Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-07
NUMBER 147.
Correspondence of the N. Y. Courier.
The ssAunt SCHUYLER ,, House.

the title Of the Memoirs Of an American Lady, is
In truth the best sketch of the society of New
York, and its local history for the stirring period
between the French and the Revolutionary War
whoever has not read this delightful book will be
ever grateful TO your correspondent il through his
suggestion that pleasure become theirs, and who
ever has, and Is familiar with Its narrative its true
record SO pleasantly told that the grave history be-
comes winning story, viii not deem the narrative
of q visit to the localities uninteresting
There are groups Of houses, villas, manuActo-
ries, country seats cottages and mansions, canal,
road and railroad, thronged into contiguty near
the scenes which Mrs. Grant delineates, that IL is
difficult to declare. them in city or country. Be-
tween the two cities, the villages and hamlets Of
Watervliet and West Troy, and Gibbonsville, and
Port Schuyler have at last all combined into the
| energetic and prosperous West Troy, numbering
beyond its ten thousand, and feeling already all
proper independency Of the larger cities, its neigh
bors. River, canal, road and railroad furnish the
means OF transit and by oil crowd are traversipg
the few miles OF distance that separate Troy and
| Albany. The old coach rolls along the hard Nc
Adam highway, its driver wondering that tie
world has deserted him the train dashes on In its
twelve minute time, its conductor wondering " who
| in the world would seek other conveyances than
| his
Aunt Schuyler was the wife and widow Of
Philip Schuyler gentleman Of distinction and high
respectablity in the Colony who resided at house
Immediately on the western side of the road which
ran directly on the bank Of the Hudson. His home
during his life, and in equal elegance during much
| Of the remaining years of Madame Schuyler's life
was the center Of the best society that Albany
could furnish. The best people that England
placed in her army were found there. 1t was the
abode of a taste and refinement not universal in
that day. and the British officer found in the paror
of Madam the sanie grace Of manner, and dignity
and appreciation of cultivation which reminded him
Of the polished society he had left beyond the sea-
4 nsanIk -
manner which gave to her home and the hospitali-
1 ty ever found there character which regulated
the society Of which it was the center. The spen-
/ did army which made its fatal campaign under
Lord Howe, furnished many guests to her table,
and the young nobleman whose death was the
great disaster Of the war, had bis journey nort-
ward rendered agreeable by the good offices of
Madam. In this life of useful and elegant courte-
sizes, Madam Schuyler found the years Of her resi-
dence on the river bank pass away
| The father Of Mr.. Philip Schuyler was a man Of
commanding influence. Possessing great control
over the Indians in his vicinity and winning their
confidence, he visited the Home Government-as
England then was-talsing with him delegation
Of the chiefs-rare vsiters then to the streets of
| London. The Court Of Queen Anne received the
group Of red men with great favor, and as testi-
monal of the royal appreciation of the embassy,
| the Queen directed Mr. Schuylers portrait to be
painted.
Our first visit was to the residence of one of his
descendants, where, with good taste and care
unusually in this country, this historic picture Is
faithfully preserved. A noble painting Il is Mr..
Schuyler was of commanding prescnce--tall and
with features that indicate the man Of resolution
and purpose The dress is the gay ornamental full
costume-in strength Of coloring that is yet un-
broken. 1t has all the appointments, of the ele-
giant man Of those days Is correct In drawing, and
jstifes the belief that 1t was the work of one of
eminence. The appreciation Of the Queen was
well bestowed. 1t has enabled us to know tho
lneaments of one of that class Of men so worthily
distinguished In the colonial days, and whose vigor
of character prepared the way for the bolder act
of subsequent period In this house saw also an
old oak arm chair, adorned with profusion ofmould-
ing and carving, and cherished as a relic of Madam
Schuylers furniture, and in ITSELF by ITSELF truth
full evidence ofthe elegance by which--in solid and
substantial arrangement, her house must have been
| furnished.
/ From this house Whose owner take pleasure
| TO say in parting from him, is honored and cher
ished by all who know him. visited the residence
of Aunt Schuyler" This is situated Immediate
ly on the rivera small area only between il and
| the bank of the stream--,n the last century the
great north. road, the highway Of the pioneer, tho
settlers the traders, of brave armies of troop and
commander the path over which the brilliant and
gallant young Howe led his force TO the fight of
Lake George and over which the captive Bur-
goyne rode by the side OF his conqueror, The
house which was the scene Of the best hospitali-
ties that the colony gave, out Of the City Of New
York, was burnt in l76S, but not so thoroughly
but that part Of the wall is left and IL was curl
ous to-day to trace the disordered lime where the
later masonry had been joined to the more ancient
structure, whose unyielding mortar seemed to
have acquired the tenacity of stone itself The
present edifce Is old--for America. II has a hall
Of fine width, rooms of good dimensions windows
Of admirable magnitude. How curious IL seemed
TO find, In this day, the quaint old front door, d.
| vided into upper and lower door the singu-
larly-shaped iron knocker, fulfilling its own duty
and that Of the handle to the door. To lean over
this lower half seemed like being brought back to
| the days when Albany contained many of It's men,
| as OF its customs, Of other days.
| The kitchen part Of the house had been at the
period when Mrs. Grant knew It, for timc the
| residence of her father
She was Miss Mcvicar the daughter Of an Off
Ger in the British service, and when she was a
bright, romantic, enthusiastic little creature, idol
izng Aunt Schuyler, and creating all bright fan
cies for herself around the old house on the
island, and by her side, little dreaming that her
literary reputation should be such, and her caste
of society such, that Sir Walter Scott declared
"the circle at Mrs. Grants Is positively ccru-
lean
found at the house lady, whom Heaven has
80 blessed MS TO give extreme old age, in posses
sion Of undimmed good sense, intelligence and
courtesy and, though ninety-one years have
passed over her, of memory SO correct and un-
broken as TO make participation in her society
most agreeable experience. l would be glad to
say more ifit were not infringing ON just rule.
This lady, who has dwelt here for all Of life so
long retains recollection Of having once seen
"Aunt Schuyler while in Albany and her de-
scrptons Of her coincide fully with that given by
Mrs Grant She was Of immense size, so much so
that IL became wearisome 70 herself to move about
When her house (the predecessor Of this one) was
burned, she was carried in her arm chair 20 the
rivers edge, and could only sit patiently and see
her house in destruction. After this she lived
number Of years in Albany, occupying house on
the south side of State street, above Pearl street.
but before her death she again removed to the
house--the scene Of to-day's visit. 1t was Of in
tense interest to be allowed TO converse with one,
in the enjoyment Of life and intellect, who could
bear witness to the accuracy Of Mrs. Grants de-
lightful narrative.
When Burgoyne and Gates were in the conflict
| of Saratoga. the gentleman who resided at this