OF THE

Five Indian Nations

OF CANADA

WHICH ARE DEPENDENT ON THE PROVINCE OF

NEW YORK, AND ARE A BARRIER BETWEEN

THE ENGLISH AND THE FRENCH IN

THAT PART OF THE WORLD

By

Hon. CADWALLADER COLDEN

WITH MAP

IN TWO VOLUMES

VOL I.

NEW AMSTERDAM BOOK COMPANY PUBLISHERS: NEW YORK, 1902

INTRODUCTION.

On the death of Lieutenant-Governor de Lancy, in 1760, Cadwallader Colden, as President of the Council, came to New York, took up his residence at the Province House in the fort, and administered the Government until his appointment as LieutenantGovernor, which took place in August, 1761.

"Governor Colden," says Verplanck, "was a scholar of various and extensive attainments, and of very great and unremitted ardor and application in the acquisition of knowledge. When it is considered how large a portion of his life was spent in the labors or the routine of public office and that, however great might have been his original stock of learning, he had in this country no reading public to excite him by their applause, and few literary friends to assist or to stimulate his inquiries, his zeal and success in his scientific pursuits will appear deserving of the highest admiration. A great mass of manuscripts on mathematical, botani