If truth, both of feeling and narration, which are its only merits, prove a sufficient counterbalance to carelessness, laxity, and incoherence of style, its prominent faults, I may venture to invite you, when you unbend from the useful and honourable labours to which your valuable time is devoted, to trace this feeble delineation of an excellent, though unembellished character; and of the rapid pace with which an infant society has urged on its progress from virtuous simplicity, to the dangerous “knowledge of good and evil:” from tremulous imbecility to self-sufficient independence.
To be faithful, a delineation must necessarily be minute. Yet if this sketch, with all its imperfections, be honoured by your indulgent perusal, such condescension of time and talent must certainly be admired, and may, perhaps, be imitated by others.
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I. Province of New-York—Origin of the 19 settlement at Albany—Singular possession held by the patron—Account of his tenants
II. Account of the Five Nations, or Mohawk 22 Indians—Building of the Fort at Albany—John and Philip Schuyler
III. Colonel Schuyler persuades four sachems 27 to accompany him to England—Their reception and return
IV. Return of Colonel Schuyler and the 30 Sachems to the interior—Literary acquisitions—Distinguishes and instructs his favourite niece—Manners of the settlers
V. State of religion among the 34 settlers—Instruction of children devolved on females—to whom the charge of gardening, &c. was also committed—Sketch of the state of the society at New-York
VI. Description of Albany—Manner of living 37 there—Hermitage, &c.
VII. Gentle treatment of slaves among the 41 Albanians—Consequent attachment of domestics—Reflections on servitude
VIII. Education and early habits of the 46 Albanians described
IX. Description of the manner in which the 52 Indian traders set out on their first adventure
X. Marriages, amusements, rural excursions, 62 &c. among the Albanians
XI. Winter amusements of the Albanians, &c. 68
XII. Lay-brothers—Catalina—Detached Indians 73
XIII. Progress of knowledge—Indian manners 79
XIV. Marriage of Miss Schuyler—Description of 87 the Flats
XV. Character of Philip Schuyler—His 92 management of the Indians