II.

III.

I. Origin of the Settlement of Albany

The Five Nations - John and Philip Schuyler

Colonel Schuyler and Five Sachems visit England

- Their Reception and Return

IV. Colonel Schuyler and the Sachems Literary

Acquisitions Manners of the Settlers.

45

51

58

--

64

-

-

V. State of Religion among the Settlers Sketch of

the State of Society at New York.

VI. Description of Albany-Manner of Living there

VII. Gentle Treatment of Slaves among the Albanians

Reflections on Servitude

VIII. Education and Early Habits of the Albanians

IX. First Adventures of the Indian Traders.

X. Marriages, Amusements, Rural Excursions, etc.

XI. Winter Amusements, etc.

XII. Lay-Brothers- Miss Schuyler-Detached Indians

XIII. Progress of Knowledge - Indian Manners. . .

XIV. Marriage of Miss Schuyler-Description of the

Flats

XV. Philip Schuyler His Management of the Indians

XVI. Account of the Three Brothers

135

146

155

XVII. The House and Rural Economy of the Flats

Birds and Insects.

PAGE

165

174

XVIII. Description of Colonel Schuyler's Barn

XIX. Military Preparations - Fidelity of the Mohawks 180

XX. A Refractory Warrior - The Spirit pervading

the New England Provinces.

XXI. Distinguishing Characteristics of the New York

Colonists Huguenots and Palatines

XXII. Adoption of Children Common in the Province

Madame's Visit to New York

XXIII. Colonel Schuyler's Military Partiality - Indian

Character falsely charged with Idleness

XXIV. Progress of Civilization in Europe.

XXV. Independence of the Indians how first diminished

XXVI. Attractions of the Indian Mode of Life - Ac-

count of a Settler among them

XXVII. Indians attached by Conversion

186

191

195

200

207

216

222

Expedition of

-

264

271

XXX. Death of Young Peter Schuyler Society at the

Flats.

XXXI. Hospitality - Achievements by the Negroes

XXXII. Resources of Madame - Provincial Customs

XXXIII. Followers of the Army-Resulting Inconveniences

XXXIV. Arrival of a New Regiment - Domine Frieling-

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Portrait of Mrs. Grant of Laggan from a miniature painted in 1825 by K. Macleay, R. S. A. Engraved on steel by H. Robinson

Frontispiece

FACING PAGE

18

Loch Laggan, Inverness-shire, the early home of Mrs.
Grant, where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert re-
sided soon after their marriage. From a photograph
Facsimile of note sent to Dr. Buchanan with a copy of
"The American Lady." From the original in posses-
sion of Mrs. William G. Rice, of Albany
Birthplace of Margaretta Schuyler, "The American Lady,"
erected in 1667. The oldest house in Albany when
removed a few years since
The Aunt Schuyler house at the Flats, erected in 1666 by
Richard Van Rensselaer, and transferred to the Schuy-
lers four years later. The family have occupied it for

.

231 years. Portrait of Colonel Peter Schuyler. From a painting made

Portrait of King Hendrick, chief of the Five Nations
Ancient Dutch Church, erected in 1715 on the site of one
built in 1656. It was removed in 1806
Ancient pulpit, made in Holland and used in the Dutch
churches of Albany from 1656 to 1806, and at present
in the North Church

25

45

52

59

602

68

99

Map of the Flats on the banks of the Hudson, above Albany 149

FACING PAGE

St. Peters Episcopal Church in State Street, Albany, erected
in 1714, and the P. S. Van Rensselaer house. These
buildings stood near Barrack, now Chapel Street
Van Rensselaer Manor House, built in 1660, and replaced
by another in 1765, which was removed a decade ago
to Williamstown, Mass. The original manor house,
erected by Jeremias Van Rensselaer, stood until 1840.
From a drawing by Major Francis Pruyn
The Great Falls of the Mohawk River, called Cohoes
Falls. From a photograph by Colonel Augustus Pruyn
State Street, Albany, from near Lodge Street, looking east
North Pearl Street, from Steuben Street south, as it was
about a century ago

164

201

238

260

281

M

PREFACE

RS. GRANT'S "Memoirs of an American Lady" has long been out of print, having become so scarce that the volume was almost unobtainable, and then only at an exorbitant price. By many it is believed that so charming a picture of Colonial life in New York nearly a century and a half ago, should not be permitted to pass away. It is not a romance nor a tale partly founded on reality, but it is an authentic record of facts, a record which was much admired by Francis Jeffrey, Washington Irving, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Southey, William M. Thackeray,1 and other great heirs of fame, one of whom praised the description of the breaking up of the ice in the Upper Hudson "as quite Homeric." George Bancroft said, "Your kinswoman, Mrs. Grant's, invaluable volume, should be in the library of every American lady."

1 A presentation copy of the original edition of "The American Lady," received by the author of "Henry Esmond," from a member of Mrs. Grant's family, and now included in Major William H. Lambert's unequalled collection of Thackerayana, was among the "Great Thacker's" most highly prized literary treasures. The writer is the fortunate possessor of almost all her publications, being copies received from Mrs. Grant by his father, containing complimentary inscriptions.