The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-12-17
To DoornR C,rc1,

admirers, and well wiShCrS, TO present ven
with PAIR OF the most pleasing characters
lot virtue, public and private, cha. | rocol-
lcct ever to have seen in any author who
has pretended to give any account OF Anne
ilca, or its inhabitants. / have met with 1t
very lately in the Letters OF a Scottish La
dy, Mrs Grant, IRON the Mountains ii
- e4rs have been written IN The year 1775
aud contains so admirable q portrait Of eX-
altcd benevolence, virtue and patriotism, u
nitcd with che noblest traits of generosity,
that cannot forbcar to request YOU TO adj
nit it TO place, in that admirable collec-
ton which you seem to be preparing for the
inspection, consideration, and imitation, of
our Countrymen.
Madam, or Aunt Schuyler, (for so, by uni
"versal consent, she was intliscriminately
called, in the province of New York; was
" daughter to one OF the first and most re-
spectacle characters in that province when
p" 1t fell under the dominion of the English.
" His name was Cuyler, and his descendants,
- are still numerous, and prosperous, in that
:" country, to which prosperity my friends
F." (his daughters wisdom and goodness con-
. tributed not little This Cuyler was the
person who brought over the Mohawk
- Kings, who were mentioned by the Shec-
: tdtor, as exciting so much wonder in Eng
land. He was introduced to Queen Anne,
and had several conversations with her.
She offered to knight him, but he refused,
| not choosing an elevation unusual in that
country, which would make an invidious
distinction betwixt him and his friends.
Some years after his return, his daughter,
F" then about eighteen, was married to Col.
Nochuyier who possessed an estate above
Albany, in the direction which led to the
" vicinity of the French, and hostile Indians
" He was person whose calm, temperate
wisdom, singular probity, and thorough
" knowledge of the affairs and interests of
g the bordering nations, had given him
very great influence, not only in his own
l"proyince, but among the Indians and Ca
madam French, whose respective languages
IL he spoke tiuently. He was wealthy, and
ve9y generous, and so public spirited, that
. though he did all in his power to prevent
war, being in fact, a
/ Lover of peace, and friend of human kind -
" Yet, when he saw it inevitable, he raised
" regiment at his own expence, and was
" the first who gave character and energy
" to the provincial troops. To detail instan-
" ces OF public virtue in this great and good
" man, would, in fact, be giving the history
Is OF the province during his lifetime. From
:" the place where he lived ne stood, as it
6 were, a barrier between the Indians and
e the inhabitants. Of high and distinguished
Utility was this mild, philosophic, and
ristian character yet, unless he had
|
have done so much good, nor prevented
so much evil. Luckily for the public, they
had no family; therefore greatly rescm-
Ding each other, both in taste and incli-
nation, and intellectual powers, their ef-
|" forts were all directed one way, At that
time there were not many settlers IN the
| " province who were acquainted with the
English language and these generally en-
| - tertained a rooted prejudice, nay aversion,
| V(sf.U prTlN xUi,y l, r.,
them. In the hospitality, intelligence, and
pleasing conversation Of this very worthy
par, their officers ALWAYS found a refuge
from them they met with cordial kind
ness, sound advice, and useful information.
Petty and crooked policy was unknown in
this patriarchal family, where a succcssi-
ON OF adopted children, judiciously cdu-
Gated, and d number of domestic slaves
very kindly and tenderly treated, formed
happy community, who were directed
with such prudence, that they left leisure
to their rulers for beneficencc still more
" widely diffused, and for studies of the most
useful nature. Their acquaintance with
elegant literature was perhaps not very
" extensive the Spectator, the Tragedy Of
Cato, and the works OF Milton and Young,
" being the only books remember to lave
" met with, exclusive of History, B;ogra-
" ply, and Memoirs OF these indeed there
" carefully read, and thoroughly digested by
" the owners and which not only furnished
e very frequently matter of conversation, but
g materials for reflection, and for that sys-
"tem Of policy, by which their plans ere
" reguiated. They had three objects in
" view besides tue great primary one CT
: making their large family as good, and
: 7pi8e, and haffy, as possible the frs,
" was toprevcnt injustice being done to the
" Indians, to conciate their affections, AMI
" to meliorate their condition. Tine second,
" to alleviate the hardships and difficulties
" to which the Britis troops we're exposed,
" from marching into unknown wildernesscs.
by receiving them nto their family, max
" lng tnen acquainted with the nature of
" the country, &c. On these occasions they
" would accommodate il their house, those
" officers whose morals and manners recon
" mended them most, ard aiiowthc parties !
" OF soldiers, as they passed. q lodging in |
" their okCcs, and al abund mt sultDlv o.
90 milk and vegetables : thc third object 10
a" which their wisdom and humanity were
" directed, was, the protection and comfort
. Of new settlers, 70 whom they were ever
=" ready to extend a helping hand both IN
g the way Of advice and assistance I'm the
" mean time, their house was an academy for
. morals, for manners. and for solid knowl-
edge. **Ez**E The Colonel died before
knew her, after thev had lived forty
years together, in unexamplej happiness
: and reared, (from the time OF their being