The History

OF THE

Five Indian Nations

of Canada

which are dependent on the Province of
NewYork, and are a barrier between
the English and the French in
that part of the World

BY

Hon. Cadwallader Colden

Surveyor-General and afterward Lieutenant-Governor
of the Province of New York

WITH INTRODUCTION, PORTRAIT

AND MAP

IN TWO VOLUMES

Volume I

MCMXXII

ALLERTON BOOK CO.

New York

cal, metaphysical, and theological learning, in addition to the works published during his life, affords ample proof of the extent and variety of his knowledge, and the strength, the acuteness and the versatility of his intellect."

Cadwallader Colden was the son of the Rev. Alexander Colden, minister of an obscure parish in Scotland, but was born on the 17th of February, 1688, in Ireland. Young Colden was destined by his father for the ministry and was sent to the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated in 1705. Not caring for his father's profession, he repaired to London and began the study of Medicine. Five years later he came to America and practised his profession in Pennsylvania for a considerable time. After a brief visit to England, he came to New York, where he formed the acquaintance of Governor Hunter, who offered him the position of Surveyor-General of the Colony. Thereafter emoluments and honors came upon him thick and fast. He was made a Master in Chancery, though why, it is hard to say. He was called to a seat in the Council, a body of gentlemen elected by the Crown,

and forming the upper legislative house in the Colony. Governor Hunter stood his friend, and it was owing to his support that a grant of two thousand acres of land in what is now the town of Montgomery, Orange County, was bestowed upon him. He received another grant of one thousand acres which he called the Manor of Coldengham. He was now one of the great land-owners of the Colony.

Shea, in commenting upon his rapid advance in influence and wealth, states that Colden "was unremitting and zealous in his labor, adhering firmly to the royal Governors -while others fought only to mimic the Capital in show and parade, Colden went to work to study the climate, geography, native inhabitants, civic and political interests of the Colony."

Cadwallader Colden was regarded as the best-informed man in the new world on the affairs of the British-American Colonies. Shea states that "he is spoken of as better versed than any other in the geography of the country, and his writings show that he was an early and careful observer of the climate and its influence on health." That he