - i , ,- - • ■ .. K '.. domestic VOL. ■5; 7 isco- the Lhey ( 121 ) domestic education. But men, who po* sessed the advantages of early culture and usage of the world, daily arrived on the continent from different parts of Europe* So that if we may be indulged in the inelegant liberty of talking commercially of female elegance, the supply was not equal to the demand. It may be easily supposed that Miss Schuyler met with due attention; who, even at this early age, was respected for the strength of her character, and the dignity arid compo- sure of her manners. Her mother, whom she delighted to recollect, was mild, pious, and amiable; her acknowledged worth was chastened by the utmost diffidence. Yet accustomed to exercise a certain power over the minds of the natives, she had great influence in restraining their irregularities, and swaying their opinions. From her knowledge of their language, and habit of conversing with them, some detached Indian families resided for a while in summer in the vicinity of Jiouses occupied by the more wealthy and benevolent inhabitants. They generally VOL. I. (% built , j ,« ' r i 1 'ii- 0': i: .'i:. ■' I i , ■ ■: > ■fii ....!fel w I m \i .:.i'■■ ed C 129 ) )n ra* ed from their view, at least they form a very smalls part of the subjects that en- gross their thoughts. What knowledge they have is often merely the husks and orts that fall from the table of their su- periors, which they swallow without chewing, = Many of those who are one degree above the lowest class, see nature in poe- try, novels, and other books, and never think of looking for her any where else : like a person amused by the reflection o£ the starry heavens or shifting clouds from a calm lake, who never lifts his eyes to those objects of which he sees the imper- fect though resembling pictures. Those who live in the undisguised bo- som of tranquil nature, and whose chief employment it is, by disincunibering her of waste luxuriance, to discover and im- prove her latent beauties, need no bor- rowed enthusiasm to relish her, subHme and graceful features. The venerable sim- plicity of the sacred scriptures has some- thing extremely attractive for a mind in this state, The soul which is the most • ■: G 5 fauiiiiar ?i! &M \ .11 # - N ( ISO ") familkr with its Creator in his vVOrks, "will be always the most ready to recognize him in his word. Conversations, which had for their subject the nature and virtues of pknts, the extent and boundaries of woods and lakes, and the various oper- ations of instinct in animals, under those •circumstances where they are solely direct- ed by it, and the distinct customs and manners of various untutored nations, tended to expand the mind, and teach it to aspire to more perfect intelligence. The untaught reasoncrs of the woods could not but observe that the Europeans knew iimch that was concealed from them, and derived many benefits and iriuth power from' that knowledge. Where they saw active virtue keep pace with superior knowledge, it was natural to conclude that persons thu« beneficially enlightened, had clearer and ampler views, of that fiitUrity, which to them only dimly gleamed through formless darkness. They would suppose, too, that those illu- minated beings had some means of ap- proaching nearer to that source: of light and / )gnize :hhad rirtues ries of oper- r those direct- ns and lations, each it igence. woods opeans from ts and Wherie with ral to iicially views, only kness. ie illu- of ap- ligJit and ( 131 ) and perfection from which wisdom is de- rived, than they themselves had attained. Their minds being thus prepared by de- grees, these pious matrons (probably assist- ed by those lay-brothers of whom I have spoken) began to difluse the knowledge of the distinguishing doctrines of Christi- anity among the elderly and well-inten- tioned Indian wotnen. Tliese did not by any means' receive the truth without examination : the acuteness ef intel- lect which discovered itself in their objec- tions (of which I have heard many strik- ing instances) was astonishing; yet the humble and successful instruments of en- lightening thosfe sincere and candid peo- ple, did by no means take to themselves any merit in making proselytes. When they found theii^ auditors dispOgg J to lis- ten diligently to the truth, they sent them to the^clergyman of the place, who instruct^, corifirrned, and baptized them. I am sorry thatT have not a clear and distinct r^coMecti^ri of the exact manner, or of the numbers, &c. of these first con^ verts, of whom I shall say more here- G 6 .after .J 1 1 M ^'tm 1 ''i ^i < ::i.u,.p V ■■'\ ,.8 I i i.fiit If! It! I. 'i! 1 if ■- i '■fc^ji U}f ( 132 ) after ; but I know that this was the usu- al process. They were, however, both zealous an4 persevering, and proved the means of bringing many others under the law of love, to which it is reasonable to suppose the safety of this unprotected frontier was greatly owing at that crisis, tliat of the first attacks of the French. The Indian women, who from motives of attachment to particular families, or for the purpose of carrying on the small traffic already mentioned, were wont to pass their summers near the settlers, were of detached and wandering fa- milies, who preferred this mode of living to the labour of tilling the ground, which entirely devolved upon the women among the Five nations. By tilling the ground I would not be understood to mean any settled mode of agriculture, requiring cat- tlcjinclosures, or implements of husbandry. Grain made but a very subordinate part Of their subsistence, which was chiefly deriv- cd from fishing pnd h\inting. The little Uiey had was mai^e j tjtiis with kid- ->f .i ...,i. i;., nev iK e usu- both :d the under onable >tected crisis, rench. [lotives ies, or ) small ^ont to settlers, ng fa- ■ living which [among ;round tan any ng cat- andry. part of deriv- e little kid- nev ( 1r*0 ) ney beans and tobacco, the only plants tliey cultivated, was sown in some very pleasant fields along the Mohawk river, by the women, who had no implements of tillage but the hoe, and a kind of wooden spade. These fields lay round their castles, and while the women were thus employed, the men were catching and drying fish by the rivers or on the lakes. The youhger girls were much busied during summer and autumn, in gathering wild fruits, berries, and grapes, which they had a peculiar mode of dry- ing, to preserve them fOr the winter. The great cranberry they gathered in a- bundance, which, without being dried, would last the whole winter, and was much used by the settlers. These dried fruits were no luxury ; a fastidious taste would entirely reject them. Yet, be- sides furnishing another article of food, they had their use, as was evident. With- out some antiseptic, they who lived the ' whole winter on animal food, without a jingle vegetable, or any thing of the nature of bread, unless now and then a little ; .- maize. f •'.\ ■' i n ■ ^. i -^i '; 1 1' \ 134 ) ^^f % •i.' I il ■■ "if w i-. K. I maize, wliich they had the art of boiling down to softness in lye of wood-ashes, must have been liable to that great scourge of -northern ^nations in their primitive state, the scurvy, had not this simple de- sert been a preservative against it. Rheu- matisms, and sometimes agues affected them, but no symptom of ai^y cutaneous disease was ever seen on an Indian. I'he stragglers from the confines of the orchards did not fail to joijn their tribes in winter ; and were zealous, anc «ften successful in spreading tlaeir new opinions. The Indians supposed that every country had its own mode of ho- nouring the great spirits to whom all were equally acceptable. This had, on one hand, the bad effect of making them satisfied with their own vague and unde- fined notions ; and on the other, the good one of making them very tolerant of those of others. If you do not insult their belief, (for mode of worship they have scarce any,) they will hear you talk of yours with the greatest patience and atteation^ Their good breeding, in this t"- '• respect, t es of their anc new that f ho- were one :hem nde- the rant suit hey talk and this ect. X 135 ) tespect, was really superlative. No Indian ever interrupted any, the most idle tal- ker : but when they concluded, he would deliberately, methodically, and not un- gracefully answer or comment upon all they had said, in a manner which shewed that not a word had escaped him. Lady Mary Morttague ludicrously says, that the court of Vienna was the paradise of old womerh; and that there i no other place in the world where a woman past fifty excites the least interest. Had her travels extended to the interior of North America, she would have seen another instance of this inversion of the ^common mode of thinking. Here a wo- man never was of consequence, till she had a son old enough to flght the bat- tles of his count^^y^ from ^tliat date, she held a superior rank in sociiety; was allowed to live at ease, and even called to consultations on national affairs. In savage and warlike countries, the reign of beauty .is very short, and its influence comparatively limited. The girls in child- '- hmd had a very . pleasing appearance ; but ;, excepting '•'I -''Hi :k't'.'i i \nt i ;:'■;■ I .i*i iM' i'' ..,: -m: iy\ I n,\\ B.'i ( ^36 ) excepting their fine hair, eyes arid teeth, every external grace was soon banished by perpetual drudgery, carrying burdeiib too heavy to be borne, and Other slavish em- ployments considered beneath the dignity of the men. These walked b-ifore, erect and graceful, decked with ornaments, '\v^hich set oflF to advantage the symmetry of their well formed persons, while the poor women followed, meanly attired, bent under the weight of the children and utensils which they carried every where with them, and disfigured and degraded by ceaseless toils. They were very early married : for a Mohawk had no other servant but his wife; and whenever he commenced hunter, it was requisite that he should have some one to carry his load, cook his kettle, make his rtioquesans, and above all, produce the young warriors who were to succeed him in his honours- of the chase and of the tomahawk. Wherever man is a mere hunter, woman is a mere slave. It is domestic intercourse that softens man, and elevates woman ; and of that there can be little, where "•• *^r-'' ■ the ;>-:-^f ( 137 ) the employments and amusements are not in common : the ancient Caledoni- ans honoured the fair ; but then, it is to be observed, they were fair huntresses, and moved in the light of their beauty, to the hill of roes; and the culinary toils were entirely left to the rougher sex. When the young warrior above alluded to made his appearance, it softened the cares of his mother ; who well knew that when he grew up, every deficiency in tenderness to his wife would be mad*^ up in superabundant duty and affection to her. If it were possible to carry filial veneration to excess, it was done here ; for all other charities were absorbed in it. I wonder this system of depressing the sex in their early years, to exalt them when all their juvenile attractions were flown, and when mind alone can distin- guish them, has not occurred to our mo- dern reformers. The Mohawks took good care not to admit their women to share their prerogatives, till they approved themselves good wives and mothers. . •* Tldf^ digression, long as it is, has a very . . _ intimatQ MB '\ m ^M.ST I i S'T^^i ,nh ■Am ' ri h,ri ■ ' if',; ' '■ ■ t' c.'' ■ Mil i Ill,- A' 4 3 •I) I ( 138 ) intimate connexion with the character di my friend ; she early adopted the views of ller family, in regard to those friendly In- dians, which greatly enlarged her mind, and ever after influenced her conduct. She was, even in childhood, well acquaint- ed with their language, opinions, and customs; and, like every other person possessed of a liberality or benevolence of mind, whom chance had brought ac- quainted with them, was exceedingly par- tial to those high-souled and generous na- tives. The Mohawk language was early ifamiliar to "her j ^he spoke Dutch and English with equal ease and purity J was no stranger to the French tongue; and could (1 think) read German. I have heard her speak iit. From the conver- sations which her active curiosity led her to hold with native Africans, brought into her father's family, -she was more intimately acquainted with the customs, manners^ and government of their native country, than she could have been, by reading all that was ever written on the subject. Books are, no doubt, the gra- ' .., inaricB k ( 1S9 ) tiaries of knowledge ; but a diligent en- ijuiring mind, in the active morning of life, will find it strewed like manna over the face of the earth ; and need not in all cases, rest satisfied with intelligence accu- mulated by others, ^nd tinctured with their passions and prejudices. Whoever reads Homer or Shakespear may daily dis- cover that they describe both nature and iart from their own observation. Conse- quently you see the images, reflected froiti the mirror of their great minds, differing from the descriptions of others, as the Teflection of an object in all hs cdlouri and proportions from any polished sur- face, does from a shadow on a v^JI, or from a picture drawn from recollection- The enlarged mind of my friend, and her simple yet easy and dignified manners, made her readily adapt herself to those ^th whom she conversed, and every where command respect and kindness 4 and, on a nearer acquaintance, affection followed; but she had too much sedate- «ess and independence to adopt those ca- ressing and insinuating manners, by which the *;' ; M 'I • Mil f i if : 1 1 1' i ■' M "V II ( 14^0 ) the vain and the artful so soon find then* way into shallow minds. Her character did not captivate at once, but gradually unfolded itself; and you had always something new to discover. Her style was grave and masculine, without the least embellishment J and at the same time so pure, that every thing she said might be printed without correction, and so plain, that the most ignorant and most inferior persons were never at a loss to comprehend it. It possessed, too, a won- derful flexibility ; it seemed to rise and fall with the subject. I have not met with a style which, to noble and uniform simplicity, united such variety of expres- sion. Whoever drinks knowledge pure at its sources, solely from a delight in fill- ing the capacities of a large mind, without the desire of dazzling or out-shining others ; whoever speaks for the sole pur- pose of conveying to other minds those . ideas, from which he himself has received pleasure and advantage, may possess this chaste and natural style : but it is not to be acquired by art or study, r ,- . , : , CHAP. " •'-.;;., ',': . y'{ r > / : * CHAP. XIV. JHAP. Marriage of Miss Schuyler. — Deacription of the Flats. li ■ - . , Ti/fiss S. had the happiness to captivate her cousin Philip, eldest son of her uncle, who was ten years older than her- self, and was in all res/iecis to be accounted a suitable, and in the worldly sense, an advantageous match for her. His father was highly satisfied to have the two ob- jects on whom he had bestowed so much care and culture united. They were mar- ried in the year 1719*, when she was in the eighteenth year of her age. When the old colonel died, he left considerable possessions to be divided among his children, and from the quantity of plate, paintings, &c. which they shared, there is reason to believe he must have brought some of hifi wealth from Holland, as in those days people had little means of en- * Mies Schuyler was born in tlie year 1701. riching I I ll ■> ,1 i I 1 ' k I ( 142 ) ricliing themselves in new settlements^ He had also considerable- possessions in a place near the town, now called FisK Kill, about twenty miles below Albany. His family residence^ however, was at the Flats, a fertile and beautiful plain on the banks of the river.. He possessed about two miles on a stretch of that rich and level champain.. This possession wa*. bounded on the east by the river Hud* son, whose high banks overhung the stream and its pebbly strand, and were both adorned and defended by elms> (larger than ever I have seen in any other place), decked with natural festoons of wild grapes, which abound along the banks of this noble stream. These lofty elms were left, when the country wa* cleared, to fortify the banks against the masses of thick ice which make war upon them in spring, when the melting; snows burst this glassy pavement, and raise the waters many feet above their usual level. This precaution not only answers that purpose, but gratifies the mind by presenting to the eye a rem* nant 'fj:^ f 243 nant of the wWa ,v,» •nldst the I Ir^""'"''^ ^ «^*"'* varied ,nH ^ '"'^"^' produced by^ varied and successful cultivation 7 tr„"":=''"^''^^''--"er;of,t town, where the />^;.„,„ ^^^ h;, you afterwards past bv 1 • . '*^*» «s beauty there above a «ilel::i;"jf 7 P '"^*' cowred with loftv „• from which a waterfeU descend^J'^ ^T not only gave anin^ati^n 1^' "f''"* -ne but was the best biome J';"" ginable, foreteiW bv it, ^^^ "'^" telHgiblesoundsevLLlLT T' ''^- "otonlyoftheweatKroS "^'' Opposite to the ground. irfrH" -bovean,aein,e„gtt..„dabJut"ut^ ■n breadth, which also belonged ToT -.^-/otin^irpiirdS^^^^^ imagine i«i >:iiy' ' . ! I I, i 1 1 i- ,! .S', 1 .'- ( ' jl ,\ m mi ( 144 ) Imagine a little Egypt, yearly overflowed, and of the most redundant fertility. Thia charming spot was at first covered with wood, like the rest of the country, except a long field in the middle, where the Indians had probably cultivated maize ; round this was a broad shelving border, where the grey and the weeping willows, the bending, osier, and numberless aquatic plants not known in this country, were allowed to flourish in the utmost luxu- riance, while within, some tall sycamores and wild fruit trees towered above the rest. Thus was formed a broad belt, which in winter proved an impenetrable barrier against the broken ice, and in summer was the haunt of numberless birds and small animals,, who dwelt in perfect safety, it being impossible to penetrate it. Num- berless were the productions of this luxu- riant spot ; never was a richer field for a botanist ; for though the ice was kept off, the turbid waters of the spring flood over^ flowed it annually, and hot only deposited a rich sediment, but left the seeds of va- .: . . . riou^ ..^ owed, Thia 1 with except •e the naize ; )order, illows, aquatic fy were [ luxu- amores >ve the , which barrier mmer ds and safety, Num- s luxu- A for a iept off, Id over- [posited of va- viou^ ( 145 ) rious plants swept from the shores it had passed by. The centre of the island, which was much higher than the sides, produced with a slight degree of culture the most abundant crops of wheat, hay, and flax. At the end of the island, whfch was exactly opposite to the family mansion, a long sand-bank extended ; on this was a very valuable fishing-place, of which a considerable profit might be made. In summer, when the water was low, this narrow stripe (for such it was) came in sight, and furnished an amusing spectacle ; for there the bald or white- headed eagle (a large picturesque bird, very frequent vx this country), the os- pray, the heron, and the curlew, used to stand in great numbers in a long row, like a military arrangement, for a whole summer day, fishing for perch and a kind of fresh-water herring which abounded there. At the same season a variety of wild ducks, which bred on the shores of the island, (among which was a small white diver of an elegant form), led forth their young to try their first excursion. What Yoi.. J. H a scene i 1 1 "'fi' { :>■■:! ■ :\. '. t ■. • Hi ( 146 ) \iM m t scene have I beheld on a cahn summer evening ! There indeed were ** fringed banks" richly fringed, and wonderfully variegated ; where every imaginable shade of colour mingled, and where life teemed prolific on every side. The ri- ver, a perfect mirror, reflected the pine- covered hills opposite ; and the pliant shades bent without a wind, round this enchanting island, while hundreds of the w^hite divers, saw-bill ducks with scarlet heads, teal, and other aquatic birds, sport- ed at once on the calm waters. At the discharge of a gun from the shore, these feathered beauties all disappeared at once, as if by magic, and in an instant rose again to view in different places. How much they seemed to enjoy that life which was so new to them ! for they were the young broods first led forth to sport upon the waters. M hile the fixed attitude and lofty port of the large birds of prey, who were ranged upon the sandy shelf, f onr.ed an inverted picture in the same clear mirror, and were a pleasing contrast to the playful multitude around. '•• '■ • These immer Fringed lerfully ginable ere life rhe ri- e pine- pliant nd this i of the scarlet J, sport- At the e, these red at instant [aces. that )r they Ibrth to le fixed re birds I the ture in [leasing round. I These ( 147 ) lliese they never attempted to disturb, well aware of the facility of escape which their old retreats afforded them. Such of my readers as have had patience to follow me to this favourite isle, will be, ere now, as much bewildered as I have often been on its luxuriant shores. To return to the southward : on the con- fines of what might then be called an in- terminable wild, rose two gently sloping eminences, about half a mile from the shore. From each of these a large brook de- scended, bending through the plain, and having its course marked by the shades of primaeval trees and shrubs, left there to shelter the cattle when the ground was cleared. On these eminences, in the near neighbourhood and full view of the mansion at the Flats, were two large and well built dwellings, inhabited by Colonel Schuyler's two younger sons, Peter and Jeremiah. To the elder was allotted the place inhabited by his father, which, from its lower situation and level surface, was called the Flats. There was a custom prc- •' ^ H 2 valcnt '''■:ilH :ir V>K^ ! ■:!. I : !' ,!•'! I ; ! ,1;: i:*^> i ^''i ''•'■m \'-'i ifl^^^^l p 1 i 1 ' M' ■ "1 1 . X'i M l i:;:l W 1 1 ? ||ji H V m ( 1^^ ) vaknt among the new settlers something like that of gavel-kind: they made a pretty- equal division of lands among their younger sons. The eldest, by pre-emi- nence of birth, had a larger share, and generally succeeded to the domain in- habited by his father, with the slaves, cat- tle, and effects upon it. ' ' This, in the present instance, was the lot of the eldest son of that family whose possessions I have been describing. His portion of Jand on the shore of the ri- ver was scarcely equal in value to those of his brothers, to whose possessions the brooks I have mentioned formed a natu- ral boundary, dividing them from each other, and from his. To him was allot- ted the costly furniture of the family, of which paintings, plate and china consti- tuted the valuable part ; every thing else being merely plain and useful. 1 hey had also a large house in Albany, which they occupied occasionally. I have neglected to describe in its right place the termination or back ground of the ( 149 ) hing rctty their emi- hare, in in- ;, cat- IS the ivhose His he ri- those iS the natu- each allot- lly, of :onsti- else |y had they right indof the the landscape I have such delight in rccol * lecting. There the solemn and intermi- nable forest was varied at intervals by^ rising grounds, near streams where birch and hiccory, maple and poplar, cheered the eye with a lighter green, through the prevailing shade of dusky pines. On the border of the wood, where the trees had been thinned for fir- ing, was a broad shrubbery all along, which marked the edges of the wood above the possessions of the brothers as far as it extended. This was formed of shumack, a shrub with leaves, continually changing colour through all the varieties, from blending^ green and yellow, to orange tawny, and adorned with large lilac-shaped clusters^ of bright scarlet grains, covered with pun- gent dust of a sharp flavour, at once sa- line and acid. This the Indians use as salt to their food, and for the dyeing of different colours. Ihe red glow, which was the general result of this natural bor- der, had a fine effect, thrown out from the* dusky shades which towered behind, H 3 To m li li !| ':i? MM' I .'■! ?5v] ; ( i50 ) , To the northward, a sandy tract, co- vered with low pines, formed a boundary betwixt the Flats and Stonehook, which lay further up the river. ' ' > '■* I t. Char, 1^8 " 1 ■i"j .11. .» < . r * i .- i ■ ■ . ;f .d' ■' * " < i ■-J< *n"^/.0 -... i :- ''V '» '^ ■•■•' ■ •'■ '.,i\ V - . . f"il: 1' ii - * * » ■■ • .V CHAh p« Iha^ mild lent mor< coun to I kno^ or 1 prot€ inth I do to su whic class W tlemj took colon ( 151 ) 'i,,l. tr [C, ■ ■ t •••' ■'/-:}. ^•'i/- » J / -' • >i ,•■» <, \\ y '. HA Pi CHAP. XV. Character of Philip Schuyler. — His Management of .the Indians. pHiLip Schuyler, who, on the death of his father, succeeded to the inheritance 1 have been describing, was a person of a mild benevolent character, and an excel- lent understanding, which had received more culture than was usual in that country. But whether he had returned to Europe, for the purpose of acquiring knowledge in the public seminaries there, or had been instructed by any French protestants, who were sometimes retained in the principal families for such purposes, I do not exactly know ; but am led rather to suppose the latter, from the connexion which always subsisted between that class of people and the Schuyler family. When the intimacy between this gen- tleman and the subject of these memoirs took place she was a mere child ; for the colonel, as he was soon after called, was H 4 ten ! 'i Ull II ■ )■ f $ ! » I If >' 11 t ■I. ( I^ ) ten years older than she. I'his was singular there, where most men married under twenty. But his early years were occupied by momentous concerns ; for, by this time, the public safety began to be endangered by the insidious wiles of the French Canadians, to whom our fron- tier settlers began to be formidable ri- vals in the fur trade, which the former wished to engross. In process of time, the Indians, criminally indulged with strong liquors, by the most avaricious and unprincipled of the traders, began to have an insatiable desire for them, and the traders' avidity for gain increased in the same proportion. ' * Occasional fraud on the one hand gave rise to occasional violence on the other. Mutual confidence decayed, and hostility betrayed itself, when intoxication laid open every thought. Some of our trade were, as the colonists alleged, treacherously Killed in violation of treaties solemnly concluded between them and the ofifcnd- ing tribes. < ^ ., The mediation and protection of the Mohawk s was narried •s were 3 ; for, gan to riles of T fron- ible ri- former F time, with ricious gan to n , and ised in d gave other, ostility n laid • trade rously emnly jfFcnd- 3f the )ha\vk ( 153 ) * . Mofiawk ttibes were, as usual, appealed to. But these shrewd politicians saw evidently the value of their protection to an unwar- like people, who made no effort to defend themselves; and who, distant from the source of authority, and contributing no- thing to the support of government, wer6 in a great measure neglected. They be- gan also to observe, that their new friends, were extending their possessions on every side, and conscious of their wealth and; increasing numbers, dia not so assiduous- ly cultivate the good- will of their faithfujt allies as formerly. These nations, savage as we may imagine them, were as well skilled in the arts of negociation as the most pdite Europeans. They waged per- petual war with each other about their hunting-grounds; each tribe Uying claim^ to some vast wild territory diesuned for that purpose, and divided from other districts by boundaries which we should consider as merely iainful TS can ;eneial a stn- a high re not fury, lolemn ithout he ag- ^oothe lis di- alto- rn to use in r now rtance vealth ment. the alaruce balance between the interior settlements of France and England, which, though still distant from each other, were daily- approximating, • ' ^' • ' The Mohawks, though always brave and always faithful, felt a very allowable repugnance to expose the lives of their warriors in defence of those who made no effort to defend themselves ; who were neither protected by the arms of their so- vereign, nor by their own courage. They came down to hold a solemn congress, at which the heads of the Schuyler and Cuyler families assisted; and where it was agreed that, for the present, hostili- ties should be delayed, the hostile nations pacified by concessions and presents, and means adopted to put the settlement into a state of defence against future aggres* sions. On all such occasions, when previously satisfied .with regard to the justice of the grounds of quarrel, the Mohawks promis- ed their hearty co operation. This they were the readier to do, as their young brother Philip (for so they styled Colonel Schuyler) :{f.i :, ■ I V . > i' ) ,1 { I! Ill :11 Is. V .' 1 .1 ¥h ■; I'M!! 'pi ( 158 ) Schuyler) offered not only to head such troops as might be raised for this purpose, but to engage his two brothers, who were well acquainted with the whole frontier territory, to serve on the same terms. This was a singular instance of public spirit in a young patriot; who was an en- tire stranger to the profession of arms ; and whose sedate equanimity of character, was adverse to every species of rashness or enthusiasm* Meantime the provisions of the above-mentioned treaty could not be carried into effect, till they were rati- fied by the assembly at New York, and approved by the governor. Of this there was little doubt; the difKculty was to raise, and pay the troops. In the interim, while steps were taking to legalize this project, in 17 i 9, the marriage betwixt Col. Schuyler and his cousin took place under the happiest auspices..' '■ .?(" ■;f'i i ' /,.,}.,.;..> * ' CHAP. -T"-"'" .( - •- - : t t 1 >■>/ HAP. ( 159 ) ?-.o ■rr;'.j 'j\\\ ; ,< • ."' ■^i. Ir. ' ; M •J •i !-.», CHAP. XVI. .-; <{f .*f">' Account of the three Brother*. /COLONEL Schuyler and his two brothers all possessed a superior degree of in- tellect, and uncommon extern?*! advan- tages : Peter, the only one remaining when I knew the family, was still a comely and dignified looking old gentleman ; and 1 was told his brothers were at least equal to him in this respect. His young- est brother Jeremiah, who was much be- loved for a disposition, frank, cheerful, and generous to excess, had previously married a lady from New York with whom he obtained some fortune : a thing then singular in that country. This lady, whom, in her declining years, I knew very well^ was the daughter of a wealthy and distinguish<2d family of French pro- testants. She was lively, sensible^ and well informed. ^ : r. t n»> Peter, the second, was married to a na- Ah tive I 1 1 -'? w. r-s. S: I 1' ! 1^ ' '•1';H i ■ c > 1 ! !-J ! U'v' ( 160 ) tive of Albany. She died early : but left behind two children, and the reputation of much worth, and great attention to her conjugal and maternal duties. All these relations lived with each other, and with the new married lady, in habits of »he most cordial intimacy and perfect con- fidence. They seemed, indeed, actuated by one spirit : having in all things similar views and similar priraples. Looking up to the colonel as tht nead of the family, whbse worth and affluence reflected conse- quence upon them all, they never dreamt of envying cither his superior manners, or his wife's attainments, which they looked upon as a benefit and ornament to the whole. Soon after their mirriage they paid a vi- sit to New York, which they repeated once a year in the earlier period of their mar- riage, on account of their connection in that city, and the pleasing and intelligent (Society that was always to be met with there, both on account of its being the seat of goverment, and thfe residence of Che commander-in-chief 6n the ccmtinent, who 3Ut left utation ition to ?s. All er, and abits of !Ct coll- ated by similar king up family, i cortse- dreamt [anners, they nent to id a vi- ?d once r mar- ion in ligent t with ng the nee of tinent, who ( i6l ) who was then necessarily Invested with considerable power and privileges, and had, as well as the governor for the thne being, a petty court assembled round him. At a very early period a better style of manners, greater ease, frankness, and po- lish prevailed at New York, than in any of the neighbouring provinces. There was in particular, a Brigadier-General Hunter, of whom I have heard Mrs, Schuyler talk a great deal, as coinciding with her uncle and husband successively, in their plans either of xiefience or im- provement. He, I think, was then go- vernor : and was as acceptable to the Schuylers for his colloquial talents and friendly disposition, as estimable for his public spirit, and application to business, in which respects he was not equalled by any of his successors. In his circle the young couple were much di"*tinguished. There were too among those leading families the Livingstons and Renselaers, friends con- nected with them both by blood and attach- ment. There was also another distinguish- ed family to whom they were allied, and with I w m 'II n^ ^ ! ;i :»» ■ !:: ;t^ i ^'f if' 9>.<\ • » ..«■' \4 ( 165 ) with whom they lived in cordial intimacy; these were the De Lancys, of French de- scent, but, by subsequent intermarriages, blended with the Dutch inhabitants. Of the French protestants there were many then in New York, as will be hereafter explained; but as th^se conscientious exiles were persons allied in religion to the primitive settlers, and regular and industrious in their habits, they soon mingled with and became a part of that society, which was enlivened by their sprightly manners, and benefited by the useful arts they brought along with them. In this mixed society, which must have had attraction for young people of supe- rior and, in some degree, cultivated intel- lect, this well matched pair took great pleasure; and here, no doubt, was im- proved that liberality of mind and man- ners which so much distinguished them from the less enlightened inhabitants of their native city They were so much caressed in New York, and found so many charms in the intelligent and com- paratively polished society of which they ( 163 ; they made a part that they had at first some thoughts of residing there. Th«se, however, soon gave way to the persua- sions of the old colonel, with whom they principally resided till his death, which happened in 1721, two years after. This union was productive of all that felicity which might be expected to result from entire congeniality not of sentiment only, but of original dispositions, attachments, and modes of living and thinking. He had been accustomed to consider her, as a child, with tender endearment. She had been used to look up to him, from infancy, as the model of manly excellence ; and they drew knowledge and virtue from the same fountain, in the mind of that re- spectable parent whom they equally loved and revered. ' « / ; fc;/ u l^ij;', n.' I /*:» I il I n r.ti \'i} "'t t . : 1 • / CHAP. .MJ :-4: r ( ^64 ) t'M' Ul : i 1 ':' ik m ill '.71 .-. ^.' CHAP. XVII. The House and rural (Economy o£ the Flats.— BIrthr • . ( and Insects. . , .■; , T HAVE already sketched a general out- line of that pleasant home to which the colonel was now about to bring his beloved. Before I resume my narrative, I shall indulge myself in a still more minute ac- count of the premises, the mode of liv- ing, &c. which will afford a more distinct idea of the country ; all the wealthy and informed people of the settlement living on a smaller scale, pretty much in the same manner. Be it known, however, that the house I had so much delight in recollect- ing, had no pretension to grandeur, and very little to elegance. It was a large brick house of two or rather three stories ^for there were excellent attics), besides a sunk story, finished with the cxactest neatness. The Thl wit wei foul was froi adi ful witl pari hot niou V; (' 165 ) ';m .— BIrA al out- which ing his I shall lUte ac- of liv- iistinct y and living esame at the oUect- r, and brick s vfor sunk tness. The The lower floor had two spacious rooms, with large light closets ; on the first there were three rooms, and in the upper one four. Through the middle of the house was a very wide passage, with opposite front and back doors, which in summer admitted a stream of air pecuiJJTly grate- ful to the languid senses. It was furnished with chairs and pictur^^s like a summer- parlour. Here the family usually sat in hot weather, when there were no ceremo- nious strangers. Valuable furniture (though perhaps not very well chosen or assorted) was the fa- vourite luxury of these people, and in all the houses I remember, except those of the brothers, who were every way more liberal, the mirrors, the paintings, the china, but above all, the state-bed, we/e considered as the family Teraphim, secret- ly worshipped, and only exhibited on very rare occasions. But ip Colonel Schuy- ler's family the rooms were merely shut up to keep the flies, which in that coun- try are an absolute nuisance, from spoil- ing *feii u ! I H ''\ ■I! m ■if! vl «?■ 'X- i'r, ! I p * ij ( 166 ) ing the furniture. Another motive was, that they might be pleasantly cool when opened for company. This house had also two appendages common to all those belonging to persons in easy circumstances there. One was a large portico at the door, with a few steps leading up to it, and floored like a room ; it was open at the sides, and had seats all round. Above was either a slight wooden roof, painted like an awning, or a covering of lattice- work, over which a transplanted wild vine spread its luxuriant leaves and nu- merous clusters. The grapes though small, and rather too acid till sweetetied by the frost, had a beautiful appearance. What gave an air of liberty and safety to these rustic porticos, which always produced in my mind a sensation of [Measure that I know not how to define, was the number of little birds domes- ticated there. For their accommodation there was a small shelf built within the p<^)itico where they nestled sacred from the touch of slaves and children, wlio were e was, when e had il those stances at the p to it, jpen at Above painted lattice- d wild nd nu- though etened arance. safety always on of define, omes- dation in the from who were ( 167 ) vtrere taught to regard them as the good genii of the place, not to be disturbed with impunity. I do there. 3t recollect sparrows cept the wood-sparrow. These little birds were of various kinds peculiar to the country ; but the one most frequent and famiUar was a pretty little creature, of a bright cinnamon colour, called a wren, though faintly resembling the one to which we give that name, for it is more sprightly, and flies higher. Of these and other small birds, hundreds gave and received protection around this hospitable dwelling. The protection they received consisted merely in the privilege of being let alone. That which they bestowed was of more importance than any inha- bitant of Britain can imagine. In these new countries, where man has scarce as- serted his dominion, life swarms abun- dant on every sido ; the insect popula- tion is numerous beyond beUef, aiid the birds that feed on ihem are in proportion to their abundance, in pro- cess of time, as their sheltering v»^oods arc !W ( ifls ) M )■» ■■ '■ ; f : . . 4< ^■ 1 are clear ed« all these recede before tlierr masters, but not until his empire is fully established. Such minute aerial foes are more harassing than the terrible inhabi- tants of the forest, and more difficult to expel. It is only by protecting, and in some sort domesticating, these little wing- ed allies, who attack them in their own element,, that the conqueror of the lion and tamer of the elephant can hope to sleep in peace, or eat his meals unpolluted. While breakfasting or drinking tea in the airy portico, which was often the scene of these meals, birds were con- stantly gliding over the table with a but- terfly, grasshopper, or cicada in their bills to feed their young, who were chirping above. These familiar inmates ' brushed by without ceremony, while the chim- ney swallow, the martin and other hi- rundines in countless numbers darted past in pursuit of this aerial population and the fields resounded with the cease- less chirping of many insects unknown to our more temperate summers. These were now and then mingled with the ani- mated their fuUy »s are ihabi- ilt to id in wing- own le lion )pe to Uuted. tea in n the ^ con- a but- r bills rping ushed chim- er hi- iarted lation cease- nown These e ani- ated ( 169 ) aninmted and not unpleasing cry of the tree-frog, a creature of that species, but of a light slender form, almost transpa- rent, and of a lively green ; it is dry to the touch, and has not the dank moisture of its aquatic relations ; in short it is a pretty lively creature, with a singular and cheerful note. This loud and not unpleasing insect-chorus, with the swarms of gay butterflies in constant motion, enliven scenes to which the prevalence of woods, rising *' shade above shade" on every side, would otherwise give a still and solemn aspect. Several objects, which with us are no small additions to the softened changes and endless charms of rural scenery, it must be con- fessed, are wanting there. No lark wel- comes the sun that rises to gild the dark forest and gleaming lakes of America ; IK) mellow thrush nor deep toned black- bird ^varbles through these aweful soli-, tudes, or softens the balmy hour of twi< light with " The Iic|uid language o[ the proves.'* ;i i i 1 i \ ( ''"'li \ Hi.;i j 1 i ' ! . i Vol.: I. Twilight : :'f S' 'ft ^ 1 ■■'N n^ ( 170 ) Twilight itself, the mild and shadowy hour, so soothing to every feeling, every pensive mind ; that soft transition from day to night, so dear to peace, so due to meditation, is here scarce known, at least only known to have its shortness regret- ted. No daisy hastens to meet the spring, or embellishes the meads in summer: here no purple heath exhales its whole- some odour, or decks the arid waste with the chastened glow of its waving tJells. No bonni/ broom, such as enliven the narrow vales of Scotland with its gaudy blow nor flow'ring furze with its golden blossoms, defying the cold blasts of early spring, animate their sandy wilds. There the white-blossomed sloe does not fore- run the orchard's bloom, nor the pale primrose shelter its modest head beneath the tangled shrubs. Nature, bountiful yet not profuse, has assigned her various gifts to various climes, in such a manner, that none can claim a decided pre-emin- ence; and every country has peculiar charms, which endear it to the natives beyond any othicr. — I have been tempt- ed 01 ai adowy , every a from due to at least regret- spring, itnmer : whole- 5te with ig Hells. ven the :s gaudy J golden of early There ot fore- he pale beneath ountiful various anner, e-emin- peculiar natives tempt- ed ( ni ) «d by lively recollections into a di- gression rather unwarrantable. To re- turn: .- ^1 ■ . ■ ":' '• " ■ ■' •'■'•■ At the back of the large house was a smaller and lower one, so joined to it s to make the form of a cross. There one or two lower and smaller rooms below, and the same number above, afforded a refuge to the family during the rigours of winter, when the spacious summer- rooms would have been intolerably cold, and the smoke of prodigious wood-fires would have sullied the elegantly clean furniture. Here, too, was a sunk story, where the kitchen was immediately be- low the eating parlour, and encreased the general warmth of tlie house. In summer the negroes inhabited slight outer kitchens, in which food was drest for the family. Those who wrought in tJie fields often had their simple dinner cooked widiout, and ate it under the sliade of a great tree. One room, I should have said, in the greater house only, was cipenrd for the reception of compmy ; all t le rest were bed-cliambers for tkeir accomnjoda^ 1 2 tion^ .ill! SI 1 i: ' ll ,, I 1 N i X % I \n> ', I 1 1< ,1 im ( 172 ) tion ; the donxestic friends of the family occupying neat little bed-rooms in the attics, or in the winter-house. This house contained no drawing-room ; that was an unheard-of luxury: the winter rooms had carpets -, the lobby had oil-cloth pain- ted in lozenges, to imitate blue and white marble. The best bed-room was hung with family portraits, some of which were admirably executed; and in the eating-room, which by the bye, was rarely used for that purpose, were some fine scripture paintings ; that which made the greatest impression on my imagina- tion, and seemed to be universally admir- ed, was one of Esau coming to demand the anticipated blessing ; the noble manly figure of the luckless hunter, and the anguish expressed in his comely, though strong featured countenance, I bhall never forget. The house fronted the river, on the brink of which, under shades of elm and sycamore, wan the great road to- wards Saratoga, Stillwater, and the nor- thern lakes; a little simple avenue of raorella cherry trees, inclosed with a white ;r:. : rail, Family n the house vas an rooms 1 pain- l white hung which in the D, was e some h made pagina- admir- emand manly d the hough never er, on f elm d to- e nor- ue of while rail. ( 173 ) rail, led to the road and not three river, l^^ndred yards distant. Adjoining to this, on the south side, was an indosurc subdivided into three parts, of which the first was a small hay-field, opposite ihe south end of the house ; the next, not so long, a garden ; and the third, by far the largest, an orchard. These were sur rounded by simple deal fences. Now let not the genius thiit presides over pleasure- grounds, nor any of his elegant votaries, revolt with disgust while I mention the unseemly ornaments which were exhi- bited on the stakes to which the deals of these same fences were bound. Truly they consisted of the skeleton heads of horses and cattle, in as great numbers as could be procured, stuck upon the above- said poles. This was not mere ornament either, but a most hospitable arrange- ment for the accommodation of the small familiar birds before described. The jaws are fixed on the pole, and the skull upper- most. The wren, on seeing a skuli thus placed, never fails to enter by the ori- fice, which is too small to admit the 1 ^ hand I ^1 ■ M I' ' I- ! ■l\ ,f h 4 ■ lit \\'^. 1 ! \ ^ ( 174 ) hand of an infant, lines the pericranium with small twigs and horse-hair, and there lays her eggs in full security. It is very amusing to see tie little creature care- lessly go out and in at this aperture, though you should be standing imme- diately beside it. Not satisfied with pro- viding these singular asylums for their feathered friends, the negroes never f;\il to make a small round hole in the crown of every old hat they can lay their hands on, and nail it to the end of the kitchen, for the same purpose. You often see in such a one, at once, thirty or forty of these odd little domicils, with the inha- bitants busily going out and in. Besides all these salutary provisions for the domestic comfort of the birds, there was, in clearing the way for their first establishment, a tree always left in the middle of the back yard, for their sole emolument : this tree being purposely pol- larded at Midsummer, when all the branches were full of sap. Wherever there had been a branch, the decay of the inside produced a hole j and every hole was •anium i there is very ? care- erturc, imme- :h pro- • their er fjiil crown hands itchen, see in Tty of inha- )ns fof there r first n the ir sole ly pol- 1 the lerever of the r hole was ( 175 ) was the habitation of a bh'd. These were of various kinds ; some had a pleasing note, but, on the whole, their son festers are far inferior to ours. I ra- * o tlier dwell on thbse minutiae, as they not only mark the peculiarities of tlie country, but convey very truly the image of a peo- ple not too reiincd for happiness, which, in the process of degant luxury, is apt lo dia oi" disgust. ' > 'i n '^1 I 4 CHAP. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 LI I!: iii 2.5 2.2 1.8 L25 mil 1.4 IIIIII.6 V] Va O ^l cf^S^ ^ '^ vV %%>"/ ^^^.w^ %>^ ^ / /A w Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WESi .'»>*'>■ rVRflUT WEBSTER, N.Y. I4SCC (716) 872-4503 4f^ ( 176 ) . ::i n .Ji f CHAP. XVIII. Description of Colonel Schuyler's Barn, the Coik- ^ f^ mon, and it» various U ?8. -_.^v Mi A DJoiNiNo to the orchard w^is the most spacious barn I ever beheld ; which I shall describe for the benefit of such of my readers as have never seen a building constructed on a plan so comprehensive. This barn, which, as will hereafter ap- pear, answered many beneficial purposes besides those usually allotted for such edi- fices, was of a vast size, at least an hun- dred feet long, and sixty wide. The roof rose to a very great height in the midst, and sloped down till it came within ten feet of the ground, when the walls commenced; which like the whole of this vast fabric, were formed of wood. It was raised three feet from the ground, by beams resting on stone; and on these beams was laid, in the middle of the building, a very massive oak floor. r . Before ♦ f Com- f ms { 177 ) Before the door was a large sill, sloping downwards, of the same materials. A breadth of about twelve feet on each side of this capacious building was divided off for cattle ; on one side ran a manger, at the abovementioned distance from the wall, the whole length of the building, with a rack above it ; on the other were stalls for the other cattk, running also the whole length of the building. , The cattle and horses stood with their hinder parts ta the wall, and their heads towards the thresliing floor. There was a prodi- gious large box or open chest in one side, built up fox; holding the corn after it was thrashed; and the roof, which was very lofty and spacious, was supported by large cross beams: from one to the other of these was stretched a great num- ber of long poles, so as to form a sort of open loft, on which the whole rich crop was laid up. The floor of those parts of the barn, which answered the purposes of a stable and cow* house, was made of thick slab deals, laid loosely over the supporting beams. And the mode of , .*.• 15 . ^ cleaning r-i m i, f : ; \ -. :;!,'! ■ ( 178 ) . cleaning those places was by turning the boards^ and permitting the dung and litter to fall into the receptacles left open below for the purpose ; thence in spring they were often driven down to the river, the soil, in its original state, not requiring the aid of manure. In the * front of this vast edifice there were prodigious fold- ing-doors, and two others that opened be- hind. -"•' >.'> » '-^-^.T-ij*— ■ ■ I- ' Certainly never did cheerful rural toib wear a more exhilarating aspect than while the domestics were lodging the luxuriant harvest in this capacious repository. When speaking of the doors, I should have mentioned that they were made in the gable ends; those in the back equally large to correspond with those in the front ; while on each side of the great doors were smaller ones, for the cattle and horses to enter. Whenever the corn or hay was reaped or cut, and ready for carrying home, which in that dry and warm climate happened in a very few days, * By the front is meant the gable eftd, which con- taiu theestrancc. a waggon turning mg and jft open I spring ic river, iquiring tof this as fold- ined be- i^ ral toils n while xurKint . When id have in the equally in the e great le cattle he eorn ady for ry and w days, hich con- ivaggon ( 179 ) a waggon loaded wkh hay, for instance, was driven into the midst of this great barn ; loaded also with numberless large grasshoppers, butterflies, and cicadas, who came along with the hay. From the top of the waggon, this was immediately forked up into the loft of the barn, in tlie midst of which was an open space left for the purpose ; and then the unloaded waggon drove, in rustic state, out of the great door at the other end. In the mean time every member of the family witnessed, or assisted in this summary process ; by which . the building and thatching of stacks was at once saved; and the whole crop and cattle were thus compendiously lodged under one roof. The cheerfulness of this animated scene was much heightened by the quick appear- ance, and vanishing of the swallows ; which twittered among their high-built dwel- lings in the roof. Here, as in every other instance, the safety of these domestic friends was attended to ; and an abode provided for them. In the fron^ of this I 6 barn . -li 'iii; ii Mm aind milk, were plentifully distributed to wanderers of all descriptions. Every summer, for many years there was an encampment, either of regular or pro- vincial troops, on this common; and often, when the troops proceeded north- yUnttd, a little colony of helpless women , and ) the ated, tered dnd: ippro- oduc- nsion, useful It leitt is mu- w set- : they . The lied a the nted; fruit> ted to Every vas an r pro- and north- vomen and ( 183 ) and children, belonging to them, was left in a great measure dependant oil the com- passion of these worthy patriarchs; for such the brothers ihight be justly called. ■V-' ": ■^i-ur'^-,-';'-;!-' ' ■ '■''' :- '■■■■■ r\ -, »•■-'•'■ ' '^ ' ■, . ' ' ' • , '•» ^\^y ■ i^ ■ t'}} *. , i.sie!/lf Y-^u} i U. ' i'i'- ..;-tSiJ /'f-ZiJ U J.'i'i4!."« V .>il- f-; ■/ ! v'' (■ . V i^nb*>v,^^t'' ixi :hvvi;'. r -i ■: ■ A. * ■ ., J-, f'h' •' ' ;■■■ « ! 1 ,. / . 4 CHAP. *.?!• k iiM^ ',1 ' I , ! il I 184 ) ,i/'.tte Y^^^^ CHIP. X' ■ '^^ ^^ ■ * . ^'^'^ Military Preparations.— ^ csted Conduct, the surest Road to Popularity. — Fidelity of the Mo- hawks. npHE first year of the colonel's marriage was spent chiefly in New York, and in visits to the friends of hi^bride, and other relations. The following years they passed at home, surrounded daily by his brothers, with tlieir families, and other relatives, with whom they maintained the most affectionate intercourse. The colo- nel, however, (as I have called him by an- ticipation had his mind engaged at this time, by public duties of the most urgent nature. He was a member of the colonial assembly; and, by a kind of hereditary right, was obliged to support that charac- ter of patriotism, courage, and public wis- dom, which had so eminently distinguished his father. The father of Mrs, Schuyler, \ .'. . u WIS* ( 185 ) too, had been long mayor of Albany ; at that time an office of great importance ; as including, within itself, the entire civil power exercised over the whole settle- ment as well as the town, and having a sort of patriarchial authority attached to it ; for these people, though little ac- quainted with coercion, and by no means inclined to submit to it, had a profound reverence, as is generally the case in -the infancy of society, for the families of their first leaders ; whom they had looked up to merely as knowing them to possess superior worth, talent, and enterprise. In a society, as yet uncorrupted, the value of this rich inheritance can only be di- minished by degradation of character in the representative of a family thus self- ennobled ; especially if he be disinterest- ed ; this, though apparently a negative quality, being the one of all others which combined with the higher powers of mind most engages affection in private, and esteem in public life. This is a shield that blunts the shafts which envy ne- ver fails to level at the prosperous. ill If I; O^Jf.''*^ even : - mi ( 186 ). even in old establishments ; where, from the very nature of things, a thou^nd obstructions rise in the upward path of merit ; and a thousand temptations appear to mislead it from its du^ct road ; and where the rays of opinion are refracted by so many prejudices of contending In- terests and factions. Still, if amy charm can be found to fix that fleeting phantom popularity, this is it : It would be vt'ry honourable to human nature, if this could be attributed to the pure love of virtue ; but, alas 1 multitudes are not made up of the wise, or of the virtuous. Yet the very selfishness of our nature inclines us to love and trust those who are not like- ly to desire any benefit from us, in re- turn for those they confer. Other vices may be, if not social, in some degree gregarious : but even the avaricious hate avarice in all but themselves, '^i vY^n< v ^ ' Thus, inheriting unstained integrity, unbounded popularity, a cool determined spirit, and ample possessions, no man had fairer pretensions to unlimited sway, in the sphere in which he moved, than the i^ > '- ■• colonel; ■Mi M e, fjpoiti kcdi^nd path of > appear i; and jfracted ling In- charm hantom be Verf is could virtue ; ie up of ret the nes us ot like- in re- vices degree hate egrity, mined n had ay, in m the lonel ; ( 187 ). , colonel ; but of this no man could be less desirous. He was too wise, and too hap- py to solicit authority ; and yet too public* spirited, and too generous to decline it, when any good was to be done or any evil resisted, from which no private bene- fit resulted to himself/"'"^'"" ""•''**'^'' Young as his wife was, and much as she valued the blessing of their union, and the pleasure of his society, she shew- ed a spirit worthy of a Roman matron, in willingly risking all her happiness, even in that early period of her marriage, con- senting to his assuming a military com- mand, and leading forth the provincial troops against the common enemy ; who had now become more boldly dangerous than ever. Not content with secretly stimulating to acts of violence, the Indian tribes, who were their allies, and enemies to the Mohawks, the French Canadians, in violation of existing treaties, began to make incursions on the slightest pretexts. It was no common warfare in which the colonel was about to engage : but the du- ties of entering on vigorous measures, for 11 : ( :Qi;j ( 188 ) for the defence of the country, became not only obvious but urgent. No other person but he had influence enough to produce any coherence among the people of that district, or any determination, with their own arms and at their own cost, to attack the common enemy. As formerly observed, this had hitherto been trusted to the five confederate Mohawk nations; who, though still faithful to their old friends, had too much sagacity and observation, and indeed too strong a sense of native rec- titude, to persuade their young warriors to go on venturing their lives in defence of those, who, from their increased power and numbers, were able to defend them- selves with the aid of their allies. Add to this, that their possessions were on all sides daily extending j and that they, the Albanians, were carrying their trade for furs, See, into the deepest recesses of the forests, and towards these great lakes which the Canadians were accustomed to consider as the boundaries of their do- and where they had Indians mmions whom they were at great pains U-- to at- tach became o other lUgh to i people >n, with cost, to Drmerly listed to is; who, ids, had Dn, and ive rec- i^arriors defence power them- Add on all ey, the de for of the lakes tomed ir do- idians Ko at- tach ( 189 ) tach to themselves, and to inspire against ys and our allies. " " ^ - ' • - - Colonel Schuyler's father had held the same rank in a provincial corps for- merly : but in his time, there was a pro- found peace in the district he inhabited ; though, from his resolute temper and knowledge of public business, and of the different Indian languages, he was selected to head a regiment raised in the Jerseys and the adjacent bounds, for the defence of the back frontiers of Pensyl- vania. New England, &c. Colonel Philip Schuyler was the first who raised a corps in the interior of the province of New York ; this was not only done by his per- sonal influence, but occasioned him a con- siderable expencej though the regiment was paid by the province, which also fur- nished al-ms and military stores ; their service being, like that of all provincials, limited to the summer l.\alf-year. * The governor and chief commander came up to Albany to view and approve the preparations making for this interior war, and to meet the congress of Indian '"'■■■'■■ sachems j ir ! ■ ,<;, '-.^vr ' ( 190 ) sachems ; who on that occasion, renew- ed their solemn league with their brother the great king. Colonel Schuyler, being then the person they most looked up to and confided in, was their proxy on this oc- casion in ratifying an engagement to which they ever adhered with singular fidelity. And mutual presents brightened the chain of amity ; to use their own figura- tive language. . , ,, : . . The common and the barn, at the Flats, were fully occupied, and the hos- pitable mansion, as was usual on all public occasions, overflowed. There the general, his aid-de-camps, the sachems and the principal officers of the coloncVs regiment, were received; and those of the next class, who could not find room there, were accommodated by Peter and Jere- mii^h. On the common was an Indian encampment -, and the barn and orchard were full of the provincials. All these last brought as usual their own food : but were supplied by this liberal family with every production of the garden, dai- ry, and orchard. While the colonel's ;,/ . * judgement renew- »rother , being up to this oc- > which idelity. id the figura- at the le hos- l public reneral, ^d the riment, e next there, i Jere- Indian rchard these food: family n, dai* lonel's ement (^ 191 ) judgement was exercised in the necessary regulations for this untried warfare, Mrs, Schuyler, by the calm fortitude she dis- played in this trying exigence, by the good sense and good breeding with which she accommodated her numerous and various guests, and by those judicious attentions to family concerns, which, producing or- der and regularity through every depart- ment without visible bustle and anxiety, enable the mistress of a family to add grace and ease to hospitality, shewed her- self worthy of her distinguished lot. ,y» ' :? iMj .■.i>f •-(* /., •: .t : . Af i..:: \ li.i v-J 1. .-•"•{ • ' ■ -. . . 1 v:.U:. ,. .-■ . ■ .-.. T . .*'! '.. .- . -,> ■ * .' ; 4 1 4 1 I !' i CHAP. M- ' h =i i,;> 1,1 fn?'^? (192 ) CHAP. XX. ,r ,f^3H^. >3?, f i;;, , ., •?jy[> :lb ^.^ » Account of a refractory Warrior, and of the Spirit which still pervaded the New England Provinces. ;• ,}• ttthile these preparations were going on, the general * was making every effort of the neighbourhood to urge those who had promised assistance, to come forward with their allotted quotas^C v On the other side of the river, not . very far from the Flats, lived a person whom I shall not name ; though his con- duct was so peculiar and characteristic of the times, that his anti-heroism is on that sole account worth mentioning. This person lived in great security and abun- dance, in a place like an earthly Para- disc, and having had considerable wealth left to him scarcely knew an ungra- tified wish \ the simple and domestic Shirley. habits * j'l A t' ( 193 ) of his life, had formed no desires beyond it, unless indeed it were the desire of be- ing thought a brave man, which seemed his greatest ambition ; he was strong, ro- bust, and an excellent marksman ; talked loud, looked fierce, and always expressed the utmost scorn and detestation of cow- ardice. The colonel applied to him, that his name, and the names of such adherents as he could bring, might be set down in the list of those who were to bring their q^'.ota, by a given time, for the general defence : with the request he compUed. When the rendezvous came on, this talking war- rior had changed his mind, and absolutely refused to appear ; the general sent for liim, and warmly expostulated on his breach of promise, the bad example, and the disarrangement of plan which it oc- casioned : the culprit spoke in a high tone, saying, very truly, " that the gene- ^' ral wai> possessed of no logal means of '' coercion ; tluit every one went or staid, '' as they chose j and that his change of " opinion on that subject rendered iuin '^ liable to no penalty v/hatever,'* Tired \0L I. K (^f I 1 I'll i'^ I \\ * H ( 194 ) of tliis sophistry, tlie enraged general Tiad recourse to club lawj and seizing a cudgel, belaboured this recreant knight most manfuUyj while several Indian sachems, and many of his own coun- trymen and friends, coolly stood by ; for the colonel's noted common was the scene of his assault. Our poor neighbour (as he longafter became) suffered tliis dread- ful bastinado, unaided and Unpitied j and this example, and the consequent con- tempt under which he laboured, (for he was ever after stiled Captain, and did not refuse the title,) was said to have an excellent effect in preventing such retro- grade motions in subsequent campaigns*. The * Above thirty years after, when the writer of these pages lived with her family at the Flats, the hero of this little tale used very frequently to visit her father, a veteran officer; and being a great talker, war and politics were his incessant topics. There was no campaign nor expedition proposed but what he * censured and decided on ; proposing methods of his own, by which they might have been much better conducted ; Tal Tiad izing a knight Indian n coun- od by ; was the ighbour is dread- ed ; and nt con- (for he md did have an ;h retro- paigns*. The writer of Flats, the ly to visit reat talker, s. There ut what he ods of his ich better onducted ; ( 195 ) The provincial ti oops, aided by the faithful Mohawks, performed their duty with great spirit and perseverance. They were, in- deed, very superior to the ignorant, if obstinate, and mean^souled beings, who, in after-times, brought the very name of provincial troops into discredit ; and were actuated by no single motive but that of avoiding the legal penalty then affixed to disobedience, and enjoying th€ pay and provisions allotted to them by the pro- vince, or the mother country, I t:annot exactly say which. Afterwards, when the refuse of mankind were selected, like Falstaff's soldiers, and raised much in tlie same way, the New-York troops still conducted ; m short Parolles with his drum was a mere type of our neighbour. Mrs. Schuyler's father long wondered how he took to him so kindly, and how x person of so much wealth and eloquence should dwell so obscurely, and shun all tlie duties of public life ; till at length we discovered that he still loved to talk arro- gantly of war and public affairs, and pitched upoo him for a listener, as the only person he could 8up» pose ignorant of his disgrace. Such is human nature i and so incurable is human vanity ! ! K 2 main- i-i. i t i V-i if 196 ) maintained their respectability. This su- periority might, without reproaching othei'S, be in some measure accounted for from incidental causes. The four New England provinces were much earlier set- tled, sooner assumed the forms of a civil community, and lived within narrower bounds ; they were more laborious ; their fanaticism, w^hich they brought from England in its utmost fervour, long con- tinued its effervescence, where there were no pleasures, nor indeed lucrative pur- suits, to detach their minds from it : and long after, that genuine spirit of piety, w^hich, however narrowed and disfigured, was still sincere, had in a great measure evaporated ; enough of the pride and ri- gour of bigotry remained to make them detest and despise the Indian tribes, as ignorant heathen savages. The tribes, in- deed, who inhabited their district, had been so cakened by an unsuccessful warfare with the Mohawks, and were every way so inferior to them, that after the first etablishment of the colony, avid a few feeble attacks successfully re- pulsed, This su- iroaching inted for 3ur New arlier set- of a civil narrower us ; their ;ht from long con- here were itive pur- n it : and of piety, lisfigured, measure e and ri- \ke them Itribcs, as .ribes, in- |rict, had juccessful Ind were :hat after my, and [fully re- pulsed, / ( 197 > pulsed, they were no longer enemies to be dreaded, or friends to be courted. This bad an unhappy effect with regard to those provinces ; and to the different rela- tions in which they stood with respect to the Indians, some part of the striking difference in the moral and military cha- racter of these various establishments must be attributed. The people of New England left the mother country, as banished from it by what they considered oppression ; came over foaming with religious and political fury, and narrowly missed having the most artful and able of demagogues, Cromwell himself, for their leader and guide. They might be compared to lava, discharged by the fury of internal com- bustion, from the bosom of the common- wealth, while inflamed by contrnding elemen^^s. This lava, every one acquaint- ed with the convulsions of nature must know, takes a long time to cool ; and when at length it is cooled, turns to a substance hard and barren, that lono; re- ♦sists the kindly influence of the elements, K 3 before 11 i ; r ( 198 ) Its surface resumes the appearance of beauty and fertility. Such were almost literally the effects of political convulsions, aggravated by a fiery and intolerant zeal for their own mode of worship, on these ^elf-righteous colonists. These preliminary remarks on the di- i-ersity of character in these neighbc r« ing provinces lead the way, in the mean time, to a discrimination, the effects of which have become interesting to the whole world. .X I m^ CHAP. t 199 ) i i ipearance of were almost convulsions, tolerant zeal iip, on these on the di. neighbr r- n the mean e effects of ing to the CHAP. xxr. Distinguishing Characteristics of the New York Ca- lonists, to what owing. — Hugonots and Palaiines, their Character. "DUT to return to the superior moral and military character of the New York populace. — It was in the first place owing to a well regulated piety, less concerned about forms than essentials : Next, to an influx of otlier than the original settlers, which tended to render the ge- neral system of opinion more liberal and tolerant. The French protestants, driven from their native land by intolerant bigotry, had liyed at home excluded alike from pub • lie employments and fashionable society. Deprived of so many resources that were open to their fellow-subjects, and forced to seek comfort in piety and concord for many privations, self-command and fru- gality had been in a manner forced upon them J consequently they were not so ■i i CHAP, K 4 vam ( 200 ) vain nor so volatile as to disgust their new associates ; while their cheerful tempers, accommodating manners, and patience under adversity, were v^ery prepossessing. These additional inhabitants, being such as had suffered real and extreme hardships fen* conscience-sake from absolute tyranny and the most cruel intolerance, rejoiced in the free exercise of a pure and ration- al religion, and in the protection of mild and equitable laws, as the first of human blessings ; which privation had so far taught them to value, that they thought no exertion too great to preserve them. I should have formerly mentioned, that, besides the French refugees already spo- ken of, during the earliest period of the establishment of the British sovereignty in this part of the continent, a great number of the protestants, whom the fury of war and persecution on religious accounts had driven from the Palatinate, (during the succeisful and desolating period of the wars carried on against that un- happy country by Lewis the Four- teenth,) had found refuge here. The subdued their new I tempers, patience )osscssing. »eing such hardships tyranny , rejoiced [id ration- n of mild ;f human id so far T thought ve them. ed, that, leady spo- d of the ignty in number of war jaccounts (during riod of at un- Four- The lubdued ( 201 ) subdued and contented spirit, the simple and primitive manners, and frugal, in- dustrious habits of tliese genuine sufferers for conscience-sake, made them an acqui- sition to any society which received thorn, and a most suitable leaven ainoncr the iniiabitants of this province ; who, devoted to the pursuits of agriculture and the In- dian trade, which encouraged a wild ro- mantic spirit of adventure, little relished those mechanical employments, or that petty yet necessary traillc in shops, &;c. to whicli a part of every regulated society must needs devote their attention. These ci\dc toils were left to those patient and industrious exiles, wliile th.> friendly in- tercourse with tlie oriufhv.il r.aiives had strongly tinctured the first colonists witli many of their habits and modes of tliink- ing. Like them, they delighted in hunt- ing, that ima^e of war, which so ger.e" rally, where it is the prevalent amuse- ment, forms the body to atliletic force and patient endurancejand the mind to dar- ing intrepidity. The timorous deer or the feeble hare were not alone the objects of K 5 their ,:l| ^'•^l}. -.,, , ,. ,,^, •«. ( 202 ) their pursuit ; nor could they in such an impenetrable country attempt to rival the fox in speed or subtlety. When they kept their " few sheep in the wilderness," the she^bcar, jealous for her young, and the wolf, furious for prey, were to be encoun- tered in their defence. From these al- lies, too, many who lived much among them had learnt that fearless adherence to truth, which exalts the mind to the noblest kind of resolution. The dangers to which they were exposed, of meeting wandering individuals, or parties of hos- tile Indians, while traversing the woods in their sporting or commerc'~I adventures, arid the necessity that sometimes occurred of defending their families by their own , personal prowess, from the stolen irrup- tions of detached parties of those usually called the French Indians, had also given their minds a warlike bent ; and as a boy was not uncommonly trusted at nine or ten years of age with a light fowling- piece, which he soon learned to use v/ith great dexterity, few countries could produce such dexterous marksmen, or persons such an rival the liey kept 2SS," the and the encoun- these al- 1 among dherence d to the J dangers meeting IS of hos- woods in ventures, occurred heir own n irrup- e usually so given I as a boy nine or fowlino;- to use ies could jUien, or persons m { 203 ) persons so well qualified for conquering those natural obstacles, of thick vvoods and swamps, which would at once baffle the most determined European. Not only were they strong of limb, swift of foot, and excellent marksmen — the hatchet was as familiar to them as the musket; and an amateur, who had never cut wood but for his diversion, could hew down a tree with a celerity that would astonish and abash a professed wood- cut-, ter in this country ; in short, when means or arguments could be used powerful enough to collect a people so uncon- troulcd and so uncontroulable, and when headed by a leader, whom they loved and trusted, so much as they did Colonel Schuyler, a well-armed body, of New York provincials had nothing to dread but an affue or an ambuscade, to both of which they were much exposed on the banks of the lakes, and amidst the swampy forests they had to penetrate in pursuit of an enemy ; of whom they might say with the Grecian hero, that ** they w^anled but daylight to conquer K 6 « liim. ;'S' .1 , 'V A: i;'. ,.i^i CC ( 204 ) him.** The first essay in arms of those provincials, under the auspices of their brave and generous leader, succeeded be- yond their hopes. This is all I can recol- lect of it. Of its destination I only know that it was directed against some of those establishments which the French began to make within the British boundaries. The expedition terminated only with the season. The provincials brought home Canadian prisoners, who were kept on their parole in the houses of the three brothers, and became afterwards their friends ; and the Five Nations brought home Indian prisoners, (most of whom they adopted,) and scalps enough to strike awe into the adverse nations, who were for a year or two afterwards pretty quiet. lilli - ! » CHAP, • .I ( 205 ) )f those )f their ded be- ll recol- y know 3f those )egan to ies. The e season, 'anadian r parole lers, and is ; and i Indian dopted,) into the year or CHAP. XXII. A Child still-born. — Adoption of Childr«i common in the Province. — Madame's Fuit to New Tork. M CHAP, HS. Schuyler had contributed all in her power to forward this expedition ; but was probably hurt, either by the fa- tigue of receiving so many friends, or the anxiety produced by parting with them under such circumstances; for soon after the colonel's departure she was delivered of a dead child, which event was followed by an alarming illness ; but she wished the colonel to be kept igno- rant of it, that he might give his undi- vided attention to the duties in which he was engaged. Providence, which doubtless had singled out this benevo- lent pair to be the parents of many who had no natural claim upon their affection, did not indulge them with any succeeding prospects of a family of their own. That privation, not a fre- quent one in the colony, did not chill ,,: : . ' the I! '^ V 1 1 I li' l! !i'' ( 206 ) the minds or narrow the hearts of people, who, from this circumstance, found them- selves more at liberty to extend their be- neficence, and enlarge that circle which embraced the objects of their love and care. This indeed was not singular dur- ing that reign of natural feeling which preceded the prevalence of artificial modes in this primitive district. The love of offspring is certainly one of 'the strongest desires that the uncorrupted mind forms to itself in a state of comparative inno- cence. Affecting indiflference on this sub- ject is the surest proof of a disposition ei- ther callous, or led by e^itreme vanity to pretend insensibility to the best feelings of nature. ' To a tie so exquisitely tender, the pledge and bond of connubial union ; to that bud of promised felicity, which al- ways cheers with the fragrance of hope the noon-day of toil or care, and often sup- ports with the rich cordial of fdial love and watchful duty the evening of our decline, what mind can be indifferent ! No wonder the jo)s of paternity should be highly !o I people, i them- leir be- I which tve and ar dur- ; which I modes love of :rongest 1 forms 7e inno- his sub- ition ei- mity to eelings er, on the ; to ich al- ope the en sup- al love of our It! No )uld be highly ( ^07 ) highly relished where they were so riclily flavoured ; where parents knew not wliat it WMS to find a rebel or a rival in a child; first, because they set the example of simplicity, of moderation, and of seeking their highest joys in domestic life ; next, because they quietly expected and calm- ly welcomed the evening of life; and did not, by an absurd desire of being young too long, inspire their offspring with a prem^ature ambition to occupy their place. What sacrifices have I not seen made to filial piety ! How many respectable (though not youngj maidens, who, without pre- tending a dislike' to marriage, have re- jected men whom their hearts approved, because they would not forsake, during her lifetime, a widowed mother, whose sole comfort they were ! For such children, who, that hopes to grow old, would not wish ? A conside- ration which the more polished manners of Europe teach us to banish as fir as possible from our minds. We have learn- ed to check this natural sentiment, bv finding other objects for those faculties of our i. ! M il 'I (■ ■■ h m A' ( 208 ) minds, which nature intended to bless and benefit creatures born to love us, and to enlarge our affections by exciting them. If this stream, which so naturally inclines to flow downwards, happened to be check- ed in its course for want of the usual channel, these adepts in the science of happiness immediately formed a new one, and liked their canal as well as a river, be cause it was of their own making. To speak without a metaphor, whoever want- ed a child adopted one ; love produced love, and the grafted scion very often proved an ornament and defence to the supporting stock. But then the scion was generally artless and grateful. This is a part of the manners of my old friends which I always remember with delight ; more particularly as it was the invariable .custom to select the child of a friend who had a numerous family. Tfie very ani- mals are not devoid of that mixture of affection and sagacity, which suggests a mode of s- pplying this great desideratum. Next to that prince of cats, the famous cat of Whittington, I would place the cat re- corded by Dr. White in his curious natural history^ iiiii bless s, and them, iclines :heck- usual nee of w one, river, r. To want- :)duced often to the scion This friends eUght ; ariable d who y ani- ure of ^ests a ratum. ous cat cat re. latural listory^ ( 209 ) history, who, when deprived of her young, sought a parcel ot deserted leverets to suckle and to fondle. What an example ! The following year produced a suspen- sion of hostilities between the Provinces and the Canadians. The colonel went to New York to attend his duty, being again chosen a member of the Colonial Assem- bly. Mrs. Schuyler accompanied him ; and being improved both in mind and manners since her marriage, which, by giving her a more important part to act, had called forth her powers, she became the centre of a circle by no means inelegant or uninformed; for society was there more various and more polished than in any other part of the continent, both from the mixture of settlers, formerly de- scribed, and from its being situated in a province most frequently the seai of war, and consequently forming the head -quar- ters of the army, which, in point of the birth and education of the candidates for promotion, was on a very different footing from what it has been since. It was then a much narrower range, and the selection more i.il ■ 1 i ^B H i'fl' H^ H (*4 hP B v/;» PP|k ■Wi '■■'i WP w 1 tm{' '''.'■ W: 1 tm\''^ W' -'I-- 1' 1/ i iimkh imm mm i' l;.;Sv:, ( 210 ) more attended to. Unless a man, by singu- lar powers or talent, fought his way from the inferior rank, here was hardly an in- stance of a person getting even a subaltern's commission whose birth was not at least genteel, and who had not interest and alli- ances. Tiiere were not so many lucrative phces under governmento The wide field of adventure since opened in the East was scarcely known ; a subaltern's pay was more adequate to the maintenance of a gentleman ; and the noblest and most re- spected families had no other way of pro- viding for such younger brothers, as were not bred to any learned profession, but by throwing them into the army. As to mo- rals, this did not perhaps much mend the matter. These officers might in some in- stances be thoughtless, and even profligate, but they were seldom ignorant or low bred ; and that rare character called a finished gentleman, was not unfrequently to be found among the higher ranks of them, who had added experience, reading, and reflection to their oiiginal stock of ta- ients and attainments. CHAP. ( 211 ) f singu- ty from y an in- )altern's at least and alli- ucrativo ide field East was pay was [ice of a most re- T of pro- - as were 1, but by s to mo- nend the some in- ►rofligate, t or low called a requently ranks of , reading, ock of ta- CHAP, CHAP. XXIII. Colonel Schuyler's partiality to the military chil- dren successively adopted.— Indian character falsely chaiged with idleness, TT so happened that a succession of offi- cers, of the description mentioned in the preceding chapter, were to be ordered upon the service which I have been de- tailing ; and whether in New York or at home, they always attached themselves particularly to this family, who, to the attractions of good breeding and easy in- telligent conversation, added the power, which they pre-eminently possessed, of smoothing the way for their necessary in- tercourse with the independent and self- righted settlers, and of instructing them in many things essential to promote the suc- cess of the pursuits in which they were about to engage. It was one of aunt Schuy- ler's many singular merits, that, aft°r act- ing for a time a distinguished part in this compara- ■! I t IM i-- \\ i I I ( 212 ) comparatively refinod society, where few were so much admired and esteemed, she could return to the homely good sense and primitive manners of her fellow citi- zens at Albany, free from fastidiousness and disgust. Few indeed, withtmt study or design, ever better understood the art of being happy, and making others so. Be- ing gay is another sort of thing ; gaiety, as the word is understood in society, is too often assumed, artificial, and produced by such an effort, that, in the midst of laughter, *' the heart is indeed sad," Very different are the smiles that occasionally illume the placid countenance of cheerful tranquillity. They are the emanations of a heart at rest ; in the enjoyment of that sunshine of the breast, which is set for ever to the restless votaries of mere amuse- ment. According to the laudable custom of the country they took home a child whose mother had died in giving her birth, and whose father was a relation of the colo- nel's. This child's name was either Schuy- ler orCuyier, 1 do not exactly remember * - which j re few 2d, she L sense >w citi- :)usncss :udy or 2 art of 3. Be. gaiety, iety, is oduced lidst of " Very sionally :heerful .ticns of of that set for I amuse- n of the . whose •th, and \e colo- Schuy- nembcr which 5 ( 213 ) which ; but I remember her many years after as Mrs. Vander Poolen ; when, as a comely contented looking matron, she used to pay her annual visit to her be- loved benefactress, and send her ample presents of such rural dainties as her abode afforded. I have often heard her warm in her praises ; saying how useful, how modest, and how aftecdonate she had been ; and exulting in her comfortable set- tlement, and the plain worth, which made her a blessing to her family. From this time to her death, above liicy years afterwards, her house was never without one, but much oftencr two children,. whom this exemplary pair educated \\ ith parental solicitudi^ and kindness. And whenever one of their protegees married out of the family, which v/as generally at a very early age, she carried with her a female slave, born and baptised in the house, and brought up with a thorough knowledge of her duty, ard an habi- tual attachment to her mistress ; besides the usual present ot the iurniturc of a chamber, and a piece of plate, such as a tea- I ijl: ''fr^ l/f: I': ^ :i in 4 m nil'' s-i • tl Ill ill ( '-^1* ) tea-pot, tankard, or some such useful matter, which was more or less valuable as the protegee was more or less beloved : for though aunt Schuyler had great sa- tisfaction from the characters and con- duct of all her adopted, there were, no doubt, degrees of merit among them, of which she was better able to judge than if she had been their actual mother. There was now an interval of peace, which gave these philanthropists more leisure to do good in their own way. They held a three-fold band of kindness in their hands, by which they led to the desirable purpose of mutual advantage ; three very discordant elements, which were daily becoming more difficult to mingle and to rule; and which yet were the more dependent on each other for mutual comfort, from the very causes which tended to disunite them. In the first place, the Indians began to assume that unfavourable and uncertain aspect, which it is the fate of man to wear in the first steps of his progress from that state useful valuable )eloved ; xreat sa- nd con- frere, no heni, of ige than er. Df peace, its more wn way. kindness t-dto the vantage -, which flicult to hich yet ach other ry causes began to uncertain n to wear From that ( 215 ) . •state, where he is at once warlike and social, having few wants, and being able, without constant labour or division of ranks, to supply them ; where there is no distinction, save that attained by supe- rior strength of mind and body; and where there are no laws, but those dictated by good sense, aided by experience, and enforced by affection. This state of life may be truly called the reign of the affections : the love of kindred and of country, ruling paramount, unrivalled by other passions, all others being made subservient to these. Vanity, indeed, was in some degree flatter- ed; for people wore orn-iments and were at no small pains to make them. Pride existed ; but was differently modified from what we see it ; every man was proud of the prowess and atchievements of his tribe collectively; of his personal virtues he was not proud, because we excel but by com- parison; and he rarely saw instances of the opposite vices in his own nation, and looked on others with unqualified con- tempt. When ll ! m iiflr { 2^6 ) ' When any public benefit was to be obtained or any public danger to be averted, their ir.utual efTorts were all bent to one end; and no one knew what it was to withhold his utmost aid, nor in- deed could in that stage of society have any motive for doing so. Hence, no inind being contracted by selfish cares, the coinmunity were but as one large family, who enjoyed or suffered together. We are accustomed to talk, in parrot phrase, of indolent savages; and to be sure in warm climates, and where the state of rnan is truly savage, that is to say, unsocial, void of virtue and void, of comforts, he is certainly an indolent being; but that individual, in a cold climate, who has lasted the sweets of social life, who. know.-> the wants that arise from it, who provides for his children in their helpless state, and with wJiom taste and inge- nuity are so much improved, that his per- son is not onlv clothed with warm and sccnuy apparel,, but decorated with nume- rous and not inelegant ornaments wlilch from the scarcity and simplicity of Iiis tools, he IS to be r to be e all bent what it 1, nor in- lety bave lence, no Ish cares, one large . together, in parrot \nd to be ^vhere the that is to id void of cnt being-, iiate, who life, who. n it, wl'O r helpless nd inge- [it his per- arm and ith nu me- lts which his tools, he ( «n ) he has no ready nor easy mode of produc- ing ; when he has not only found out all these wants, which he has no means of supplying but by his individual strength, dexterity, and ingenuity, industry must be added, ere they can all be regularly gratified. Very active and industrious, in fact, the Indians were in their original state ; and when we take it into consider^ ation, that, beside these various occupa- tions, together with their long journeys, wars, and constant huntings and fishing, their leisure was occupied not only by athletic but studious games, at which they played for days together with un- heard-of eagerness and perseverance, it will appear they had -very little of that lounging-time, for which we are so apt to give them credit. Or if a chief occa- sionally, after fatigue of which we can form no adequate idea, lay silent in the shade, those fusking Frenchmen who have given us most details concerning theip, were too restless themselves to subdue their skipping spirits to the recollection, that a Mohawk had no study nor arm-chair VOL. I. L wherein . ij !;>= ho ''■ft! i ■ 1 ■i (. 218 ) wherein to muse and cogitate, and that his schemes of patriotism, his plans of war, and his eloquent speeches, were all like the meditations of Jacques, formed " un- " der the greenwood tree." Neither could any man lounge on his sofa, while half a dozen others were employed in shear- ing the sheep, preparing the wool, weav- ing and making his coat, or in plant'ig the flax for his future linen, and flaying the ox for his future shoes ; were he to do all this himself, he would have little leisure for study or repose. And all this and more the Indian did under other names and forms. So that idleness, with its gloomy followers ennui and suicide, were unknown among this truly active people : yet that there is a higher state of society cannot be denied ; nor can it be denied that the intermediate state is a painful and enfeebling one. Man, in a state of nature, is taught by his more civilized brethren a thou- sand new wants before he learns to supply one. Thence barter takes place; which ir 1 that )fwar, lU like I " un- ^either lilehalf L shear- , weav- plant/^g I flay Dig ;re he to ive little L all this ;r other ss, with suicide, [ly active [her state Inor can late state IS taught a. thou- ;arns to js place; ■which progression ( 219 ) which in the first stage of universally fatal to the liberty, the spi- rit, and the comforts of an uncivilized people. In the east, where the cradle of our in- fant nature was appointed, the clime was genial, its productions abundant, and its winters only sufficient to consume the surplus, and give a welcome variety to the seasons. There man was either a shepherd or a hunter, as his disposition led; and that perhaps in the same fami- ly. The meek spirit of Jacob delighted in tending his father's flocks ; while the more daring and adventurous Esau traced tha wilds of mount Seir, in pursuit both ■ -t the fiercer animals who waged war a the fold, and the more timorous who adnii/rjtered to the luxury of the table. -^ The progress of civilization was here gradual and gentle; and the elegant arts seem to have gone hand in hand with the useful ones. We read of bracelets and •ar-rings sent as tokens of love, and images highly valued and coveted ; while even agriculture seemed in its infancy. l2 CHAV. I; ( 220 ) f:l Hi m ? • Ell hi r *!ir i> 11- lU Sri > CHAP. XXIV. ProgrcM of Civilization in Europe- —Northern Na. tions instructed in the Arts of Life by those they r ' -'ubdued. POPULATION extending to the milder re- gions of Europe, brought civilization along with it ; so that it is only among the savages (as we call our ancestors) of the North, that we can trace the inter- mediate state I have spoken of. Among them, one regular gradation seems to have taken place ; they were first hunters, and then warriors. As they advanced in their knowledge of the arts of life, and acquired a little property, as much of pastoral pursuits as their rigorous climate would allow, without the aid of regular agriculture, mingled with their wander- ing habits. But, except in a few partisJ instances, from hunters they became con- querors: the warlike habits acquired from that mode of life raising their minds brdiern Na- yr those they nilder re- vilization ly among ancestors) the inter- Among IS to have [Iters, and anced in life, and much of Ls climate if regular r wander- !W partial :ame con- acquired ing their minds ( 2ii ) '"S mem to despise the srvft*.,. ^ ^ , embellish society. ^ \T . '' *=" proffress fn .: -i- • ' *"^"' "S"al progress to cmhzation was through the medium of conquest. The poet iys. •ubdued." ^ ''^*^"* ^»"«^ce, which she 2;„7'y7f'''»'ght We spared his scorn, for doubtless science, and the am of peace, were by far the most valLbl acquisitions resulting from th«r 7 of that polished af d ! • "^"^" But when thp '"S^n'ous people. northtSnft J"''^^ ^'*'^^'' °^ «>- their dinndlrT^'°^"''^'«°« •'read the%rfli f ;^f ro^r'^ ^'^ gularly armed, they rlrrri"- cataract, on their enfeebled anT , ^ ous neighbours, de^; ';'/ilr" ments of arf « j monu- change r;:; in '" ^ '^'"^ Hrpa^^ 1 ^ ^ °^ nature. Yet flts^t^foTrb^'™^^^"-^*^^ punish l;Vrrenola^;Tha7r^^" -Ping away the ht;t:;r;o^ :i ! >■ !• L 3 ruption .y^'wi?.^'^* h':i i' \fj MiU m I. (' ( 222 / ruption with which the dregs of man- kind had polluted the earth. In was an awful, but a needful process ; which, in some form or other, is always renewed when human degeneracy has reached its ultimatum. The destruction of these feeble beings, who, lost to every manly and virtuous sentiment, crawl about the rich property which they have not sense to use worthily, or spirit to defend man- fully, may be compared to the effort nature makes to rid herself of the noxi- ous brood of wasps and slugs cherished by successive mild winters. A dreadful fro::t comes ; man suffers, and complains ; his subject animals suffer more, and all his works are for a time suspended : but this salutary infliction purifies the air, meliorates the soil, and destroys millions of lurking enemies, which would other- wise have consumed the productions of the earth, and deformed the face of na- ture. In these barbarous irruptions, the monuments of art, statues, pictures, tem- ples, and palaces, seem to be most la. mented. From age to age the virtuosi of n ir ■'■ 'Un t mau- was an lich, in enewed ched its f these y manly )ont the lOt sense ind man- tie effort the noxi- cherished dreadful )mplains ; and all ded: but the air, s millioJ^s Id other- ctions of ce of na- ons, the lures, tem- most la. • e virtuosi of ( 225 ) of every country have re-echoed to each other their feeble plaints over the lost works of art ; as if that had been the heaviest sorrow in the general wreck; and as if the powers that produced them had ceased to exist. It is over the de- faced image of the divine author, and not merely the mutilated resemblance of his creatures, that the wise and virtuous should lament ! It is the necessity of these dreadful inflictions for purifying a polluted world, that ought to affect the mind with salutary horrour. We are told that in Rome there were as many statues as men : had all these lamented statues been preserved, would the world be much wiser or happier ? a sufficient num- ber remain as models to future statuaries, and memorials of departed art and ge- nius. Wealth, directed by taste and li- berality, may be much better employed in calling forth, by due encouragement, that genius which doubtless exists among our cotemporaries, than in paying exor- bitantly the vender of fragments. If;.-. I ■i|-": L 4 « Mind, \\\a ( '^24 ) ■' Ii| f^ m i ** Mind, mind alone, bear witness earth and Heaven ! • , ^ The living fountains in itself contains Of beauteous and sublime." And what has mind achieved, that, in a favourable conjuncture, it may not again aspire to ? The lost arts are ever the theme of classical lamentation; but the great and real evil was the loss of the vir- tues which protected them ; of courage, fortitude, honour, and patriotism: in short of the whole manly character. This must be allowed, after the dreadful tempest of subversion was over, to have been in some degree restored in the days of chivalry : and it is equally certain that the victors learnt from the vanquished many of the arts that support life, and all those which embellish it. When their manners were softened by the aid of a mild and charita- ble religion, this blended people assumed that undefined power, derived from su- perior valour and superior wisdom, which has so far exalted Europe over all the re- gions it' arth and that, in lot agaiii ;ver the but the [ the vir- courage, : in short rhis must empest of nin some chivaky : lc victors of the le which lers were charita- assumed from su- i, which ill the re- gions ( 225 ) gions of the earth. Thus, where a bold and warlike people subdue a voluptuous and effeminate one, the result is, in due time, an improvement of national charac* ter. The conquerors learn from the con- quered the arts which grace and polish life, while valour and fortitude, energy and simplicity are generated in the blended man, resulting from the mixture. In climes and circumstances similar to those of the primeval nations in the other hemis- phere, the case has been very different. There, too, the hunter, by the same grada- tion, became a warrior ; but first allured by the friendship which sought hb protec- tion ; then repelled by the art that co- veted and encroached on his territories ; and lastly by the avarice which taught him new wants, and then took an un* due advantage of them ; he neither wished for our superfluities, nor envied our mode of life ; neither did our encroachments much disturb him, since he receded into his trackless coverts as we approached from the coast. But though they scorn- ed our refinements ; and though our go« h S vernment lAi iy ¥:- '■;■ 3 ? i ; I 5. . ■ If' ill III f ■ ii ■$m m m m m III III P' ill If M. •0' ! # ( 226 ) vernment, and all the enlightened minds amongst us, dealt candidly and generously with all such as were not set on by our enemies to injure us, yet the blight of Eu- ropean vices, the mere consequence of private greediness and fraud, proved fatal to our very friends. As I formerly ob- served, the nature of the climate did not admit of the warrior's passing through the medium of a shepherd's life to the toils of agriculture. The climate though ex- tremely warm in summer, was so severe in winter, and that winter was so long,that it required no little labour to secure the food for the animals which were to be maintained; and no small expence in that country to procure the implements neces- sary for the purposes of agriculture. Jn other countries, when a poor man has not wherewithal to begin farming, he serves another; and the reward of his toil enables him to set up for himself. No such resource was open to the Indians, had they even inclined to adopt our modes. No Indian ever crved another, or received assistance from any on? ^%^ept his . own * i'l.. i fomil) C 227 2d minds merously n by our ;ht of Eu- [uence of 3ved fatal nerly ob- te did not rough the the toils lOUgh ex- so severe long,that secure the ^ere to be nee in that ents neces- ilture. In man has rming, he ,rd of his Imself. No e Indians, lur modes. ir received it his own family family. 'Tis inconceivable, too, what a different kind of exertion of strength it requires to cultivate the ground, and to endure the fatigues of the chace, long journeys, &c. To all that induces us to labour, they were indifferent. M hen a governor of New York was describing to an Indian the advantag- s that some one would derive frcm such and such pos- ses^,ions ; " Why,*' said he, with evident surprise, " should any man desire to pos- " sess more than he uses 1" More appeared to his untutored sense an incumbrance. I have already observed how much hap- pier they considered their manner of liv- ing than ours ; yet their intercourse with us daily diminished their independence, their happiness, and even their numbers. In the new world this fatality has never failed to follow the introduction of Eu- ropean settlers j who, instead of civilizing and improving,.sIowly consume and waste; where they do not, like the Spaniards, ab' solutely destroy and exterminate the na- tives. The very Uc^ture of even our most friendly mode of dealing with them was . . i, i^ 6 pernicious '■ji' H' I I i W mU II M'i I :'':■' IS 111 m m t r / ( 228 ) pernicious to their moral welfare ; which, though too late, they well understood, and could as well explain. Untutored man, in beginning to depart from that life of exigencies, in which the superior acuteness of his senses, his fleetness, and dexterity in the chace, are his chief dependance, loses so much of all this be- fore he can become accustomed to, or qualified for, our mode of procuring food by patient labour, that nothing can be con- ceived more enfeebled and forlorn th? the state of the few detached families i^ maining of vanished tribes, who, having lost their energy, and even the wish to live in their own manner, were slowly and reluctantly beginning to adopt ours. It was like that suspension of life which takes place in the chrysalis of insects, while in their progress towards a new state of being. Alas ! the indolence with which we reproach them, was merely the consequence of their commercial intercourse with us . and the fatal passion for strong liquors which refulted from it. As the fabled enchanter, by waiving his magic wand, chains r.T,^ which, jrstood, itutored )m that superior less, and is chief this bC' 1 to, or ing food n be con- orn th? nilies i- V having ( 229 ) chains up at once the faculties of his oppo- nents, and renders strength and courage useless ; so the most wretched and sordid trader, possessed of this master-key to the appetites and passions of these hard- fated people, could disarm those he dealt with of all their resources, and render them dependent, — nay dependent on those they scorned and hated. The process was simple : first, the power of sending, by mimic thunder, an unseen death to a distant foe, which filled the softer inha- bitants of the southern regions with so much terror, was here merely an object of desire and emulation ; and so eagerly did they adopt the use of fire-arms, that they soon became less expert in using their own missile weapons. They could still throw the tomahawk with such an unerring aim, that, though it went cir- cling through the air towards its object it never failed to reach it. But the ar- rows, on which they had formerly so much depended, were now considered merely as the weapons of hoys, and only directed against birds. Thus im. S il vn ( 230 ) Thus was one strong link forged in the chain of dependence ; next, liquor became a necessary, and its fatal effects who can detail ! But to make it still cleiirer, I have mentioned the passion for dress, in which all the pride and vanity of this people was centered. In former days this, had the best effect, being a stimulus, to industry. The provision requisite for making a splendid appearance at the win- ter meetings for hunting and the national congress, occupied the leisure hours of the whole summer. The beaver skins of the last year's hunting were to be accu- rately dressed, and sewed together, ta form that mantle which was as much va-. lued, and as necessary to their conse- quence, as the pelisse of sables is to that of an Eastern bashaw. A deer skin, or- that of a bear, or beaver, had its stated price, ajid purchased from those unable to hunt, or past the age of severe toil, the wampum belt, the ornamented pouch,, and embroidered sandals and other em^ hellishments of their showy and fanciful costume. The boldest and most expert ';.!). hunter ( ;ed in liquor effects :iei.rer, dress, of this tys this, timulus. site for he win- national LOurs of skins of be accu- :her, ta luch va- conse- to that skin, or stated vinable ere toil, d pouch,, her em^ fanciful expert hunter :s ( 231 ) hunter had most of these commodities to spare, and was theretore most rplendldly arrayed. If he had a rival, it was he whose dexterous ingenuity in fabricating the materials of which his own dress was composed, enabled him to vie witli the hero of the chace. ■' ' ^ Hence superior elegance in dress was not, as with us. the distinction of the luxurious and effeminate, but the privi- lege and reward of superior courage and and industry ; and became an object worthy of competition. Thus employed, and thus adorned, the sachem or his friends found little time to indulge the indolence we have been accustomed to impute to them. Another arduous task remains uncalcu- lated : before they became dependent on us for the means of destruction, much time was consumed in forming their wea- pons; in the construction of which no Jess patience and ingenuity were exercised than in that of their ornaments : and those too were highly embellished, and made with great labour out of flints, peb , bles. !'(!! li !ll' " ( 2S2 ) bles, and shells. But all this system of em- ployment was soon overturned by their bte acquaintance with the insidious arts of Europe ; to the use of whose manu- factures they were insensibly drawn in, first by their passion for fire-arms, and fi^- nally, by their fatal appetite for liquor. To make this more clear, I shall insert a dia- logue, such as, if not literally, at least in substance, might pass betwixt an Indian warrior and a trader. ■ • X » it" , * ' \ CHAP. m ■ rri\,-^-\ ( 23s ) . :X'^-' , Mf.^'j ^T-*?^) f-v:i\' '^'Uii h\h .■■,■,■1 1 !' ■ . CHAP. XXV. ' . ; V/ i ,. '?! >.:5i?^'-: ■'■■. /Jit Means by which the Independence of the Indians was first diminished* Indian,'^" drother, I am come to trade with. you: but I forewarn you to be more moderate in your demands than formerly," Trader. — " Why, brother, are not my goods of equal value with those you had last year ? " Indian, — " Perhaps they may ; ' ^ mine are more valuable because more scarce. The great spirit who has withheld from you strength and ability to provide food and clothing for yourselves, has given you cunning and art to make guns and provide scaura * ; and by speaking smooth words to simple men, when they have swallowed madness, you have by little and little purchased their hunting grounds, * Scaura is the Indiaa name for rum* 'M and ■Tsx^~- st .ii If:}'; m ;si ( 234 ) and made them corn lands. Thus the beavers grow more scarce, and deer fly father back j yet after 1 have reserved skins for my mantle, and the clothing of my wife, I will exchange the rest." Trader. — " Be it so, brother ; I came not to wrong you, or take your furs against your will. It is true the beavers are few, and you go further for them. Come, brother, let us deal fair first, and smoke friendly afterwards. Your last gun cost fifty beaver-skins ; you shall have this for forty ; and you shall give marten and racoon skins in the same proportion for powder and shot.'* . " . Indian, — " Well, brother, that is equal. Now for two silver bracelets, with long pendent ear-rings of the same, such as you sold to Cardarani in the sturgeon * month last year. How much will you demand?" . r' • Trader. — " ^he skins of two deer * The Indians appropriate a month to catch fish or animals, which is at that t -ne the predominant objecl of pursuit J as the bear month, the beaver month, &.C. . . . ,.-• , for Thus the i deer fly reserved lothing of i» St.' ; I came ^our furs e beavers for them. first, and Sfour last fovL shall shall give the same i> : is equal, r^ith long / such as urgeon * will you wo deer ' catch fish redoniinant the beaver for • ( 235 ) for the bracelets, and those of two fawns the ear-rings.' ...» , Indian. — ** That is a great deal ; but wampum grows scarce, and silver never rusts. Here are the skins. . < , r iv Trader. — ^" Do you buy any more? Here are knives, hatchets, and beads of all colours." . ,t .,, - ' ■ Indian. — " I will have a knife and a hatchet ; but must not take more : the rest of the skins will be little enough to clothe the women and children, and buy wampum. Your beads are of no value, no waruior who has slain a wolf will wear them*." ,,: , . Traden-^^^ Here are many things good for you, which you have not skins to buy ; here is a looking-glass, and here is a brass kettle, in which your woman may * Indians have a great contempt, comparatively, for the beads we send ; they consider them as only fit for those plebeians who cannot by their exertions win any better. They estimate them compared witii their own wampum, as we do pearls compared with psate.v ", t • ' 'm ^ -■ / 'ii f 1 J I # \--\r ^ ( 236 ) boil her maize, her beans, and above all her maple sugar. Here are silver broaches, and here are pistols for the youths." Indian. — " The skins I can spare will not purchase them. Trader, — " Your will determines, bro- ther ; but next year you will want no- thing but powder and shot, having alrea- dy purchased your gun and ornaments. If you will purchase from me a blanket to wrap round you, a shirt and blue stroud for under garments to yourself and your woman ; and the same for leggings, this will pass the time, and save you the great trouble of dressing the skins, mak- ing the thread, &c. for your clothing : which will give you more fishing and shooting time, in the sturgeon and bear months.'* Indian. — " But the custom of my fa- thers!" Trader.'^" You will not break the custom of your fathers, by being thus clad for a single year. They did not re- fuse those things which were never offer- ed to them." '" Indian, m f ■'?' )Ove all oacheSy iS* ire will B9, bro- int no- g alrea- aments. nket to ; Stroud id your gs» this ou the IS, mak- jthing : ig and d bear my fa- ak the ig thus not re- jr ofFer- Jndian. ( 237 ) Indian, — ** For this year, brother, I will exchange my skins; in the next I shall provide apparel more befitting a warrior. One pack alone I will reserve to dress for a future occasion. The sum- mer must not find a warrior idle." The terms being adjusted and the bar- gain concluded, the trader thus shews his gratitude for liberal dealing, Trader, — " Corlaer has forbid bring- ing scaura to steal away the wisdom of the warriors ; but we white men are weak and cold ; we bring kegs for our- selves, lest death arise from the swamps. We will not sell scaura; but you shall taste some of ours in return for the veni- son with which you have feasted us." hidtan,^-^*^ Brother, we will drink mo- derately.*' / • ■ A bottle was then given to the warrior by way of present ; which he was advis- ed to keep long; but found it irresistible. He soon returned with the reserved pack of skins, earnestly urging the trader to give him beads, silver, broaches, and above ,■' I I ! Iv . ( 23« ) above all scaura, to their full amount. This, with much affected reluctance at parting with the private stock, was at last yielded. The warriors now, after giving loose for a while to frantic mirth, began the warwhoop, made the woods resound with infuriate bowlings ; and having ex- hausted their dear-bought draught, pro- bably determined, in contempt of that probity which at all other times they ri- gidly observed, to plunder the instrument of their pernicious gratification. He, well aware of the consequences, took care to remove himself and his goods to some other place ; and a renewal of the same scene ensued. Where, all this time, were the women, whose gentle counsels might have prevented these excesses ? Alas ! un- restrained by that delicacy which is cer- tainly one of the best fruits of refine- ment, they shared in them, and sunk sooner under them. A long and deep sleep ge- nerally succeeded ; from which they awoke in a state of dejection and chagrin, such as no Indian had ever experienced under any other circumstances. They felt as Mil- ton ince at 5 at last • giving 1, began resound 7ing ex- ht, pro- of that they ri- strument n. He, took care 5 to some i same ime, were jls might lAlas 1 un- :h is cer- )f refine- Ink sooner sleep ge- ley rrm, awoke such Iced under Felt as Mil- ton ton describes Adam and Eve to have done after their transgression. Exhausted, and forlorn, and stung with the consci- ousness of error and dependence, they had neither the means nor the desire of exercising th^i.r wonted summer occupa- tions with spirit. Vacancy produced lan- guor, and languor made them again wish for the piotion which gave temporary cheerfulness*. They carried their fish to the next fort or habitation to barter for rum. This brought on days of fren- zy, succeeded by torpor. When again roused by want to exertion, they saw the season passing without the usual provi- sion ; and by an effort of persevering in- dustry, tried to. make up for past negli^ gence; and then worn out by exertion, sunk into supine indolence, till the ap- proach of winter called them to hunt the bear ; and the arrival of that, (their busy season,) urged on their distant excursions I in pursuit of deer. Then they resumed * From Peter Schuyler, brother to the colonel, I i htive heard many such details. , their I ■;.' i Mf ( 240 ) ".. ':'» ti. their wonted character, and became what they used to be ; but conscious that ac- quired tastes and wants, which they had lost the habit of supplying themselves, would throw them again on the traders for clothing, &c. they were themselves out-straining every sinew to procure enough of peltry to answer their purpose^ and to gratify their newly acquired appe- tites. Thus the energy, both of their characters and constitutions, was gradual- ly undermined ; and their numbers as ef- fectually diminished, as if they had been wasted by war. The small-pox was also so fatal to them, that whole tribes on the upper lakes have been entirely extinguished by it. Those people being in the habit of using all possible means of closing the pores of the skin, by painting and amoint- ing themselves with bears' grease, to de- fend them against the extremity of cold, to which their mauner of life exposed them ; and not being habitually subject to any cutaneous disease, the small-pox rarely ne what that ac- :hey had jmselves, ; traders lemselves procure ■ purpose, [red appe* of their s gradual- bers as ef- had been ( 241 ) rarely rises upon them; from which it may be understood how little chance they had of recovering. All this I heard Aunt Schuyler relate, whose observations and reflections 1 merely detaiL »•» > i , J T ■^wT" I fatal to the upper ruished by e habit of losing the nd amoint- 2^e, to de- ty of cold, exposed Uy subject small-pox rarely VOL* (i CHAP* \ 242 ) iOi.-' mm 1':' ?i 1 '1;, -*1 mtM '"■'( t4 Hpi^ y u E^i'-li \n m ii m I, M I r ^'fi CHAP* XXVL ^i¥i Teculiai Attractions of the Indian Mode of Life— ^\ccount of a Settler who resided some Time among them. TN this wild liberty, in these habits of Tprobity, mutual confidence, and con- stant variety, there was an undefinable charm, which, while it preserved their primitive manners, wrought in every one who dwelt for any time amongst them. I have often heard my friend speak of an old man, who, being carried away in his infancy by some hostile tribe who had slain his parents, was rescued very soon after by a tribe of friendly Indians : they from motives of humanity, resolved to bring him up among themselves, that he might in their phrase, " learn to bend " the bow, and speak truth." When it was discovered some years after that he was still living, his relations reclaimed j him 5 and the community wished him to return ie of I-.lfe— ; Time among ; habits of , and con- undefinable erved their n every one -^ gst them. I ;nd speak of ed away in Ibe who had very soon |dians: they resolved to res, that he Irn to bend When it if ter that he ! Is reclaimed Ihed him to return ( i243 ) return and inherit his fathers lands, now become more considerable. The Indians were unwilling to pari with their protege ; and he was still more reluctant to return. This was considered as a bad precedent ; the early settlers having found it convenient in several things regarding hunting, food, &c. to assimi- late in some degree with the Indians j and the young men occasionally, at that early period, joining their hunting and fishing parties. It was considered as a matter of serious import to reclaim this young alien j lest others should be lost to the community and to their religion by following his example. With difli- cuUy they forced him home ; where they never could have detained him, had thcv not carefully and gradually inculcated into his mind the truths of Christianity. To those instructions even his Indian predilections taught him to listen ; for it was the religion of his fathers, and venerable to him as such : still, however, his dislike of our manners was never entirely conquered, nor was his attach- M 2 ' m.cnt f I ^ :ii 'i' m m"1 *iiii ir ( 244 ) ment to his foster-fathers ever much di« minished. He was possessed of a very sound intellect, and used to declaim with the most vehement eloquence against our crafty and insidious encroachments on our old friends. His abhorrence of the petty falsehoods to which custom has too well reconciled us, and of those little ar- tifices which we all occasionally practise, rose to a height fully equal to that felt by Gulliver. Swift and mis other misan- thrope, though they lived at the same time, could not have had any intercourse, else one might have supposed the invec- tives which he has put into the raouth of Gulliver, were borrowed from this demi-savage : ^vhose contempt and hatred of selfishness, meanness, and duplicity, were expressed in language worthy of the dean. Insomuch, that years after I had heard of this singular character, I thought, on reading Gulliver's asperities after returning from Hoynhnhmlandjallj that I had met my old friend again. One I of really does meet with characters that fic-lwh tion would seem too bold in pourtraying I Thid pwv ■■ ■■ sr much di. of a very eclaim with against our chments on ence of the :om has too 3se little ar- illy practise, to that felt )ther misan- t the same intercourse, I the invec- the mouth I from this : and hatred i duplicity, worthy of ears after I character, I ''s asperities nhnhmland,! again. One ers that fic- 30urtrayingl Thiil ( 245 ) ^Y'' ''''^''''^ ^'^^ an aversion fr. r v^'J^ch amounted to Jl '^"^'^ -littered by i^srelfn^^^ resulting from ir ^^^ T. '""''"^'^^^ the means of d "'"^ '^^ administering bearany'll^^^^^^ Henevercoulf f er self sofn Lov^rL ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ -^".. i^tTpurrn'^'^^^^^^ '"^^J in^^uence of li . ^^ ' '"^ S^" could cheer and "^T"""''^ '^^"^ ^^^^ ^^-- people no T '''' '^^ ''^'^ «^ ---fthings,deX^^^^^^^^^^ ^-^iice habitual to thp.V . ^"appy futurity, and h"^ -ich depraved .uL;;;^^^-;-X ^ ^ .a participation il"1 .1 1 T] ( I?46 ) a participation of that blessing ; pride, re- venge, and the indulgence of every excess of pas'^ion or appetite being restrained by the precepts of a religion ever powerful wlicre it is sincere ; their spirits would be brought down from the fierce pride which despises improvement, to adopt such of our modes as would enable them to in- corporate in time with our society, and procure for themselves a comfortable sub- sistence, in a country no longer adapted to supply the wants of the houseless ran- gers of the forest. The narrow policy of many luoked cc^ldly on this benevolent project. Hunters supplied the means of commerce, and war- riors those of defence ; and it was qucs* tlonubic whether a christian Indian would hunt or fight as well as formerly. This> however, had no power with those in whom Christianity was any thing more than a name. There were already many christian Indians j and it was very encou- raging, that not one, once converted, had ever forsaken the stiict profession of the religion, or ever, in a single instance, abiii;- •' . doncd m ; pride, re- rcry excess jtraincd by !r powerful s would be iride which )pt such of hem to in- ociety, and )rtiible sub- rer adapted useless ran- ,ny luoked t. Hunters c, and war- was qucs- dian would rly. This, h those in Ihing more [eady many rcry encou- rerted, had sion of tlio [ancc, ab'.ii\' doncti i 247 ; doned himself to the excesses so perni* cious to the unconverted brethren. Ne- ver was the true spirit of Christianity more exempUfied than in those comparatively few converts; who about thia time amounted to no more than two hun- dred But the tender care and example of the Schuylers co-operating with the incessant labours of a judicious and truly apostolic missionary, some years after greatly augmented their numbers in dif- ferent parts of the continent: and to this day, the memory of David Brainard, the faithful lai)0urer alluded to, is held in veneration in those districts that were blessed with his ministry. He did not confine it to one people or province, but travelled from place to place, to dissemi- nate the gospel to new converts, and confirm and cherish the truth already planted. The first foundation of that church had, however, as I formerly men- tioned, been laid long ago: and the ex- amples of piety, probity, and benevo- lence set by the worthies at the Flats M 4 and ■fK ^ lli;^'i'$ Ml V ( 248 ) and a few more, were a very necessary comment on the doctrines to which their assent was desired. The great stumbling-block which the missionaries had to encounter with the Indians, (who, as far as their knowledge went, argued with great acuteness and logical precision,) was the small influence which our religion seemed to have over many of its professors. " Why,'* said they, " if the book of truth, that shews the way to happiness, and bids all men do justice, and love one another, is given both to Corlaer and " Onnonthio*, does it not direct them in the same way ? Why does On- nonthio worship, and Corlaer neglect, '• the mother of the blessed one ? And why do the missionaries blame those for worshipping things made with hands, while the priests tell the (( u (C %c (C (C f( a rt '£ C_! * Corlaer was the title given by them to the go- vernor of New Yoi k : and was figuratively used for the governed, and Onnonthio for those of Canada in the same manner. *' praying a lecessary ch their lich the with the owledge ness and influence 10 have ' Why, ith, that and bid» 3ve one •laer and ict them oes On- • neglect, e? And le those e with ell the to thego- sed for the lada in the praying !iJ ( 249 ) Onnoutliioy our women had taken theiv ( 2'? oo ) 2d as the Canada, ;overnor ::orlaer. Twice Twice in the year the new converts came to Albany to partake of the sacrament, be- fore a place of worship was erected for them- s, and that dem. Yes, md the cu- jrought you ind the w:ir- lu, that the e yet alive, ■k into their or received at yoii Ictt \ has been ch. Hear, open ; and me a great: speaks as it: cao'iC to thf- th the Five ces tlie con. cad if sick- ncn. 1 se(? whose live", is sickness had taken their their clubs ; our children and old men had carried their bows and arrows into the heart of your camp, if our warriors had not disarmed them, and kept them back, when your messenger came to our castles. It is done, jind I have said it. Hear Vonnondio, we plun- dered none of the French, but those who carried guns, powder, and ball, to the wolf and elk tribes, because those arms might have cost us our lives. Herein we follow the example of the Jesuits, who stave all the kegs of rum brought to the castles where they are, lest the drunken Indians should knock them on the head. Our warriors have not beavers enough to pay for all those arms that they have taken ; and our old men are not afraid of the war. This belt preserves my words. We carried the English into our lakes, to trade with the wolf and elk tribes, as the praying In- dians brought the F'rench to our castles, to carry on a trade, which the F'nglish say is theirs. We are born free. We neidier depend upon Onnonthio nor Cor- laer ; we may go where we please. If your allies be your slaves, usi; them as such ; command them to re. ccive no other but your people. This belt preserves my words. We knocked the Connecticut Indians and their confederates on the head because they had cut down the trees of peace, which were the limits of our country. They have hunted beavers on our lands, contrary i}\\-- :' ^l * i ( 256 ) themselves. They always spent the night, or oftener two nights, before their joining in this holy rite, a. the Flats ; which was their ill 1- , i' i i' 1 1' ■ 1 \\\ ' if! ■ r 4 ' i, ■';■ if, contrary to the customs of all Indians, for they haifc Icf* none alive. They have killed both male and fc- nial'\ They brought the Snthanas into our country to take part with them, after they had formed ill de- signs against us ; we have done less than they nuN rited. " Hear, once more, the words of the Five Nations. They say that when they buried the hatchet at Car- daragni, (in the presence of your predecessor,) in the middle of tl.e fort *, they planted the tree of peace in the same place, to be there carefully preserved ; that instead of an abode for soldiers, that fort might be a rendezvous for merchants ; that in place of arms and ammunition, only peltry and goods should enter there. ♦< Hear, Yonnondio, take care for the future that so great number of soldiers as appear there do not choke the tree of peace, planted in so small a fort. It will be a great loss, after having so easily taken root, if you should stop its growth, and prevent its covering your country and ours with its branches. 1 assure you, in the name of the Five Nations, that our warriors shall dance to the calumet of peace under its leaves, and shall remain quiet on their mats ; and that they shall never dig up the hatchet till Corlaer or On- * Detroit* iiODthic^ . <• niglit, joining d\ was their { 257 ) their general rendezvous from difTerOi^t quarters. There they were cordially re- ceived by the three brothers, who always met together at this time to have a con- hey haifc B and fe- r country led ill de- they ni«* e Nations. ;t at Car- ir,) in the f peace in vcd ; that ight be a arms and ;er there, iture that do not I a fort, sily taken irevent its Qches. 1 that our under its and that v or On- Bonthic, nonthio either jointly or separately, attack the coun- try, which the great spirit haih given to our ancestors. This belt preserves my words, and this otlier the autho- rity which the Five Nations have given me." Then, Garangula, addressing himself to Mons. de Maine, who understood his language, and interpreted, spoke thus : " Take, courage, friend, y«u have spirits ; speak, explain my words, omit nothing. Tell all that your brethren and friejids say to Onnonthio, your governor, by the mouth of Garangula, — who loves you, and desires you to accept of this present of bea- f er, and take part with me in my feast, to which I invite you. . This present of beaver is sent to 7on* nondio on the part of the Five Nations." Mons. Barre returned to his fort much enraged at what he had heard; Garangula feasted the French officers, and tlien went home ; and Mons. Barre set out on his way towards Montreal ; and as 30on as the general, with the few soldiers who remained in health, had embarked, the militia made their way to their own habitations without order or discipline. Thus a chargeable and fatiguing expedition, meant to strike the terror of the Fieuch name into the stubborn hearts of the Five Nations, ended in a scold between a French general and an old Indian.— CV^/^«V Hhtorij of the tivc NdiionSf page (j8, fereiice ij*' ^J". .1, m <•', ' ( 258 ) fcrcnce with them on subjects the most important to their present and future "welfare. These devout Indians seemed all impressed with the same feelings, and moved by the same spirit. They were received with afFectionate cordiality, and accommodated in a manner quite conform- able to their habits, in the passage, porch, and oilices ; and so cieeply im- pressed were they with a sense of the awful duty that brought them there, and of the rights of friendship and hospitali- ty ; and at this period so much were they become acquainted with our customs, that though two hundred communicants, followed by many of their children, were used to assemble on those occasions, the smallest instance of riot or improprie- ty was not known amongst them. They brought little presents of game, or of their curious handicrafts, and were libe- ic'illy and kindly entertained by their good brother Philip, as they familiarly called him. In the evening they all went apart to secret prayer ; and in the morn- ing, by dawn of day, they assembled be- fore ■■if; le most future seemed igs, and ;y were Lty, and ;onform- passage, ;ply im- ; of the lere, and tiospitali- ^ere they customs, unicants, en, were ccasions, iproprie- They or of ere libe- }y their Amiliarlv all went e morn- bled be. fore ( 259 ) fore the portico ; and their entertainers, who rose early to enjoy, unobserved, a view of their social devotion, beheld them with their mantles drawn over their heads, prostrate on the earth ; offering praises and fervent supplications to their Maker. After some time spent in this manner, tliey arose, and seated in a circle on the g^round, with tlicir heads veiled as formerly, they sang an hymn, which it was delightful to hear, from the strength, richness* and sweet accord of their un- commonly fine voices ; which every one that ever heard this sacred chorus, how- ever indifferent to the purport of it, praised as incomparable. The voices of the female Indians are particularly sweet and powerful. I have often heard my friend dwell with singular pleasure on the recollection of those scenes, and of the conversations she and the colonel used to hold with the Indians, whom she de- scribed as possessed of very superior pow- ers of understanding ; and in their re- ligious views and conversations, uniting the ardour of proselytes with the firm de- ci:>ion ]iL j»;'-!r5'* ■ { 260 ) cision and inflexible steadiness of their na- tional character. It was on the return of those new christians to the Flats, after they had thus solemnly sealed their pro- fession, that these wise regulations for preserving peace and good- will between the settlers (now become confident and care- less from their numbers) and the Indians, jealous with reason of their ancient rites, were concluded. n™' CHAP* /- ..-.'./■'■■' heir na- ;turn of s, after eir pro- ons for veen the id care- Indians, mt rites> ( 261 ) CHAP. CHAP. XXVIII. Management of the Mohawks by the influence of the Christian Indians. 'j^HE influence these converts had ob- tained over the minds of those most venerated for wisdom among their coun- trymen, was the medium through which this patriot family, in some degree, con- trolcd the opinions of that community at large, and kept them faithful to the British interests. Every two or three years there was a congress held, by deputies from New York, who generally spoke to the Indians by an interpreter j went through the form of delivering presents from their brother the great king, redressing petty grievances, smoking the calumet of peace, and delivering belts, the pledges of ami- ty. But these were mere public forms ; the real terms of this often renewed ami- ty having been prevously digested by those who fi^r better understood the re- lations te' ( 26'2 ) lations subsisting between the contracting parties, and the causes most likely to in- terrupt their union. Colonel Schuyler, though always ready to serve his country in exigencies, did not like to take upon himself any permanent responsibility, as a superintendant of Indian affaiis, since it might have diminished that private in- fluence which arose from the general ve- neration for his character and from a conviction that the concern he took was voluntary and impartial ; neither did he choose to sacrifice that domestic peace and leisure, which he so well knew how to turn to 'the best account, being con- vinced that by his example and influence iis a private gentleman, he had it in his power 10 do much good of a peculiar kind, which was incompatible with the weight and bustle of public affair.^?. These too would have interrupted that hospitali- ty which, as they man:iged it, was produc- tive of so man\ beneficial effects. 1 have alrciidy shesvp. how by prudent address and kind conciliation, this patriotic pair soothed and attaclitd the Indian^ to the Briti-sh ( 2(53 ) :racting ' to in- :liuyler, country :e upon lity, as a since it vate in- neral ve- from a odk was r did he :ic peace lew how ling con- influence it in his peculiar Ivith the These liospivali- produc- I have address [lie pair to the British interest. As tlie country gi*ew more populous, and property more abundant and m.ore secure, the face of society in this inland region began to change They whose quitt and orderly demeanour, de- votion, and integrity did not much require the enforcement of laws, began to think themselves above them. To a deputed authority, the source of which lay be- yond the Atlantic, they paid little defer- ence ; and from their neighbours of New Hampshire and Connecticut, who border- ed on their frontiers, and served with them in the colonial wars, they had httle to learn of loyalty or submission. 1 hose people they held in great contempt, both as soldiers and statesmen 5 and yet, from then' frequent intercourse with those who talked of law and politics in their pecuilir uncouth dialect incessantly, they inscnsi- bi; adopted many of their notions. There is a certain point of stable happi- ness at which our imperfect nature mere- ly seems to arrive ; for the very materi- als of which it is formed contain the seeds of its destruction. 'Ihis was the case here . m '1h 5.' -J. ?■ f I ( 26* ) here: that peaceful and desirable equality of conditions, from which so many comforts resulted, in process of time occasioned an aversion to superiors, to whom they were not accustomed, and an exaggerated jea- lousy of the power which was exercised for their own safety and comfort. Their manners unsophisticated, and their morals in a great measure uncorrupted, led them to regard with unjustifiable scorn and aversion those strangers who brought with them the manners of more polished, though less pure, communities. Proud of their haughty bluntness, which daily increased with their wealth and security, they began to consider respectful and po- lite behaviour as a degree of servility and duplicity ; hence while they revolted at the power exercised over themselves, and very reluctantly made the exertions necessary for their own protection, they shewed every inclination to usurp the territories of their Indian allies; and to use to the very utmost the power they had acquired over them, by supply- thcir wants. At equality of comforts sioned an hey were ated jea- exercised t. Their lir morals pted, led ble scorn D brought ; polished, J. Proud lich daily security, I and po- servility revolted icmselves, exertions ion, they surp the s; and le power .y supply- • ' ( 265 ) At the liberal table of Aunt Schuyler, there were alwaysintelligence, just notions, and good breeding to be met with, both among the owners and their guests, many had their prejudices softened down, their minds enlarged, and their manners im- proved. There they met British officers of rank and merit, and persons in autho- rity ; and learnt that the former were not artificial coxcombs, nor the latter petty tyrants ; as they would otherwise be very apt to imagine. Here they were accus- tomed to find, on the one hand, authori- ty respected, and on the other to see the natural rights of man vindicated, and the . utmost abhorrence expressed of all the so- phistry by which the credulous were mis- led by the crafty, to have a code of mo- rality for their treatment of heathens, different from that which directed them in their dealing with christians. Here a selection of the best and worthiest, of the different characters and classes we have been describing, met . an i wjre taugnx, not only to to :dte bui to es- voi« I. N teem >t ! .it'' At y-i '■ 1,1 r ( 266 ) teem each other : and it required tli<* calm, temperate wisdom, and easy versa- tile manners of my friend to bring this about. It is when jhey are called to act in a new scene, and among people different from any they had known or imagined, that the folly of the wise and the weakness of the strong become dis- cernible. Many officers justly esteemed, possess- ed of capacity, learning, and much knowledge, both of the usages of tlie world, and the art of war, from the want of certain habitudes, which nothing but experience can teach, were disqualified for the warfare of the woods ; and, from a secret contempt with which they re- garded the blunt simplicity and plain ap- pearance of the settlers, were not amen- able to their advice on these points. They were not aware how much they were to depend iipon them for the means of car- rying on their operations; and by rude or negligent treatment so disgusted them, that the former withheld the horses, oxen, waggons, &c. which they were to be ( 267 ) [red the sy versa- ing this ailed to g people [lown or i^'ise and ome dis- I, possess- id much ;s of tlie the want :hing but squalified nd, from they re- plain ap- •t amen- its. They were to s of ear- by rude d them, horses, were to be be paid for, merely to shew their inde- pendence J well knowing that the dread* ed and detested military power, even if coercive measures were resorted to, would have no chance for redress in their courts J and even the civil authority were cautious of doing any thing so unpopular as to decide in favour of the military. Thus, till properly instructed, those be- wildered strangers were apt to do the thing of all others that annihilates a fee- ble authority ; threaten where they could not strike, and forfeit respect where they could not enforce obedience : a failure of this kind clogged and enfeebled all their measures j for without the hearty co-ope- ration of the inhabitants in furnishing pre-requisites, nothing could go on in a country without roads, or public vehi- cles, for the conveyance of their warlike stores. Another rock they were apt to run upon was, a neglect of the Indians, whom they neither suilicicntly feared a« enemies, nor valued as friends : till taught to do so by maturer judgements. Of I ill ,1^ this , ■■ t p I i ■;■'• !* ( 2til^ ) his, Braddock's defeat was an instance ; he was brave, experienced, and versed in all military science; his confidence in which occasioned the destruction of him- self and his army. He considered those counsels that warned him, how little ma- noeuvres or numbers would avail " in the close prison of innumerous boughs," as the result of feeble caution j and marched his army to certain ruin, in the most brave and scientific manner imaginable. Upon certain occasions there is no knowledge so valuable as that of our own ignorance. At the Flats, the self-righted boor learn- ed civilization and subordination! the high bred and high spirited field officer gentleness, accommodation, and respect for unpolished worth and untaught va- lour. There, too, the shrewd and deeply reflecting Indian learnt to respect the Bri- tish character, and to confide in that of the settlers; by seeing the best models of both, acting candidly towards each other, and generously to himself. ^'■'^'■ My friend was most particularly calcu- lated istance ; ersed in ience in of him- ed those little ma- " in the IS," as the rched his ost brave 2. Upon nowledge gnorance. oor learn- ionl the d officer respect lught va- Ind deeply ;t the Bri- n that of ist models rds each [If. :' Irly calcu- lated ( 269 ; lated to be the coadjutor of her excellent consort, in thus subduing the spirits of different classes of people, strongly dispos- ed to entertain a repulsive dislike of each other ; and by leading them to the chas- tened enjoyment of the same social plea- sures, under the auspices of those, whose good will they were all equally convinced of. She contrived to smooth down "as- perities, and assimilate those various cha- racters, in a manner that could not be done by any other means. Ace istomed from childhood, both from the general state of society, and the en- larged minds of her particular associates, to take liberal views f ever) thing, and to look forward on all occasions to con- sequences, she steadily followed her wise and benevolent purpc ies, without beirg attracted by petty gratifications, or repelled by petty disgusts. Neither influenced by female vanity, nor female fastidiousness, she might vp < , truly say of popularity, as FalstatF says of Worcester's rebellion, it lay in her way and she found it :" N 3 for ^t '*li; CC <%, %. ^. ^ -^^ „o. sO^>I^^-A ti.-^' % fe^V«5.' V^ w IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I 1.25 Ills 1^ 1^ 1.4 L6 V] <^ /; "3 O ^l. 7 /A Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 13 WFST MAIN STRFET Wetf5T.'.'?,N *'. \^Z,\Vi (716) $?i-iJO? A ■ A.-. i'i'~'^'i»fe'- i m i i ( -'70 ) ^m^ M ^' for no one ever took less pains to ob- tain its ^nd if the weight of solid useful- ness and beneficence had not, as it never fails to do in the long run, forced appro- bation, her mode of conducting herself, though it might greatly '»ndear her to her particular associates, v not concili- ating to common minds. The fact was, that, though her benevolence extended through the whole circle of those to whom she was known, she had too many objects of importance in view to squander time upon imbecility and insig- nificance. Neither could she find leisure for the routine of ordinary vi- sits, nor inclination for the insipidity of ordinary chit-chat. If people of the description here alluded to could forward any plan ad- vantageous to the public, or to any of those persons in whom she was particularly interested, she wouki treat them occasionally with much civility : for she had all the power of superior intellect without the pride of itj but c- . couki lins to ob' olid useful- as it never read appro- ing herself, ear her to not concili- e fact was, e extended f those to e had too in view to ^ and insig- flhe find rdinary vi- insipidity |)tion here plan ad- to any she was oukl treat civility : ^f superior it ; bnt coul for children, whose parents were ambiti- ous for their improvement, ^vas great ; and a family so well regulated as hers> and frequented by such society, was in itself an academy, both for the best mo- rals and manners. When people have children born to them, they must submit to the ordinary lot of humanity : and if they have not the happiness of meeting with many good qu^ties to cultivate and rejoice over, there is nothing left for them but to exert themselves to the utmost^ to reform and ameliorate what will ad- mit of improvement. They must care- folly weed and rear ; if the soil produce a crop both feeble and redundant, aflTection will blind them to many defects ; impe- rious duty will stimulate them, and Hope, soothing, however deceitful, will support them. But when people have the pri- vilege, as in this case, of chusing a child, they are fairly entitled to select the most promising. This selection, I understood always to have been left to Aunt Schuy- ler; and it appeared, b) the event, to have been generally a happy one* Fifteen, - either •i reambiti- is great ; 1 as hers» r, was in best ino« )ple have iSt submit f: and if ' meeting ivate and for them i utmost,. t will ad* lust care* produce affection i ; impe- nd Hope, support the pri- a child> he most derstood Schuy- irent, to Fifteen, either V275 ) : { either nephews or nieces, or the children of such, who had been under her care, all lived to grow up and go out into the world ; and all acted their parts so as to do credit to the instruction they had received, and the example they looked up to. Besides these, they had many whom they brought for two or three^ years to their house to reside ;^ either because the family they came from was at the time crowded with younger children, or be- cause they were at a time of life when a year or two spent in such society, as was there assembled, might not only form their ' manners, but. give a bias to theiivftrture character.; .^^^^^^^^^^ ^^r* About the year 17iS0, they brought /\ home a' nephew o£ the colonel's, whose father, having a large family, and, to the . best of my recollection, having lost his wife, entirely gave over the boy to the protection of this relation,. This boy was his uncle's god -son, and call- ed Philip after him; He was a great favourite in the family ; for, though ap- j^arently thoughtless and giddy, he had X .1 SWOil? A'-i I'iif N 6 very a very good temper, and quick parts; and was upon the whole an ingenious, lively, and amusing child. He was a very • great favourite, and continued to be so, in some measure, when he grew up, > 11^^ There were other children in the house at the same time, whose names and re- lationship to my friends I do not remem^ ber; but none staid so long, or were so much talked of as this. There certainly never were people who received so much company, made so respectable a figure in life, and always kept so large a family about them, with so little tumult, or. bus- tle, or indeed at so moderate an expence. What their income was I cannot say„ but am suire it could not have been what we should think adequate to the good they did, and the hospitality and beneficence which they practised: for the rents of lands were then of so lit- tle value, that, though they possessed a considerable estate in another part of "the country, only very moderate profits could result from it i but, indeed, from the sibiplicity of dress, Hic it was eader ^ ■ ' *. '- ' though :k parts ; ngenious, ras a very to be so, the house )S and re- it remem* • were so certainly so much figure in a family ^t, or. bus- expence. not sayj ave been e to the lity and ed : for f so lit- >ossessed part of i profits id, from I easier ^ though . • ^ ^( 277 ) - though in that re^ct, too, they preserved a kind of dignity, and went beyond others in the materials, though not the form of their apparel Yet their principal ex- pence was a most plentiful and well or- dered table, quite in the £nglish style; which was a kind of innovation: but {SO many strang^s frequented the houses of the three brothers that it was ne- cessary for them to accommodate th^- selves to the habits of their guests. ' Peter being in his youth an exten- sive trader, had spent much time in Ca- nada, among the noblesse there; and had served in the <:ontinental levies. He had a fine commanding figure, and quite the air and address of a gentleman, and was, when I knew him, an old man. rl M Intelligent and oleasing in, a very high degree, Jeremiah had too much fami- liar kindness to be looked up to like his brother. Yet he also h^d a very good understanding, great frankness and affability, and was described by all who knew him, as the very soul of cordial friendship and warm benevolence. He married •'■' 4 Hi iH III H M ' . I" ^ U 278 ) . -' , married a polished and well educated person, whose parents (French protest- ants) were people of the first fashion in New York, and had givr- with her a good fortune, a thing ver nusual in that country. They used the early years of their marr. ^e, n y a visit every winter to their ons at New York, who passed part . every summer' with them. This connexion, as well as that with the Plats, gave an air of polish,, and a tincture of Jegance to this family beyond others; and there were few so gay and social. This cheerfulness was supported by a large family, fourteen, 1 think, of very promising childfen. These, however, inheriting from their mother's family a dfelieate constitution, died one afl^r another as they came to maturity: one only, a daughter, lived to be married; but died after havinghad one soiiand one daughter. -^^ ? t^^ .u I saw the mother of this- large fami- ly, after out-living her own children, and . a spll greater number of brothers and LiTti .■M:^&^^ifi^mMl'Wt$m!j^ <_ sisters,. • educated prote8t- ishion ill sr a good in that irly years sit every 2w York, ner' with 1 as that F polish,, lis family J few so iness was. iurteen, 1 1. These, mother's . died one naturity: married ; iand one ge fami- ren, and icrs and sisters, ;//•.(( 279 ) ,, 4$ sisters, who had all settled in life, pros* perous and flourishing, when she mar- ried; I saw her a helpless bed-ridden invalid; without any remaining tie, but a sordid grasping son-in-law, and two grand- children, brought up at a distance from her. , . ;!'-':'?ti^i ■ • With her, too, I was a great favourite, because I listened with interest to her de- tails of early happiness, and subsequent woes and privations; all of which she described to me with great animation^ and the most pathetic eloquence. How much a patient listener, who has sympa- thy and interest to bestow on a tale of woe, will hear! and how affecting is the respect and compassion even of an artless child, to a heart that has felt the bitter- ness of neglect, and known what it was to pine in solitary sadness 1 Many a bleak day have I walked a mile to visit this blasted tree, which the storm of calamity had stripped of every leaf! and surely in the house of sorrow the heart is made better. ^ . . ; - -"^'^ From i'\ I ■ i f( 280 ) •« 'fi r From this chronicle of past times, I de- rived much information respecting our good aunt ; such as she would not have .i. given me herself. The kindness of this *! generous sister-in-law was indeed the i only light that shone on the declining days of sister Susan, as she was woiit affec- ^'tlonately so call her. M^hat a sad narra- - tive would the detail of this poor wo- man's sorrows aflFord ! which, however, she did not relate in a querulous manner; ^ for her soul was subdued by affliction, -and she did not " mourn as those that ^^* have no hope.'* One instance of self- vaccusation I must record. She used to i were very much our inferiors in every respect : though both humanity and good sense should prevent our mortifying them, by shewing ourselves sensible of that cii- cumstance. ... . , 1751. This year was a fatal one to the ,^;i: families * m Wis hi HI m •■ M i ( 284 ) <5 families of the three brothers. Jeremiah, 1 impatient of the uneasiness caused by a wen upon his neck, submitted to under- ' ^o an operation ; which, being unskilfully performed, ended fatjdly, to the unspeak- able grief of his brothers and of Aunt, '^who was particularly attachefd to him, and often dwelt on the recollection of his singularly compassionate disposition, the generous openness of his temper, and -peculiar warmth of his affections. He indeed, was ** taken away from the evil -to come;'* for 6f his large family, one after the other went off, in consequence of the weakness of their lungs, which withstood none of the ordinary diseases of small-pox, meazles, &c. : in a few years, there was not one remaining. ■ '^ > * i These were melancholy inroads on the peace of her, who might truly be said, to " watch and weep, and pray for all:" for nothing could exceed our good aunt's care and tenderness for this feeble fa- mily ; who seemed flowers which merely bloomed to wither in their prime; for •' jliuv.-t- ' they feremiah, sed by a under- iskilfully unspieak* >f Aunt, to him, iction of position, per, and ns. He the evil lily, one sequence }, which diseases w years, n-r^ on the be said, ?br all :" d aunt's eble fa- merely ne; for they ( 285 )j they were, as is often the case with those ^ who inherit such disorders, beautiful, with quickness of comprehension, and abilities beyond their age. .4 ,u a « C* . ^-a ' .-,;■■ .,, r A, .,.. •■:*: - . ■ ::■>--■ . ;• - * -■-.' Yfa«i; iTMU -'^id sMfil ty^mm^'^ ^^^'^>i ' if'ji.^M 'jd fBo t^lim i' 'ibid m*rB tuiiA fhdi 'iii l*i;:i;f i^m^M **d.l it.n mid b#Jt..'a'n "jO ins .'vmJif'iaff »!l?««^ Hil '^cf i,p^:^^;ail kea^'i-xi -tie^^itt Iff iltiV/' .awiim^p t,r?*>ii'j'- hfiii- r Qt ?To;* ^i.w m;! M;!?j:7br:*j ;»/, ^£ ,*>!♦; >> CHAP, it ( 286 ) CHAP. XXX. Death of young Philip Schuyler. — Account of Jut Family, and of the Society at the Flats, A NoTHER very heavy sorrow followed the death of Jeremiah: Peter, being the eldest brother, his son, as I formerly mentioned, was considered and educated as heir to the colonel. It was Peter's house that stood next to the colonel's; their dwellings being arranged according to their ages, the youth was not in the least estranged from his own family (who were half a mile off) by his resi- dence in his uncle's, and was pecu- liarly endeared to all the families, (who regarded him as the future head of their house,) by his gentle manners and ex- cellent qualities. With all these personal advantages, which distinguished that comely race, and which give grace and at- traction to the unfolding blossoms of vir- tue, at an early age he was sent to a kind ;^Ai> of ( 28t ) ■:^'*? f^k.i » *■ J>ii/ •' nt of lu» '/. -.■ bllowed r, being ormerly ducated Peter's )loners J xording in the family his rcsi- s pecu- es, (who of their and ex- personal 3d that e and at- is of vir- o a kind of of college, then established in New Jer- sey ; and he was there instructed, as iir as in that place he coul i be. He soon formed an attachment to a lady still younger than himsdf,but so well brought up, and so respectably connected, that his friends were greatly pleased with the marriage, early as it was, and his father, with the highest satisfaction, received the young couple into the house. There they were the delight and ornament of the fa- mily, and lived amongst them as a com* mon blessing. The first year of their mar- riage a daughter was born to them, whom they named Cornelia ; and the next, a son, whom they called Peter. The following year, which was the same that deprived them of their brother Jeremiah, proved fatal to a great many children and young people, in consequence of an endemial disease, which every now arid then used to appear in the country, and made great havoc. If. wascaUed the purple or spotted fever, and was probably of the putrid kind: be that as it may, it proved fatal to this interesting young couple. Peter, who -ri > TV ./ had \ - s- •■ - i\ ^ ( 288 ) • had lost his wife but a short time before^ was^€ntirely overwhelmed by this stroke: a, h^dness of hearing, which had been gradually increasing before, deprived Irim of the consolations he might have derive ed from society. He encouraged his se- cond son to marry ; shut himself up for the most part in his own apartment; and became, in effect one of those lay brothers I have formerly describ- ed Yet, when time had blunted the edge of this keen affliction, many years after, when we lived at the Flats, he used to visit us ; and though he did not hear well, he conversed with great spirit, and was full of anecdote and information. Meanwhile, Madame did not sink under this calamity, though she felt it as much as her< husband, but supported him ; and exerted herself to extract consolation from performing the duties of a mother to the infant who was now become the re- presentative of the family. Little Peter was accordingly brought home, and succeeded to all that care and affection of which his father had formerly been the object, while Ir/i Cornelia le before, stroke: ad been ved Irim e derive d his se- lf up for rtment 5 }f those describ- nted the ny years ;, he used not hear pirit, and Drmation. ik under as much lim; and nsolation a mother le the re- Peter was ucceeded i^hich his ct, while Cornelia ( «89 ) Cornelia was taken home to Jersey, to the family of her maternal grandfa- ther, who was a distinguished person in that district. There she was exceedingly well educated, became an elegant and very pleasing young woman, and was happily and most re^ectably married be- fore I left the country, as was her bro- ther very soon after. They are still liv- ing ; and Peter, adhering to what might be called, eventually the safer side, during the war with the mother country, succeed- ed undisturbed to his uncle's inheritance. All these new cares and sorrows did not in the least abate the hospitality, the popularity, or the public spirit of these truly great minds. Their dwelling, though in some measure become a house of mourning, was still the rendezvous of the wise and worthy, the refuge of the stran- ger, and an academy for deep and sound thinking, taste, intelligence, and moral beauty. There the plans for the pub- lic good were digested by the rulers of the province, who came, under the pretext of a summer excursion for mere amusement. .' VOL; r. 6' There -\ : ( '290 ) Thdfethe 6J)eratl6ns of the aftny,^rid'the ttiE?ities of'pe?ace or aUbnce with *Vaiiods nations, vrete ilrrartgtd ; for ' there the le- 'gislatofs of th'eistate/and the leadeh of the \rar, wef e recr^ived, atid ihiatied'seri- •bus iAti uti(>brt2lLnt tbUrtsels with convi- vial cheerfulness, and domieitic edse 'and fitnUhtity. *^is hot tb be' cont^lv^d h6W e^sentiara'pbintof uhibn, aTliarrfir against licence, arid ^a fo'ctis, in^^hich'the tiys of'iiiteliect arid iritilBgtehCe "xi^ei'e c6hceh- trated, (sudi as diluted in ihis 'family,) were to unite the jarring elements of 'which 'the comliiunity Was composed, ind to ^gest to those \^o had ipdxirer without experierice, the meahs bf mih- 'gling in due proportions its-Varioiis^nrtate- rials fbr the public utility. Still, though '' the details of fattiily-haf)piness -were 'Abridged, the spirit that prodtaCed it cbh- * tinned to exist, and to find new objetts ' of interest. A mind elevated by the con- sciousness of its own pbwers, and erthrg- 'Wd by the habitual exetdse of them, for ' the great purpose of pronfioting the gbtodof •'Others, yields to the pt-essure of calamity, ♦"M - . ■ '• • ■;■• but i^lth Various here the le- ! ieadeh '6f xhhitied 'seri« with cbnvi- ic edseatid i6*ivAdh6W ri^r against h the %s ei/e c6hceh- lis 'family,) iem^nts of composed, bad p6S?^er s 6f ittih- iotis^iriate- 11, though e^s -wire :ed it c^i- w objetts Y the Con - d eiilirg- hem, for eg6todof cahttiity, but . ^ ( ^91 ) but sinks not under it ^ particularly wlien habituated, like; these exaltedeharacters, to .look through the Jong vista .of initurity towards the final. accomplishment of the ^designs of i Providence, rlike a .diligent ,^r4ener,xwhOrWhen his promising young .plants iare blasted in full strength and beauly, though he^ feels extremely for their lo^,;doea not sit down in idle chagrin> but redoubles' his efforts to train up their suc« eessorsUo the same degree of excellence. Ck>nsideriag the large family she (Madame) always had about her, ^^ which she was thcvguiding star as- well as the informing soul, and thq innocent cheerfulness which sJie encouraged and enjoyed ;« considering, tog, the number of interesting guests whom she received, and that complete union of minds,, which made her enter so intimately into all the ucoloners pursuits, it ; may be wKMidered how she found tiine for sdid and iaaaproving reading ; because people^ wJiose time is so aiaucji occupied in business and socjetyy are, apt to relax, with amusing tri- fles of. the desultory kind, when they have odd half hours to besitowx)n literary amuse- o2 ments ..,„^, ( 292 ) ments. But her strong and indefatiga- ble mind never loosened its grasp 5 ever intent on the useful and the noble, she found little leisure for what are ill- deed the greatest objects of feeble cha- lacters. After the middle of life she went little out 5 her household, long since arranged by certain general rv„s, went regularly on, because every domes- tic knew exactly the duties of his or her place, and dreaded losing it, as the great- est possible misfortune. She had always with her some young person, ** who was unto her as a daughter;" who was her friend and companion ; and bred up in such a manner as to qualify her for be- ing such ; and one of whose duties it was to inspect the state of the household, and ** report progress," with regard to the operations going on in the various depart- ments. For no one better understood, or more justly estimated, the duties of house- wifery. Thus, those young females, who had the happiness of being bred under her auspices, very soon became qualified to assist her, instead of encroaching much * • on nd indefatiga- 5 grasp ; ever I the noble^ what are ih- >f feeble cha- of life she isehold, long general n.„s, every domes- of his or her as the great- le had always i» ** who was who was nd bred up y her for be- duties it was usehold, and gard to the ious depart- derstood, or esofhouse- tmales, who jred under te qualified :hing much on ( 293 ) ; on her time. The example and conver- , * sation of the family in which they liv- ed, was to them a perpetual school for use- ful knowledge, and manners easy and dignified, though natural and artless. They were not indeed embellbhed ; but then they were not deformed by affec- tation, pretensions, or defective imitation of fashionable models of manners. They were not indeed bred up " to dance, to dress, to roll the eye, or troll the ton* gue j" yet they were not lectured into un- natural gravity, or frozen reserve. I have seen those of them who were lovely, gay, and animated, though, in the words of an old familiar lyric, - / ^ • -' ' r .<* Without disguise or art, like Howera that grace the wild, .^-.^ .^,.^ ,,.f <« Their sweets they did impart whene'er they spoke or smil'd." ..,.».. *. Two of those to whom this description particularly applies, still live ; and still retain not only evident traces of beauty, but that unstudied grace and dignity which is the result of conscious worth and honour, habituated to receive the o 3 tribute 'I * til ( 294. ) tribute of gen^mi respect. This id die privrlegeof mindy which are always in their own phce, and neither stoe\» to solicit ap^ pfeuse fronm their inferiors, nor strive to rise to a-f^ncied equality >\4th those whomna* tune or fortune' have placed beyonduh«m; - Aunt was a* great manager of* her time, and always contrived to create leisure haurs^for reading ; for that kind of con- versation, which iff properly styled^ gossip* ing,- she had) the utmost oontempt. Light superficial reading, such as merely fills a blank in time, and glidiss wrer tiie> mind witfioBt leavihg^ an impressiiinv wa» little known there J. fcrffew books flx>08&- ed the Atlantic but such* as* weve worth catrying^ so for for their intrinsit: value. She was too much accustomed' to have her mind occupied with objects of real weight and importance, to give it up to frivolous pursuits of any kind. She be- gan the morning with reading the Serify»- tures. They always breakf^isted- eariy, and dined two houns later than theprimiw tive inhabitants, who always took that meal aC twelve. Ihh departure from the ' ■ *•' ■■ ancient ft I 295 ) This id die i^ys in their 3 solicit apj» trive to rise whomna- ^ondvth^m; f hep time, >ato leisure nd'of oon- 'led'gosBip* contempt. asmerely r rssionv way okSF OPOSB* ere worth isic ralue. I' to have ts of real it up to S^e be- :he Seripf^ ed' early, he-priraiw ook that from the ancient ancient customs was neqe$sa|;)r in this fa-^ mjly) to accoipniodate the g^eat num- b^rs of. British as well as strai^gers from Ne>y Xork, who were daily entertained at hpr liberal table. ^ This arrangen)ent gay^ her the advantage of a longer fore- noon to dispose of. After breakfast she gave orders for the fapiily detaijs of thp. day, which, without a scrupulous J^tten* tion to t^ose miputifC which fell mor^ di;o- perly under the notice of her young; friends, she always regulated in th^ niost^ ju4icious. manner, so as to pi;evetit al} ap- peai^nce of hurry aj^d confusipUj Th^re was such a rivajry among domestics, whose sdeambitioii was her fayouj-jand who h^d bpen tjqained up from infa/icy, each to their seyeral duties, that exceljence_ i^ each, departpient; was the res^ijt; bpjth of habit and emulatibfi ;. while heij youi^e pro^eg^es wef e e<^riy taught the value ana import;ance 9f g;7od housewij^ry^ and yrere sedulous in tl\eir attention to little n;»atters of de^or^tion and, eleg2Mi<;e, which, her mjind was tpp much engrossed to at^- tejQ^ tp '^ spi l^.^t hei^ hpusehpld affairs, o 4 ever M !'.? R . ( 296 ) ever well regulated, went on in a me- chanical kind of progress, that seemed to engage little of her attention, though her vigilant and overruling mind set every spring of action in motion. Having thus easily and speedily arranged the details of the day, she retired to read in her closet, where she generally remained till about eleven ; when, being unequal to distant walks, the colonel and she, and some of her elder guests, passed some of the hotter hours among those embower- ing shades of her garden, in which she took great pleasure. Here was their Ly- ceum ; here questions in religion and mo- rality, too weighty for table talk, were lei- surely and cooUv Uscussed j and plans of policy and various utility arranged. From this retreat they adjourned to the portico; and while the colonel either retired to write, or went to give directions to his servants, she sat in this little tribunal, giv- ing audience to new^ settlers, followers of the army left in hapless dependence, and others who wanted assistance or advice, or hoped she would intercede with the colonel )n in a me- lt seemed to ion, though nd set evexy having thus the details read in her mained till unequal to 1 she, and 2d some of embower- which she their Ly- n and mo- , were lei- l plans of d. From e portico; etired to IS to his jnaJ, giv- owers of nee, and r advice, i^ith the colonel ( 297 ) ^ : colonel for something more peculiarly in his way, he having great influence with the colonial government. At the usual hour her dinner-party assembled, wluch was generally a large one ; and here I must digress from the detail of the day to observe, that, looking up as I always did to Madame with admiring veneration* and having always heard her mentioned with unqualified applause, I look often back to think what defects or hults she could possibly have to rank with the sons and daughters of imperfection, inhabiting this transitoiy scene of existence, well knowing, from subsequent observation of Hfe, that error is the unavoidable portion of humanity. Yet of this truism, to which every one will readily subscribe, I can 'recollect no proof in my friend's conduct^ unless the luxury of her table might be produced to ccnfirm it. Yet this, after all, was but comparative luxury. There was more choice and selection^ and perhaps more abundance at her table^ tham at those of tne other primitive inha- bitants, yet how simple were her repasta v V ' . o 5 compared •*■ ^tr^' C 298 ) ... V'.. •♦ compared witk those ¥ilxicH the hjxury of the h%her ranks in this country offer to provoke the sated appetite^. Her din- Rer^party generaBy (xm^sted of some of her intimate friends or near rehtions; her adopted children, who were inmates for the time being ; and strangers, some- times invited, mierely as friendless travel- lers, on the score of hospitaEty, but often welcomed for some time as stationary vi- ctors, on account of worth or talents, that gave value to their society; and, lastly, military guests, selected with some discrimination on account of the young friends, whom they wished not only to piTotect, but cultivate by an improving association. Conversation here was ;il- ways rational, generally ixistructive, and often cheerful. The afternoon frequently broTight with it a new set of guests. Tea was always drank early here; and, as i have formerly observed, was attended with so many petty luxuries of pastry, confectionery, &c. that it might well be accounted a meal by those whose early and frugal dinners had so long gcMie by. In Albany { : the luxury Dontry offer '^ Her din- of some of r relations; jre inmates igers, some- Uess travel- '', but often ationary vi- or talents, ciety; and, with some the young lot only to improving re was ;il* ictive, and frequently uests. Tea I and, asi 5 attended of pastry, jht well be e early and ne by. In Albany j^lbany it was cy^tomary, after the he;at of the day was past, for the young peo- ple to go i^ parti^^ of ^hree or four, vf, open carriages, to drink ^ea at an hour or two*s drivc^ from towt\. The receiv- ing and entertaintpg this sort pf ^onripany generally was the province of the younger part of the faipily j and of tho§e many camQ, in summer evening?, to the Flats, when tca> wl^ch was vei;"y early, was over. The young people, ^nd those who v(ere older, took their different walks while Majdiime sat in her portico, engaged in what migli^ coirpparat}yely be called light reading, essays, biography, poetry, &c. till the younger party set out pn ^heir return home, and her domestic friends rejoiqed. her in her portico, 'yvhere, in warm even- ings, a slight repast ^yas sometimes brought J but they more frequently shared the last and most truly social meal \vithin. Winter made little difference in her ipode of occupying her time. Slie then always retired to her closet to read at stated periods. In conversation she certainly took de- 6 light, f i/* ■l ( soo ) _ light, and peculiarly excelled; yet did not in the least engross it, or seem to dictate. On the contrary, her thirst for knowledge was such, and she possessed such a pecu- liar talent for discovering the point of uti- lity in all things, that from every one's discourse she extracted some information, on which the light of her mind was thrown in such a direction, as made it turn to account. "Whenever she laid down her book she took up her knitting, which neither occupied her eyes nor attention^ while it kept her fingers engaged ; thus setting an example of humble diligence to her young protegi6es. In this employment she had a kind of tender satisfaction, as little children, reared in the family, were the only objects of her care in this re- spect. For those, she constantly provided a supply of hosiery till they were seven years old ; and, after that, transferred her attention to some younger favourite. In her earlier days, when her beloved colonel could share the gaieties of societv, I have been told they both had a high relish for innocent mirth, and every species of hu- morous. \i i; /itfk t did not dictate, nowledge li a pecu- int of uti- ^ery one's armation, nind was made it aid down ig, which attention, ed ; thus ligence to ployment action, as. ily, were a this re- provided re seven rred her rite. In i colonel i, I have elish for s of hu- morous '0 ( 301 ) morous pleasantry ; but in my time there was a chastened gravity in his discourse, which, however, did not repulse innocent cheerfulness, though it dashed all manner of levity, and that flippancy which great familiarity sometimes encourages amongst young people, who live much together. Had Madame, with the same good sense, the same high principle, and general be- nevolence towards young people, lived in society, such as is to be met with in Britain, ^ the principle upon which she acted would have led her to encourage in such society more gaiety and freedom of manners. As the regulated forms of life in Britain set bounds to the ease that accompanies good breeding, and refine- ment, generally diffused, supplies the place of native delicacy, where that is wanting, a certain decent freedom is both safe and allowable. But, amid the sim- plicity of primitive manners, those bounds are not so well defined* Under these circumstances, mirth is a romp, and hu- mour a bufibon ; and both must be kept within strict limits. CHAP. ;!!!| ( SQ3 ) , - CflAP, XXX^. '^ f-fi Ofji .ifjij--; v/>f'ai;h^J*;i[b . ;?rJi^ fb* 'v^ Family Details,^ i>^^f-i >>i/'>i '^^ TPJI5 hospitfilities. pi tlik fa»«ly were so for beyoi]4 th^ir apparent inco«i^, , that ^11 strangers were astQnish<^d at them. Tq accQunt f((>r thi?, it wu^t be observed that, in the first place, there w^iS perh^p^ scarce m instance of ^ fiimily posi5e$s5pg sv^h iincommonly well-trained, active, and cKBgept slaves, ^s that whi(:h J 4^ribje. The set th?it were staid servants wheji they HR^rried, had sQfpe of thejai die^ off by the time I knew the family \ but tl>^ {principal roots from whence the many branches, thefl flourishing, s,p?-ung, yet rpmain^d* Th?se were two women, who had come originaUy from Africa while very young; they were most excellent servants, and \l\e mother^ or grand- naothers of the whole set, except one white-woolled negrp-n^ap j who, in my • time, !! ( : ^exe so i at them, observed )osi%e$s5pg y:lve, md 4e§cTibe. Its yvhew i diei off , but tlj^ le many ung, yet lerij ^ho ca whHo excellent :ept one I, in my time, ( SOS ) limey sat by the chimney, and made slicx^s for aH the Ttat. The great prkle and hap- jwnesa of thes^ sable matrons were, to bring up their children to dexterity, dili* gence, amd obediance ; Diana being de» termined that Maria's children should not excel hers In any quality, which waa a recommendation to favour ; and Majria equally resolved that her brood, in the race of excellence, should out-strip Diana's. Never was a more fervent competition. That of Phillis and Brunetta, in the Spec* tator, was a trifle to it : and it was ex*- tremely difficult to decide on their rcr spective merits; for though Maria's son Prince cut down wood with more dex- terity and dispatch than any one in the province, the mighty Csesar, son of Diana, cut down wheat, and threshed it, better than he. His sister Betty, who, to her misfortune, was a beauty of her kind, and possessed wit equal to her beauty, was the best sempstress and laundress, by far, I have ever known ; and the plain unpretending Rachel, sister to Prince, wife to Titus, alias Tyte, and head cook, dressed If'! ( 304 ) ^ * ■ *^, ■ I - * ■ " f dressed dinners that might have pleased Apicius. I record my old humble friends by their real names, because they allow- edly stood at the head of their own class; and distinction of every kind should be respected. Besides, when the curtain drops, or indeed long before it ^s, 'tis, perhaps^ more creditable to have excelled in the lowest parts, than to have fallen miserably short in the higher. Of the inferior personages, in this dark drama I have been characterizing, it would be tedious to tell : suffice it, that besides filling up all the lower depart- ments of the household, and cultivating to the highest advantage a mo^t ex^ tensive farm, there was a thorough-bred carpenter and shoe-maker, and an uni- versal genius who made Canoes, nets^, and paddles ; shod horses, mended-^ imple- ments c£ husbandry^ managed the fish- ing>.ih itself no small department, reared hemp and tobacco, and spun both ; made cyder, and tended wild horses, as- they call them ; which was his province to manage and to break. For every branch of e pleased le friends ey allow- leir own iry kind when the before it e to have a to have her. Of [lis dark [zing, it e it, that : depart- iltivating no^ ex^ ugh-bred an uni- nets> and i- imple* the fish- tj reared h^y made as- they vince to jr branch o£ . ( 305 ) s _ * •■ ■ ^ r of the domestic oeconomy, there was a person allotted; educated for the pur- pose ; and this society was kept immacu- late, in the same way that the quakers preserve the rectitude of theirs ; and, in- deed, in the only way that any commu- nity can be preserved from corruption ; when a member shewed symptoms of de- generacy, he was immediately expelled, or in other words more suitable to this case, sold. Among the domestics, there was such a rapid increase, in consequence of their marrying very early, and living comfortably without care, that if they had not been detached oS with the young people brought up in the house, they would have swarmed like an over stocked hive. ■'■^^^■V' '-^ '■'" ' .^ :::'■; '■f - ^ij-i ^The prevention of crimes was so much attended to in this well regulated family, that there was very little punishment ne- cessary ; none that I ever heard of, but ^iich as Diana and Maria inflicted on their progeny, with a view to-prevent the dread* ed sentence of expulsion ; notwithstanding the ■mi mamiip 1 « I I 4 ^}\ li C S06 ) the petty riy;ilry between the branches, of of the t>vQ. origirial stocks. Ijiter-marri- ages between the Mpiitagues. and Capu- let§ oftjie ytchen, vyljjph frequently, took, place, and the,; hfibit of; living, together under the s^me iT)ild,. though regular go- vern pfieijt, produced a general cordiality and affeqtiQi^^ajDpn^ ^1. tlje ineiiibers qi tl^e family, wijO; M^ere truly ruled by the IftW of love; and ey^n thpaevyjio occasion- ally difFfiiiedJ^bout trifles, hadv an ^i^qpnsQi,- ous a^t^chffieDJ: to eaijh othei:,, whifib. shewed itself op, all epiprgenci^s. X'^e^ted, theipselves, with, care j^ij^i g^ntl^ess, they were carefuU and kind,^ \Kith, regard tp, the only iDfejiiprs and, de^endaft^s tfe^y had, the domestic ai^iHiais.: Th^ sujjeripf personages in the family, had always some gjpcd. property tp, m.en^pi;>^ ot. ^pp^, saying to ?Qpeat, of thpsie \yli.orf>, they chienshed into att;^!Qhm^nt,, aiadf e:f^alt;ed intp i,i?JeUi- gence;; >^'tile tfe.ey, in, tjlj^eii: turn^, im- proved the sagacity pf their subject a^ii- n^lsj. by caxiQSSJijig 3in4 t^kin^ to them, ^et no one la.ugh atjh^;? ; fpjr vvheneye^r ' r . man inches, of er-marri- id Capu- [>^ly, took, together gular go- cordiality n^bers Qi d by the occasion- i:, >yhi|:;lx ^;j[;re^te4, ness, they •egaxd to. axijs th^y suj>eriof rays some o^.sayifig cherished IQ ii^jejli- urn, im- ^ect a^i- to themr vvheneyeir • man ( 307 )i • • man is at ease andi unsophisticated, where his native humanity is not e^cttnguished by want^ or chilied?by oppression, it over* flows to inferior beings.; and improves thoir instincts, to a degree incredible to those! who have not witnessed it; In all mountainous- countiries^ where man is more free, mt:>re genuine^ and more di- vided into little societies widely detached from others, and much attached to each other, du? cordiality of sentiment, this ovecflowi of good, will: takes^ place. The poet sapy I << HttinWelov)e,wi. , J .. Koeps the dpor of, heaven." ^^ This' questk^n must be left fbr divines to dietermine; but sure am I that humble love, and! not proud reason, keeps the door oF earthly happineorj a^ hr as i% is attain- able. I am- not g^i'ngi like the admi?^able CVicht?on, to make an oration in praise of ignoi'ance ;, but a veisy high degree of re- fmeu^ent certainly prodU^ses a quickness of diseernmcnt, a niggard approbation, and 1 1\ ( 308 ) and a fastidiousness of taste, that find a thousand repulsive and disgusting quali- ties mingled with those that excite our admiration, and would (were we less cri- tical) produce affection. Alas ! that the tree should so literally impart the know- ledge of good and evil ; much evil and little good. It is time to return from this excursion, to the point from which I set The Princes and Caesars of the Flats had as much to tell of the sagacity and attach- ments of the animals, as their mistress re- lated of their own. Numberless anecdotes that delighted me in the last century, I would recount, but fear I should not find my audience of such easy belief as I was, nor so convinced of the integrity of my informers. One circumstance I must men- tion, because I v/eH know it to be true. The colonel had a hovse which he rode oc- casionally, but which of tener travelled with Mrs. Schuyler in an open carriage. At par- ticular times, when bringing home hay or corn they yoked Wolf, for so he was cal- led, in a waggon ; an indignity to which, for find a ^ quali« cite our less cri- :hat the ; know- evil and rom this ich I set Flats had d attach- stress re- necdotes ntury, I not find IS 1 was, r of my St nien- be true, ode oc- ed with At par- hay or /as cal- which, for ( 309 ) for a while, he unwillingly submitted. At kngth, knowing resistance was in vain, he had recourse to stratagem ; and when- ever he saw Tyte marshalling his cavalry for service, he swam over to the island ; the umbrageous and tangled border of which I formerly mentioned: there he fed with fearless impunity till he saw the , boat approach ; whenever that happened he plunged into the thicket, and led his followers such a chase, that they were glad to give up the pursuit. When he saw from his retreat that the work was over, and the fields bare, he very coolly returned. Being, by this time, rather old, and a favourite, the color el allowed him to be indulged in his dislike to drud- gery. The mind which is at ease, n ei- ther stung by remorse, nor goaded by ambition or other turbulent passions, nor worn with anxiety for the supi ly of daily wants, nor sunk into languor Ly stupid idlejiess, forms attachments and amuse- ments, to which those exalted by culture would not stoop, and those crushed by want and care could not rise. Of this nature mmmmm m J' ( 810 ,) nature was the attachment to tlie tamet ^animals, which the domestics approf^i- ^ted to themselves, and to the) little iaaici- -ful ^rdiens where they raised herbs Dr ^kuits i>f difficult culture, to sell ^and ^ve to their friends. Eadi negro was in- dulged with his racoon, his ^at sxfuirrel, or musk rat; or perhaps his beaver, which he tamed and; attached to himsdf, by daily feeding and caressing him in the farm*yc!ivi. One -was sure about all such houses to . find these . animals, in whom their masters took the highest pleasure. .'Ail these ;>mali ifeatures of human nature must not be ; despised for . their mittute- siess. — ^'o^a good: mind they afford conso- lation. Science, directed by wtue, is a god ^ike enlargeiFifient of the powers' ^f human nature; and sxalted rank is so necessary a 1 finish to the fabric ©f society, and so inva- riable a resuk from 'its regular establish- ment, that in respecting those, whom: the divine wisdom has set jibove us^ we perform a duty such as we expect from our o^vn inferiors ; this helps to support the gene- ral tiic tamrt appropii- ttle ianci- iieAs Dr > was 4X1' Lt scpiirrel, js beav«r, to himself , him in the lit all such in whom 5t pleasure, nan nature ;ir mittste- 'ord conso- is a god of human necessary a ,d soinva- X estabUsh- whom' the e perform our o*v'n [t the gene- ral ( «ii ) • ral order of society. But so very few in proportion to the whole can be enlighten- ed by science, or exalted by situation, that a good mind draws comfort from discovering even the petty enjoyments permitted to those in the state which we €(ai8ider' most abject 'and depressed. AiL;;ti^f>r,.ri f' "i.,-^ ;;,Jj I'r^' .,.. f,>--'r'r"-, '■'. ' ■; I ':.:Ai nv: ^^ :■< :) '•'■^'li ■ .r ■J* » # » , r^'' . :•:- ■;? .'^ ', ;':>:/VJ V!.',;} -:'-■}/ ^rt ..5 '? r i ■■ vt» ;'i! r- C HAP I *l ' ft t J- i: ii'f'i !■ 'I ( 512 ) .«»^* *'-]•»' f -. ' ' ATf if, n .[} m^:.^-''u^ '-"u :•,•' ^i«jfc vvj ij'* /•^^ .!. •••!.,;:'.,.• vJti/xlr* XXXII* ^ , i i> Resource of Madame. — Provincial Customs. V- w-^.*»^^- -i f^ * > ..' ,/ J 4.11* fc fc vi TT may appear extraordinary, with so mo- derate an income, as could in those days be derived even from a considerable estate in that country, how Madame found means to support that liberal hospitL^^ which they constantly exercised. I know the utmost they could derive from their lands, and it was not much : some mo- ney they had, but nothing adequate to the dignity , simple as it was, of their style of living, and the very large family they always drew around them. But with re- gard to the plenty, one might almost call it luxury, of their table, it was supplied from a vai'iety of sources, that rendered it less expensive than could be imagined. Indians, grateful for the numerous bene - fits they were daily receiving from them, were constantly bringing the smaller game, and, in winter and spring, loads of venison. 'i / • Little [Customs. ' vith so mo- d in those onsiderable hospVta iiwyj id. I know from their b some mo- adequate to )f their style family they lut with re- almost call as supplied rendered it .e imagined. ,erous bene- from them, taller game, lS of venison. | Little ( 313 ) ^ Little money passed from one hand to another in the country ; but there was constantly, as there always is in primitive abodes, before the age of calculation be- gins, a kindly commerce of presents. The people of New York and Rhode-Island, several of whom were wont to pass a p^ t of the summer with the colonel's family, were loaded with all the productions of the form and river. When they went home« they again never failed, at the season, to send a large supply of oysters, and all other sheU-fish, which at New York abounded ; besides great quantities of tropical fruit, which, from the short run between Jamaica and New York, were there almost as plenty and cheap, as in their native soiL Their farm yielded them abundantly all that in general agri- ' jiture can supply ; and the young rela« ^i'iss who grew up about the house^ were rarely a day without bringing some provision from the wood or the stream. The negroes, whose business lay frequently in the woods, never wiUIngly went there or any where else, without a gun, and . VOL. T, f rarely m 'f-r ' , .A 'I I ( 314 ) rarely came badk empty-handed. Pre^ sents of \vine^ then a very usual thing to send to friends to whom yoo wish^ to shew a mark of gratitude, came very often, possibly from the friends of the young pec^le who were reared and in- structed in that house of benediction j as thei^ were no duties paid for the en- ^?"ance of any commodity there, wine, ru. and sugar, were cheaper than can easily be imagined ; and in cyder they abounded. ^' — ^^' • • : ^^^* The negroes of the three truly united brothers, not having home employment in winter, after preparing fuel used to cut down trees, and carry them to an ad* joining saw^mili, where, in a very short time, they made great quantities of planks, staves, &c which is usually styied lum- ber, for the West-India market. And when a ^hip^k^d* of their flour, lumber^ and salted provisions were accumulated, some relative, for their behoof, freighted a vessd, and went out to the West- Indies with itk In this Stygian schooner, the departure of which was always look- ' . • ed !iii ' L. Pre* al thing imc very I oi the and ift- edkdon j it the en- re, wine, than can yder they uly united nployment ised to cut to an ad- very short J of planks, ty^d ham- feet. Axid lumber, [cumulated, f, freighted I the West- schooner, ^\vay«i look- ed { 315 ) ^ ed forward to with unspeakable horror, all the stubborn or otherwise unmanage- able slaves were embarked, to be spld by way of punishment. This produced such salutary terror, that preparing the lading of this fatal vessel generally operated as a temporary reform at least. When its cargo was discharged in the West Indies, it took in a lading of wine, rum, sugar, coffee, chocolate, and all other West-India productions, paying for whatever fell short of the value, and returning to Al- bany, sold the surplus to their friends, after reserving to themselves a most li. beral supply of all the articles so im^ ported. Thus they had not only a pro- fusion of all the requisites for good house- keeping, but had it in their power to do what was not unusual there in wealthy families, though none carried it so far as these worthies. - • ' 'I In process of time, as people multi- plied, when a man had eight or ten chil- dren to settle in life, and these marry- ing early, and all their families increasing i P 2 fast. hj' 11 ( S16 ) ' fast, though they always were considered as equals, and each kept a neat house and decent outside, yet it might be that some of them were far less successful than others, in their various efforts to support theirfamilies ; but these deficiencies were supplied in a quiet and delicate way, by presents of every thing a family required, sent from all their connexions and ac- quaintances ; which, where there was a continual interchange of sausages, pigs, roasting pieces, &c. from one house to another, excited little attention: but when Aunt's West-India cargo, arrived, all the families of this description within her reach, had an ample boon sent them of her new supply. :. iv lu « . The same liberal spirit animated her sister, a very excellent person, married to Cornelius Cuyler, then mayor of Al- bany ; who had been a most successful Indian trader in his youth, and had ac- quired large possessions, and carried on an extensive commercial intercourse with the traders of that day, bringing from i Europe ;onsidered house and that some sful than to support incies were 5 way, by r required, IS and ac- lere was a iages, pigs, e house to ition : but TO. arrived, tion within sent them imated her In, married lyor of Al- It successful ind had ac- carried on •course with iging from Europe ( 3)7 ) Europe quantities of those goods that best suited them, and sending back their peltry in exchange; he was not only wealthy, but hospitable, intelligent, and liberal-minded, as appeared by his at- tachment to the army, which was, in those days, the distinguishing feature of those who in knowledge and candour were beyond others. His wife had the same considerate and prudent generosity, which ever directed the humanity of her sister; though, having a large family, she could not carry it to so great an ex- tent. If this maternal friend of their mutual relatives could be said to have a preference among her own, and her husband's rela- tions, it was certainly to this family. The eldest son Philip, who bore lier husband's name, was on that and other accounts, a particular favourite ; and was, I think, as much with them in childhood, as his at- tention to his edi^i^^ion, which was cer- tainly the best the ppovinqe coi^id ^qr4» would permit. Having become distinguished through p 3 ail m :V3 li" ( 318 ) all the northern provinces, the common people, and the inferior class of the mili- tary, had learned from the Canadians who frequented her house, to call Aunt, Madame Schuyler j but by one or other of these appellations she was universally known; and a kindly custom prevailed, for those who were received into any de. gree of intimacy in her family, to address her as their aunt, though not in the least related. This was done oflener to her than others, because she excited more re^ spect and affection ; but it had in some degree the sanction of custom. The A^ banians were sure to call each other aunt or cousin, as far as the most strained con- struction would carry those relations. To strangers they were indeed very shy at first, but extremely kind ; when they not only proved themselves estimable, but by a con- descension to their customs and acquiring a smattering of their language,, ceased to be strangers, then they were in a manner adopt- ed ; ibr the first seal of cordial intimacy among thd yoyng people was to call each ,._.., ^^...,.- ....... .-,.. ,-.. . other common the mili- ::anacHans :all Aunt, or other mivcrsally prevsdled, ito any de- to address [n the least ner to her id more re^ ad in some The AU other aunt irained con- llations. To shy at first, .ey not only ►ut by a con- id acquiring ceased to be inner adopt- i^l intimacy to call each other > ( 319 ) Other cousin ; and thus in an hour of playful or tender intimacy I have known it more than once begin : " I think " you like me well enough, and I am " sure I like you very well ; come, " why should not we be cousins ? I am " sure I should like very well to be your " cousin, for I have no cousins of my ** own where 1 can reach them. Well, ** then you shall be my cousin for ever " and ever.'* In this uncouth language, and in this artless manner, were these leagues of amity commenced. Such an intimacy was never formed unless the ob^ ject of it were a kind of favourite with the parents, who immediately commenced uncle and aunt to the new cousin. This, however, was a high privilege, only to be kept by fidelity and good conduct. If you exposed your new cousin's faults, or repeated her minutest secrets, or by any other breach of constancy lost fa- vour, it was as bad as refusing a chal- lenge ; you were coldly received every where, and could never regain your looting in society, i'^^ ' ' ^"'". ' ; Aunt's ■nH Mi '11 I I i , I' { ^20 ) Aunt's title, however, became current: every where, and was most completely confirmed in the year 17^0 when she gave with more than common solemnity a kind of annual feast, at which the cO" lonel's two brothers, and sisters, Aunt's sister, Mrs.. Cornelius Cuyler, and their families, with several other young people related to them assembled. It was not given on a stated day, but at the time when most of these kindred could be coU lected. This year I have often heard my good friend commemorate, as that on which their fa^mily stock of happiness felt the first diminution. The feast was made, and at- tended by all the collateral branches, con^ sisting of fifty-two, who had a claim by marriage or descent, to call the colonel und my friend uncle and aunt, besides their pa- rents. Among these were reckoned thre« or four grandchildren of their brothers. At this grand gali there could be no less than sixty perj»ons, but many of t Jiem were doomed to meet no more j fojc the uext yeaJT the sroall-po^t, alwayspecuUarly mortal here, (where it was imprpperly tr^^ted in '.,1 the curr«n^ impletely rhen she iolemnity h the CO' s, Aunt's ind their mg people : was not t the time uld be col- beard my It on which elt the first .de, and at^ nches, con* a claim by Icolonel und ^es their pa- oned thre« r brothers, be no less them were [pjr the next rlymortal treated in the I ( 321 ) the old manner,) broke out with great virulence, and raged like a plague ; but none of those relatives whom Mrs. Schuy- ler had domesticated suffered by it ; and the skill which she had acquired from the communications of the military surgeons who were wont to frequent her house, enabled her to administer advice and assist- ance, which essentially benefited many of the patients in whom she was particularly interested; though even her influence could not prevail on people to have re- course to inoculation. The patriarchal feast of the former year, and the hu- mane exertions of this, made the colonel and his consort appear so much in the light of public benefactors, that all the young regarded them with a kind of filial reverence, and the addition of un- cle and aunt was become confirmed and univf^rsal, and was considered as an hono- rary distinction. The ravages which the small -pox made this year among their Mohawk friends, was a source of deep concern to these revered philanthropists ; but this was an evil not to be remedied by "Tfrn K' i|: 11 • i 4 il < «33 ) by any ordinary loetnfi. These people, » has been already remarked^ being accus« tQmed from ear)^ childhood to anoint themselv«a| with bear's grease, to repel the innuiHerable tribes of noxiout insects in summer, and to exclude the extreme cold in winter, their pores are so comw pletely shut up, that the small.p(^ does not rjise upon them^ nor have they^ much chahce of recovery from any acute dis* easef but, excepting the £svtal infection already mentioned, tl^^y are not subject to any other than the rheumatism, unless in very rare instances. The ravages ^ disease this year operated on their popu- lation as a blow, which it never recover- ed; and [they considered the small^pox in a physical, and the use of strong liquors in a moral sense, as two plagues whi^h we had introduced among them, for which our arts, our friendship, and even our reli- gion, were a very inadequate recompense. 'il'Hl 'tta^v i'iui Sij^u >-OCi iaiJiij;' cnub 1^^^ OF THE FIRST VOLtf ME. ^^iloM t^Wta I03 h'j I L' J I n V ^' ^"^y""' Printer, . . ^^ : , Bridge Street. Blackfriars. London. !jiiti,i; ww^^"^wlij»ll sople, as jT accus« anoitit to repel I insects extreme so conv* K^ does ey much cute (U$- iofectioa t subject n, unlesff .vages ^ eir pop«- recover- small^pox g liquors ivhi^h we or which our reli- ;ompen5e. ME. £10^^ r ♦.■ -^ * 7^12 9 ^m *■ ^ii^.